Baptism

Baptism is the Sacramental rite which admits us to the Christian Faith and makes us members of the Church.
It is the sign by which we become the adopted sons and daughters of God.
At Baptism we receive new life in the Holy Spirit.
Baptism brings us to God in repentance to receive forgiveness of our sins.
Baptism is one of the Sacraments acknowledged by The Anglican Church of Southern Africa, The Roman Catholic Church,
The Lutheran Church, The Methodist Church, The Presbyterian Church, The Dutch Reformed Church and other covenanting churches.

Why are babies Baptised ?

Children of believers are baptised for the following reasons:
Jesus accepted and blessed the little children (Mark 10:13-16).
God welcomes children into the church (the Body of Christ) on the basis of their parent's faith and obedience.
Our salvation depends entirely on what God has done for us, not on our own merit.

What are the responsibilities of the parents ?

Parents themselves should be baptised members of God's family.
Parents are expected to attend church regularly, and so share in the life of the Body of Christ.
Parents need to attend preparation classes and receive teaching about the meaning of Baptism.
Parents need to renew their own commitment to Christ, and make the Baptismal promises on behalf of the children.
Parents are expected to pray for their children, and to encourage them to grow in their Christian faith by example in their own Christian lives.
Baptism by itself is not enough to bring about new life in Christ. That new life needs to be nurtured.

What are the responsibilities of the Godparents or Sponsors ?

Godparents should themselves be baptised members of God's family and at least one of them should be an Anglican.
Godparents or Sponsors need to attend preparation classes and receive teaching about the meaning of Baptism.
Godparents or Sponsors need to renew their own commitment to Christ and make the Baptismal promises on behalf of the children.
Godparents or Sponsors are expected to support those who are baptised by praying for them and through the example of their own Christian lives.

When do Baptisms take place ?

Baptism takes place during a normal Sunday Service, on specific Sundays. These dates are available from the Cathedral Office.
Unless in the case of an emergency, Baptisms do not take place outside the Church.
Private Baptisms are only allowed under special circumstances at the discretion of the priest.

What must we do to arrange for our child to be baptised ?

Complete the relevant form and return it to the Parish Office.
Make an appointment to see The Dean.

What costs are involved ?

There are no costs for The Sacraments of the Church.
A "thank offering" or donation may be given to the church and/or the Priest.

 

Confirmation

What is Confirmation ?

Confirmation is one of the Sacraments acknowledged by The Anglican Church of Southern Africa.
Confirmation is a public statement of your personal belief and trust in God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
It includes a specific renunciation of all that is evil, and a personal commitment to seek to live in obedience to God's Laws,
as a loyal member of His Church.
It is clearly understood that this is to be an active life of worship, witness and service.
Confirmation is your own affirmation of the promises made on your behalf by your parents and godparents at your Baptism.
Confirmation is the sacrament of empowerment. The Holy Spirit is asked to fill you with power for your Christian life.
Confirmation has been described as the "ordination of the laity" into full-time ministry in the Church of God.
Confirmation is both a wonderful privilege and a serious commitment. It is a life-long and life-changing commitment.
Confirmation is not an automatic right. You have to be willing and able to take full responsibility for your faith by living out what you believe.

When should you be confirmed ?

A person wanting to be confirmed should be a regular and committed member of the church.
A person may be confirmed when they are old enough to understand fully the meaning of what they are doing.
A person should be confirmed when he/she feels that they are willing to accept the duties and responsibilities of the Christian Church.

What are the responsibilities of the parents and godparents ?

It is the duty of parents who have had their children baptised to present them to the church to be confirmed.
Parents and godparents are expected to pray for their children, and to encourage them to attend church regularly and so grow in their Christian faith.
Parents and godparents are expected to encourage their children to take responsibility for their own Christian faith
and to come to the point where they are able to confirm the Baptismal vows made on their behalf at Baptism.

What must I do to be Confirmed ?

Complete the relevant form and return it, together with your Baptismal certificate, to the Cathedral office.
Confirmation candidates are expected to attend church regularly and so share in the life of the Body of Christ.
Confirmation candidates must attend a weekly series of preparation classes to learn more about the Christian faith and the significance of Confirmation.
Confirmation candidates should attend a Happening weekend.
Confirmation candidates are expected to commit themselves to regular prayer, bible study and service within the church, the Body of Christ.

What will it cost ?

There are no financial costs involved, except for the cost of a weekend Confirmation Camp.

When and where is the Confirmation service held ?

The Confirmation Service is held in the Cathedral on a Sunday evening in October.

What if I have not been baptised ?

Your confirmation preparation will prepare you for the sacrament of Baptism and you will be baptised before your confirmation.
Please discuss your situation with The Dean or the person leading the confirmation classes.

What will happen if I am never confirmed ?

You will not be able to hold any office (e.g. Church Warden) in the Anglican Church.
More important, however, is the fact that you may never have made your personal commitment to God and His Church.

Admission of Children to receive Holy Communion

What is Holy Communion ?

Holy Communion, or the Eucharist, is one of the sacraments acknowledged by the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.

In the Eucharist, the life we received at Baptism is fed and sustained with the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

The bread that is broken symbolises the Body of Christ as it was given in death on the Cross.

The wine symbolises the His blood that was shed on the cross.

The death of Christ facilitates our salvation, and our deliverance from sin and eternal death.

The Eucharist symbolises our unity with Christ and the bond between ourselves and other Christians.
 

Why are children admitted to receive Holy Communion before they are confirmed ?

The new life which the child received at baptism is fed and nurtured through the receiving the Body and Blood of Christ.

Children who are part of the worshipping community of the church are part of the Body of Christ, and so it is right that they share the sacrament of the Eucharist, which is a celebration of the unity of Christians with God and with one another.

The church allows children who have been baptised and are older than eight years of age to be admitted to receive communion.


What are the responsibilities of the parents and godparents ?

Parents are expected to attend church regularly, and so share in the life of the Body of Christ.
Parents are expected to be regular communicants.
Parents and godparents are expected to pray for their children and encourage them to grow in their Christian faith by regular attendance at church, until they are confirmed and take this further step responsibly.

What must we do to arrange for our children to be admitted to receive Holy Communion ?

Complete the relevant form and return it to the parish office together with the child's baptismal certificate
Children and parents are to attend a series of classes to learn about the meaning of the Eucharist. There classes will take place on Sunday mornings and will last six weeks.
The children are admitted on the Sunday following the Feat of Corpus Christi.

What costs are involved ?

There are no costs for The Sacraments of the Church.
A "thank offering" or donation may be given to the church and/or the Priest.
 

Christian Marriage

What is Christian Marriage ?

Christian Marriage is one of the sacraments acknowledged by the Anglican Church of Southern Africa

Christian Marriage is the sacrament and a covenant whereby a man and a woman make promises to each other, before God and before witnesses,
and where God blesses the couple by giving each the grace to be faithful to the other in good times and bad times.

God created love, marriage and sex, and He has laid down very clearly in His Word, The Bible, how these gifts should be used.

Ideally, the marriage service should take place in the context of the Eucharist, in the form of a Nuptial Mass, but it is not compulsory.
 

What are the requirements of a Christian Marriage ?

Both partners should be Christians, i.e. Baptised members of the Christian Church.

If one (or both) of the parties is divorced, the consent of the Bishop is required.
In this case, application must be made through The Dean at least four months before the marriage is to take place.
 

What are the responsibilities of the couple ?

Both are expected to attend church regularly, and so share in the life and Body of Christ.
The couple must attend marriage preparation classes.

What must the couple do to be married at the Cathedral or St Mary Magdalene ?

Complete the relevant form and return it to the Cathedral Office or to the priest at St Mary Magdalene.
Make an appointment to see the dean or priest before making any bookings - this is most important.

What must be done if the couple wants to be married elsewhere ?

The Bishop has allowed marriages to be conducted at other venues provided that:

The venue is regularly used for worship (not just marriage services)
The venue complies with State Law and regulations.
The venue is within the Diocese of the Highveld.
The couple agrees to attend a regular Sunday worship service after the marriage in order to receive the Nuptial Blessing.

What costs are involved ?

Please see the section "Information for those getting married".

Note.....

Church furniture may not be moved without official permission.
No flowers may be placed on the Altar.
Access to the Cathedral for preparation to be organised with the Secretary.
No confetti is to be used. Flower petals may be used if scattered outside only.
 

· Prepare Enrich Fees – R150

· Organist Fees – R350

· Church – R450

· Priest – R450

· Flowers - ±R500 (depending on colours/availability)

· Security for cars – R200 (must be paid to the office only PLEASE)