We shall be glad to explore with you the possibility of baptism (sometimes called ‘christening’) for your child or children.

Baptism is a wonderful way of giving thanks for the gift of a new life. Even more, it is the way in which this new life can be welcomed into the life of the Church. In the Richmond Team Ministry we express this by celebrating baptisms within our regular Sunday services, when the People of God are gathered, on certain Sundays in the year (see below).

If you are considering baptism for your child or children - and you live in our parish (see below to check if you do) or worship at one of our churches - we should be very glad for one of our parish staff to visit you, so that we can discuss what is a very important decision, and so that you can ask any questions you may have. There are details below of how to get in touch.

If you are not a regular worshipper at one of our churches, please join us on at least one Sunday before we visit you. Then you will have a good sense of the context in which the baptism might take place. For people coming with little ones the best services are:

• St John the Divine, St John’s Rd  11.00
• St Mary Magdalene, Paradise Road 09.30
• St Matthias, Friars Stile Rd 09.30

Some people ask advice about godparents. It is much more important to have the right people than the right number (and not too many – four should be the maximum). A key consideration is how they feel about the promises which you and the godparents will make. They follow this or a similar form:

Parents and godparents, the Church receives [your child] with joy. Today we are trusting God for her growth in faith.

Will you pray for her, draw her by your example into the community of faith and walk with her in the way of Christ? With the help of God, we will.

In baptism [your child] begins his journey in faith. You speak for him today.

Will you care for him, and help him to take his place within the life and worship of Christ’s Church? With the help of God, we will.

In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light.
To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him.
Therefore I ask:

Do you turn to Christ? I turn to Christ.

Do you repent of your sins? I repent of my sins.

Do you renounce evil? I renounce evil.

Then, together with the whole congregation:

Brothers and sisters, let us profess the faith of the Church.

Do you believe and trust in God the Father, source of all being and life,
the one for whom we exist? I believe and trust in him.

Do you believe and trust in God the Son, who took our human nature,
died for us and rose again? I believe and trust in him.

Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit, who gives life to the people of God and makes Christ known in the world? I believe and trust in him.

As you see, Baptism makes most sense as part of a continuing engagement in the worshipping life of the church. We shall be happy to explore this, and any questions you may have, when we visit.

Baptism dates We are conducting baptisms on the following Sundays in 2012

            St Matthias (9.30am) 15 January, 19 February, 18 March,    29 April, 25 June, 22 July, 16 September, 28 October, 18 November 

            St Mary Magdalene (9.30am) 8 January, 5 February,            15 April, 6 May, 10 June, 1 July, 2 September, 14 October, 4 Nov

             St John the Divine (11.00am) please enquire

Getting in touch Please contact Teresa Cross, our parish administrator: 020 8940 0362 admin@richmondteam.freeserve.co.uk

‘Do we live in the parish?’

The following roads and addresses are within the parish of the Richmond Team Ministry:

Albany Passage (Even) Ashley Rd, Audley Rd

Blue Anchor Alley (West), Brewers Lane

Cambrian Rd, Cardigan Rd (Richmond), Carrington Rd, Chislehurst Rd, Chisholm Rd, Cholmodeley Walk, Church Rd (Richmond), Church Passage, Clarence St

Duke St, Duncan Rd, Dynevor Rd

Ellerker Gardens, Eton St, Evelyn Rd, Evelyn Terrace

Friars Lane, Friars Stile Rd

George St, The Green, Greenside, Grosvenor Ave (Richmond), Grosvenor Rd, Grove Rd (Richmond) (South)

Halford Rd, Helena Terrace, The Hermitage (Richmond), Hill Rise, Hill St, Houblon Rd

Jocelyn Rd

Kew Foot Rd, Kew Rd (1-179 & 2-86), King St

Lancaster Park, Larkfield Rd, Lichfield Gardens, Little Green, Lower Mortlake Rd (1-45)

Maids of Honour Row, Marlborough Rd, Michels Row, Montague Rd, Mount Ararat Rd

Nightingale Lane,

Old Deer Park Gardens, Old Palace Lane, Old Palace Terrace, Old Palace Yard, Onslow Ave, Onslow Rd, Ormond Ave, Ormond Rd

Paradise Rd, Park Hill, Park Lane, Park Rd (Odd), Parkshot, Paved Court, Pembroke Villas, Petersham Rd (1-93 & 2-152), Portland Terrace, Preston Place Princes St, Pyrland Rd (Odd)

The Quadrant, Quadrant Rd, Queens Rd (Richmond) (1-66, 150 and above)

Red Lion St, Retreat Rd, Richmond Bridge Rd, Richmond Hill, Rosemont Rd, Royston Ave, Royston Rd

Salisbury Rd, Shaftesbury Rd, Sheen Rd (2-78 & 37-55), Spring Terrace, The Square, St James Cottages, St John’s Cottages, St John’s Grove, St John’s Rd, Stafford Place, Sydney Rd

Twickenham Rd

The Vineyard, Vineyard Passage, Victoria Place

Warrington Rd, Water Lane, Waterloo Place, Wellington Place, Whittaker Ave