Baptism & Confirmation
Baptism marks the beginning of a journey with God which continues for the rest of our lives. It is a first step we take in response to God’s love. For all involved, particularly the candidates but also parents, godparents and sponsors, it is a joyful and unrepeatable moment when we rejoice in what God has done for us in Christ, make some serious promises, and declare our faith.
Baptism occurs in the context of the worshipping Christian community as the newly baptised are welcomed in the life and faith of the church. Unless absolutely necessary, baptism services are thus not conducted individually at private ceremonies.
The service paints many vivid pictures of what happens on the Christian way. There is the sign of the cross, the badge of faith in the Christian journey, which reminds us of Christ’s death for us. Our ‘drowning’ in the water of baptism, where we believe we die to sin and are raised to new life, unites us to Christ’s dying and rising. Water is also a sign of new life, as we are born again by water and the Spirit, as Jesus was at his baptism. And as a sign of that new life, there is a lighted candle, a picture of the light of Christ conquering the darkness of evil. Everyone who is baptised walks in that light for the rest of their lives. (Adapted from Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England 2000.)
Jesus said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs (Mark 10.14).
Request a Baptism
Baptisms are conducted on the second and fourth Sunday of the month commencing at 12pm. These are joyful and happy celebrations enjoyed by all present! Please contact the Parish Office by phone or email to check availability. At this point the baptism can be entered into the parish diary and a confirmation letter will be sent to you.
Application
The application form provides St. John’s with all of the information we need to confirm the baptism and to produce the necessary certificates and entry into the parish records.
To complete an online application form for a date in 2024
click here
To complete an online application form for a date in 2025
click here
The Baptism application form can also be downloaded below as a word document.
Please return the completed form as an attachment to enquiries@saintjohnstoorak.org or by mail to St. John’s Anglican Church, 86 Clendon Road Toorak, Victoria, 3142.
Documents
- A letter confirming the time and date of the baptism, with details of the parish preparation program.
- An application form.
- A Thanksgiving envelope.
- Advice about selecting godparents.
Order of Service
It is important the sponsors (that is, parents and godparents), have read the order of service and in particular the section marked ‘The Decision’.
Confirmation
St John’s schedules a Service of Confirmation each year, pending availability of the Bishop. We welcome expressions of interest at any time. Candidates must have been baptised, or may be baptised and confirmed at the same time. Although the majority of confirmees are aged 12-16 years, we also warmly welcome adults.
The most recent Service of Confirmation was
Sunday 26 November 2023
The next Service of Confirmation will be held at 10am on
Sunday 13 October 2024
with our regional bishop,
The Rt. Revd Genieve Blackwell,
Bishop of Marmingatha Episcopate.
Normally there are between four and six preparation sessions of approximately 90 minutes each.
To find out more or register your interest,
please contact the Assistant Curate, The Revd Lydia Thangadurai, at
curate@saintjohnstoorak.org
Confirmation Preparation
1. Faith & Belief | |
2. God & The Bible | |
3. Church & Worship | |
4. Christian Living | |
Rehearsal | |
Confirmation Service |
In confirmation those who have been previously baptised come to confirm their baptismal promises and join with the other candidates to receive the laying on of the bishop’s hand with prayer. All who have been baptised and confirmed are called to study the Bible, to take part in the life of the Church, to share in the Holy Communion, and to pray faithfully and regularly. We are called to share with others, by word and example, the love of Christ and his gospel of reconciliation and hope. We are called to love our neighbours as ourselves, to honour all people and to pray and work for peace and justice. from A Prayer Book for Australia 1995.
Get in touch
Parish Office:
enquiries@saintjohnstoorak.org
Parish Office Hours:
9.00am - 4.30pm, Monday to Thursday
Postal Address:
86 Clendon Road Toorak, Victoria, 3142
Phone:
(03) 9826 1434