The sacrament of baptism is the symbolic rite of initiation into the Christian community, the church. Baptism is not a requirement for God's love; we believe people who die without being baptised are in no way condemned, lost or damned. What baptism does do is welcome the candidate into the church and offer them the full support and encouragement of the people within it. Eltham URC offers baptism to people all ages. We believe the gift of God's love doesn't depend on our ability to understand it, so we baptise people as infants right up through to adulthood.
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Baptism usually takes place within the Sunday service. The parents and godparents of children who are being baptised make promises to bring the child up in the love of God and fellowship with the church, and the church and family gathered promise to support the parents in this endeavour. Adults instead profess their own faith before being baptised, and similarly the church and friends & family gathered for the occasion promise to support the candidate as part of the church. It is quite possible that you were baptised or "christened" as a child, and if this is the case you don't need to be baptised again. Instead after a period of attending you may be welcomed as a member of the church.
If you would like to have your child baptised or be baptised yourself, please contact the minister.
BAPTISMS