CHRISTENING
(BAPTISM)
We believe that children are a precious gift from God. Your child is special, and we hope that their christening, or baptism as it’s sometimes called, will prove to be the start of an amazing journey with him.
You can be christened (or baptised) either as a child or as an adult. Jesus himself was baptised in the River Jordan, and many adults who are christened/baptised do so as an opportunity to follow in his footsteps and publicly declare their Christian faith.
Babies and very young children are too young to make this commitment for themselves, so parents or guardians, along with their godparents, make that declaration of commitment to the Christian faith for them.
Parents, guardians and godparents who bring children to be christened are themselves asked to commit to sharing that special journey of faith with them. They will be asked to commit to pray for their child, and to help them learn more about Jesus and the Christian faith.
They will also commit to help them navigate their way through life against a backdrop of faith, hope, and love, and to help them become part of the wider church family.
Christenings sometimes take place in the context of one of the church’s regular services, but some are held at a separate time where just your family and friends are present. It is often possible to include your choice of prayers, readings and music to make it feel even more special and unique. Our clergy will be happy to talk through all of this with you prior to the special day itself. You can find contact details for our Mission Area staff and clergy here.
CONFIRMATION
Confirmation is a special church service in which a person confirms the promises that were made when they were baptized. If you were baptized at a christening when you were a child, your parents and godparents made these promises on your behalf.
As a young person or adult, you may be ready to affirm these promises for yourself and commit your life to following Jesus Christ. At a confirmation service, you make these promises for yourself. The local bishop will lay their hands on your head and ask God’s Holy Spirit to give you the strength and commitment to live God’s way for the rest of your life. Your friends and family as well as the local Christian community will be there to promise to support and pray for you.
The Service of Confirmation usually follows a period of preparation, often in a group, where you can learn about what it means to commit to being a Christian. These sessions should be fun and stimulating and you will be able to ask difficult questions and engage in discussion.
To find out more about confirmation, contact a member of our staff or one of the clergy here.
MARRIAGE
Marriage is a gift from God. The Bible teaches that marriage is a life-long, faithful union between a man and a woman, and compares married love with the love Jesus has for his people – a love expressed in his willing sacrifice of himself on the cross.
Marriage is a gift of God through which husband and wife may grow together in the knowledge, love and service of God. It is given that, united with one another in heart, in mind and in body, they may increase in love and trust. God joins husband and wife in life-long union as the foundation of family life (in which children are born and nurtured and) in which each member of the family, in good times and in bad, may find strength, companionship and comfort, and grow to maturity in love. Marriage enriches society and strengthens community.
You have a right to be married in your local parish church. The law requires that at least one of those to be married should:
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reside in the parish where the wedding is to take place, or
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be a regular worshipper in the parish and have your name entered on the church electoral roll, or
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have a ‘qualifying connection’, which is defined by law as meaning that you were baptised or confirmed in the parish, that you or a parent formerly lived for at least six months in the parish, that you or a parent formerly habitually attended worship in the parish for at least six months or that a parent or grandparent was married in the parish.
If you are under the age of eighteen, you must have your parents’ consent to marry. There are special guidelines on church marriage if you have been divorced.
The normal preliminary to getting married in the Church in Wales is by banns, the procedure of notifying people of your intention to marry. There are circumstances in which some form of licence, such as a Common Licence or Special Licence, is more appropriate. We can advise you about this - contact details for our staff and clergy can be found here.
FUNERALS
Organising a funeral can be an incredibly difficult and challenging thing to do, especially so when you’re having to say goodbye to someone you love and who has been a big part of your life. In Aberconwy Mission Area we are here to help and support you, not only in planning the funeral service itself, but for as long as you need us afterwards.
Christians believe that each and every person is uniquely made in the image of God, and we understand that a funeral needs to reflect all that was special about the person you knew and loved, whether that service takes place at a church, crematorium or burial ground.
Despite the strong feelings of loss and grief that we often experience when a loved one dies, we believe that a funeral should reflect the great hope and comfort that lies at the heart of the Christian faith. This assures us that this life is not all that there is, and through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, God promises a place where there is no more death, or tears, or sadness.
Just as every person is unique, so should their funeral be. Our clergy will encourage you to talk about the person you want to give thanks for and the life you want to celebrate. They can help you plan the service, and together discuss what’s possible.
There are lots of ways in which you can make the funeral feel really personal: what is said about your loved one, what you’d like people to wear, the music that is played, the readings that are chosen, the prayers that are said, or maybe choosing a photograph to place at the front.
We are here to support you before, during and after the funeral. Please do get in touch to discuss how we can help. You can find contact details for our staff and clergy here.