Prepare your christening order of service

• Your child’s name and christening date.
• The location of the christening.
• Tha name of the person leading the christening service.
• The name of the godparents.
• Reference to the key moments of the christening ceremony.
• Details of any christening readings you have chosen.
• Words to your chosen christening hymns or hymn numbers if using your church hymn books.

Here is a list of the main elements of a church christening, all of which you may wish to include in your christening order of service sheets. Please note that the contents of the christening service will vary for babies and older children. We are sure that your church leader will be more than happy to go through the details of your christening order of service with you.

• Welcome: The vicar will welcome everyone to the church, with a special welcome for the child to be christened, the parents and the godparents.
• Bible reading: This reading will be agreed upon by yourselves and the vicar, and will usually explore the meaning of Baptism.
• The promises: The parents and godparents make important promises as an affirmation of their faith.
• The sign of the cross: The parents and godparents will be invited to stand beside the font, and the vicar will make the sign of the cross on the baby’s head.
• The Baptism: The water is blessed and then poured over your child’s head
• Prayer and welcome: All pray for the child, welcoming him or her into the church. Prayers are also said for those who will support him or her on the path of faith.
• Giving of a candle: A lighted candle is given to the child as a symbol of the light of Jesus.
• Dismissal: “Go in the light and peace of Christ”

Christening readings are a way to make your child's christening service truly unique. Whilst we are sure that your church leader will be more than happy to suggest Bible readings for your christening, here are a few ideas for your christening readings so that you can start thinking about which passages you most relate to.

• Isaiah Chapter 9 Verses 2-3 and 6-7: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light…”
• Psalm 67: “May God be gracious to us and bless us…”
• Luke Chapter 3 Verses 15-17,21,22: “...I baptise you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming...”
• Mark Chapter 1 Verses 1-11: “...At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan...”
• 1 Corinthians Chapter 10 Verses 1-4: “...all were baptised into Moses in the cloud and in the sea…”

You can also include the words to your christening hymns so that your guests can sing along, adding to the celebratory and joyous atmosphere of your child’s christening. Otherwise, include the number of the hymns if you are using your church’s hymn books. Here are a few suggestions for well-known hymns that are sure to have everyone join in the singing at your child’s christening.

• All things bright and beautiful
• Amazing Grace
• Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising
• He’s got the whole world in his hand
• Morning has broken, like the first morning
• One more step along the world I go
• This little light of mine (I’m gonna let it shine)

You can download our christening order of service template by clicking on the links below to help you get started. This template is available for Microsoft Word and MAC.

Once you have replaced our default text with your order of service, you can print your service sheets in a booklet format using the following settings and then slide them into your wedding order of service booklets.

For Word: Go to Page Setup. On the Margins tab, change the settings for multiple pages to Book Fold. When printing ensure that you select the option to Print on Both Side (Flip pages on short edge). If your printer doesn’t support automatic printing on both sides, select Manually Print on Both Sides, and feed the pages back to the printer when prompted. 

For PDFs: Go to File/Print and select the option Booklet Printing from the Page Scaling options. This should automatically format your booklet, you will just need to ensure that your printer is set up for double-sided printing.

For MAC: If you are not presented with a booklet option, you can enter the pages you wish to print, adding 4,1,2,3 to the pages option. You will then need to select Multiple Pages with 2 by 1 pages per sheet of paper and print double-sided, rotating on the short edge.

Now that you have written your christening order of service, it is time to think about how you are going to present this to your christening guests. Christening order of service booklets from Rosemood are the perfect way to turn your printed service sheets into a lovely keepsake for your guests. Your christening order of service booklets can then be handed out at the entrance of the church or laid out on the church pews in advance of the service.

Our christening service booklets are designed to enclose your separate paper inserts that can be based on the template provided above.  Choose a design of christening order of service booklets to suit your little one, and personalise the outside cover with your child’s name and christening date. Once you have printed out your paper inserts, you can attach them to the inside of our christening order of service booklets with a matching ribbon or even some rustic twine. Take a look at our order of service DIY tips on our blog for more information.

Get in touch with our friendly customer service if you have any questions about our christening order of service booklets or take a look at our christening stationery FAQ for more information.