Births, deaths and marriages are important times, and we would love to talk with you about conducting a special baptism, funeral or wedding service at St Stephen’s. No fee is charged for these services. Contact our minister, Rod Morris on 0403 765 210 for further information.
Baptism
We encourage every member of the church to make a public declaration of his or her faith and commitment to Christ. Whilst this is principally done through faithful obedience to Christ in every area of life, we encourage all to be publically baptized.
Baptism is a simple ceremony of washing in water, practiced by Christians since the time of Jesus. It is a sign of turning to God, and a faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. At the same time, baptism symbolises Jesus’ own death and resurrection. Those who ask for baptism recognise that their standing with God depends on what Jesus did for them by his dying and rising again. All who are baptised are received into the family of the Christian church.
We symbolically welcome young children and babies into the church family though infant baptism where the child’s parents and godparents respond on behalf of the child. The child is then regarded as a member of the church until such time as they can personally confirm or reject the decision of their parents. Baptisms take place in our church building during normal services. This means the people of the church can welcome the baptised child into the Christian family. Godparents are chosen by parents to assist in the child’s spiritual nurture. Their duty is to provide encouragement, teach, and set a good example so that the child may be brought up to follow Christ.
Baptism can be the most meaningful occasions for establishing yourselves, your home and family in a right relationship with God. Please do not hesitate to discuss any questions that you have with one of our ministers.
Funerals
Whilst the death of a loved one is a very sad occasion, a caring pastoral approach will help you in dealing with the steps necessary after a death and in supporting you in your grief. A funeral service at St Stephen’s is a celebration of a past life as well as a committal of the deceased person to God’s care. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we are assured of salvation and the knowledge of eternal life. If you need help in organising a funeral or support in your grief, you’ll find a sensitive and caring response from any of our ministry team. The usual approach when organizing a funeral is to contact the funeral director first. They will then make the necessary arrangements and liaise with us to arrange the service times. We can recommend both Bethel Funerals (03) 9873 8866 and Selwyn Allan Funerals (03) 9888 1672 as highly reputable if you need to contact a funeral director.
Weddings
Marriage is a celebration of the relationship in which a man and a woman come together with a commitment to each other for the future. In the Christian Church, the marriage vow is regarded as one of the important promises you will ever make. A wedding at St Stephen’s provides an opportunity for you to celebrate your marriage and future life together in the presence of God. It provides the opportunity to give praise to God as you exchange your vows, and gain His blessing on your life together. Our ministry team will help you to prepare for your big day through a structured marriage preparation program and support you in making your wedding a wonderful day.
