(03) 9826 1434

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 (apart from January) 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.

Please note: Further to the government’s further easing of Covid restrictions of Friday 25 February, and the consequent advice from the Archbishop’s Office, mask wearing during church services is no longer mandatory. Given the continued pandemic, and the continuing need to look after each other – especially those who are most vulnerable to infection – it is recommend that masks be worn, especially when we are unable to physically distance ourselves from one another.

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. Please complete the form via this link. The 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

The parish office will then send the following to the parent/s who made the enquiry:

 

  • 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.
If you are not a regular attendee of the Parish of St Johns, we encourage you to consider making a donation to assist with costs of the parish. A suggested donation is $200. If you would like to make a more substantial gift to the church in thanksgiving of your child, please do speak to the clergy.

Order of Service

The order of service at all baptisms at St. John’s follows the Order of Service below, taken from A Prayer Book for Australia 1995 (The Anglican Church of Australia) and Common Worship 2000 (the Church of England).

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, and often twice in the 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 18 September 2022

At our most recent Service of Confirmation, six candidates (four adolescents and two adults) were confirmed by 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. The next Service of Confirmation will be held at 10am on Sunday 26 November, 2023, with Bp. Genieve Blackwell. Please contact the Assistant Curate 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