Westgate 

Cowbridge 

Vale of Glamorgan 

CF717AE 

Baptism Classes

 Three members from Junior Church have been thinking about baptism. After discussion with Heather we attended a course of Preparation Classes that spread over four weeks.

The first session was a brainstorming one. We were given a word such as ‘Communion’ and came up with the word ‘wine’ for example. We talked about the important relationship between Communion and Baptism. We discussed reasons why people didn’t take part in Communion, and considered differences between the various denominations (Anglican, Catholic etc.). We talked about our Church where we have a number of different denominations - so we came up with a word that describes all the traditions we have in our church, ‘The Supermix’. We decided this enriched our Christian family.

Baptism was our theme in week two. We went into the church and had a look at the baptistery, and explored how people are baptised, what they do, how they do it and, most importantly, why they do it! We then went down into the baptistery to have a nose around, and thought that with some work it could be quite ‘smart’. We then talked about Churches and their Baptisteries and the ones that have intricate designs, the ones that are big and then the standard ones, like ours. We then asked the Question: How much water is needed in a Baptism? Answer: Any. It can be the tiniest drop or the ocean, it is a symbolic cleansing.

The third week we started to have a look at a booklet about the things that you should do before you are baptised and the ideas behind it. We talked about what we had learned and what else we could learn. Then we thought what if you aren’t baptised? It was a simple answer of that in our church it doesn’t really matter but in others it does.

The fourth and final week we looked back over our brainstorms and added/removed any information we needed to. We then answered any unanswered questions and had a look at a truly amazing guy called Nick Vujicic. He was born without any limbs, but carries on life as normal. Then we said a final prayer and left, wondering when to make our own personal commitment to enter God’s family.

We would like to thank Heather and the Council members that came along each week, and made the sessions enjoyable and fun.

 Ioan Wardhaugh

Sunday 08 April 2012