Life events
The clergy of Netherexe Mission Community are here to offer support, advice and help at the important times in family life. Whether you would like your baby christened, a wedding service in church, or need someone to advise you when a death occurs, the clergy are here to assist.
If you would like to talk to a member of the clergy about any of these matters please contact Reverend Tim Collins, our Priest-in-Charge.
Baptism
The Netherexe Mission Community offers support, advice and help to all those who wish to be baptised (christened). Many people grow up in the Church because they have been baptised as babies and brought up in a Christian family. That is not always the case. Increasing numbers of older people – from teenagers to great grandparents – are making their own decision to join the Church. If you would like your child / children to be baptised, great! If you want to raise your children in the Christian faith and feel comfortable making the baptismal promises on their behalf, then we would love to prepare you and your family for this big step.
Thanksgiving services. If in good conscience you don’t feel you can make the promises in the baptism service for your child, don’t worry. We can look at having a Thanksgiving Service instead.
Who can be baptised? Anyone who wants to be involved with Jesus Christ and with the local church. If you live within or have a strong connection to any of the churches in the Nextherexe Parishes, the Clergy and baptism team are here to help. Baptism usually takes place as part of a main service. If you are not linked with us in any way but would still like to be baptised or to have a child baptised, please attend church first, then ask us about baptism.
Can my child be baptised? Yes, every member of the family can belong to the Christian church. The baptism service involves saying aloud statements of belief and promises on behalf of your child. If you are uncertain about this, it would be better to delay baptism and have a thanksgiving service which gives thanks to God for your child but involves no promises on the parent’s part.
We hope to see families who have had their child baptised attending church services as often as possible.
So what next? Please make contact with our Priest-in-Charge, Reverend Tim Collins. One of our team will arrange to visit you and explain about baptism, and the baptism service. If you are coming to church for the first time, introduce yourself to the vicar or the congregation leader and tell them you are interested in baptism. There is no charge for a service of baptism, although a collection is taken at the service.
Weddings
Many couples choose to get married in Church because they believe in God and they want their vows to be said in his presence and in the context of Christian worship. We encourage you to contact us as soon as you can, so that we may discuss this with you.
Click here for a copy of our Mission Community leaflet about weddings.
Click here for Church of England information and advice about weddings
Funerals
We are privileged to be involved with families in times of sadness and we conduct funerals in the local churches or at local crematoria or cemeteries. Generally the chosen Funeral Director will have an initial discussion about arrangements with the bereaved and then contact us on their behalf.
Remember to tell your funeral director if you specifically want a local priest from the Netherexe Parishes to officiate at a funeral service.