Baptism, Dedication and Confirmation Overview of the Material and Lesson Ideas Christianity Unpacked is a complete toolkit for teaching the basic beliefs of the Christian faith. The purpose of this unit is to explore the beliefs and practices surrounding Christian baptism, dedication and confirmation.. Below is an index of key material for use within this topic, please note that there is further material available on the RE:quest and RE:start sites that you may also find helpful. FILMS Title Aim Content overview Interactive presentation To gain an overview of the beliefs and practices of baptism, dedication and confirmation This interactive presentation gives an introduction to these important rites of passage for Christians it looks particularly at the symbolism and practices associated with them. Rites of Passage Introduction To introduce the concept of rites of passage This film explains briefly the concept of Christian rites of and highlights the most important ones. Infant Baptism To explore infant baptism This is a film of an infant baptism that includes the anointing of oil, the symbolism of water, baptismal prayers, symbolism of light and the concept of baptism as a welcoming into the family of the Church. Child s Dedication To explore the Christian concept of dedicating your children This is a film of the dedication service of two sisters. Within the film the link is made with child dedication possibly leading onto believer s baptism, prayers are said and the importance of the role of friends and the church in supporting the parents in bringing up their children in a Christian home is emphasised.
Confirmation An introduction to confirmation This very short film demonstrates the laying on of hands by the bishop as part of the confirmation service. Believer s Baptism why be baptised? An insight into why Christians may decide to be baptised. This is a set of interviews with a number of Christians explaining why they personally want to be baptised. Believer s Baptism Service An introduction to believer s baptism There are also clips of full immersion baptism. Filmed in a Baptist Church this clip shows Becki has she is baptised through full immersion. WORKSHEETS Title Aim Content overview Exploring Baptism two tasks Think about infant baptism Think through infant baptism Explore why Christians consider baptism important. To consider what are the most important parts if an infant baptism service To explore the meanings behind the actions and symbols used during an infant baptism These two tasks enable pupils to delver deeper into the beliefs that Christians hold towards baptism whilst at the same time trying to empathise with a Christian view. An activity for younger pupils to encourage them to think about the important parts of an infant baptism service and the reasons why they are important. The sheet has snap shots taken at an infant baptism and the pupils are asked to think about three questions: 1) What is happening? 2) Why are they doing this, what do they believe? 3) Is there a symbol? What does it mean? A Believer s Baptism Wheel To introduce believer s baptism This baptism wheel that is fun to make can be used as a discussion starter for what happens during a believer s baptism as well as a teaching tool to introduce the concept of believer s baptism
Talk about believer s baptism prompt sheet Talk about confirmation prompt sheet To introduce the concept that to be a Christian is a choice and that believer s baptism is a symbolic action that demonstrates that choice. To explore the significance, for some Christians of being confirmed. Beginning with the question of what choices do we make each day this sheet then goes on to explore the concept that to become a Christian and to decide to be baptised as a believer is a choice that some people make. The pupils are also encouraged to consider what the longterm consequences of choosing to be baptised might be. The sheet opens up the discussion to the significance of confirmation by asking four questions: What is the person promising? What have they chosen? What does it mean to follow Jesus? What impact might this decision have on their everyday life? Pupils are also asked to think about the longer term consequences of confirmation and what it might mean for some to be seen as a full member of a Christian church.
Lesson Ideas Aims Key Questions Activities Resources 1. Explore the idea that life is a journey and that belonging is an important part of that journey. Along side this begin to understand the concept of Rites of Passage 1. How is life a journey? What are Rites of Passages? What does it mean to belong? 1. Introduce the idea that life can be seen as a journey and that during that journey we share similar experiences birth, belonging to groups, marriage, death etc. For many faiths, including Christians the significant spiritual times are known as Rites of Passage and are marked in significant ways. Highlight that one such time is when a child or adult becomes a member of the Christian family through baptism or confirmation. 1. Rites of Passage Introduction - film 2. Understand baptism as a Rite of Passage. 2. What is baptism? 2. Building on the understanding that Christians celebrate significant times in a person s life in significant and symbolic ways explore in more depth baptism as a Christian Rite of Passage. Begin to make the links between baptism, dedication and confirmation. Explore the significance of Jesus own baptism and the command to Make disciples of all people baptising them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 2. Interactive introduction film 3. Understand the symbolism found within infant baptism water as 3. What are the symbols associated with infant 3. Concentrate on infant baptism why parents may choose to baptise their children, what happens during a baptismal service and the symbols that are used during it. Discuss the everyday uses of water - 3. Infant Baptism film Think about infant baptism sheet
a symbol of life, oils for anointing, light as a symbol of The Light of the World baptism? clean, prepare food, drink etc. Introduce the idea of the significance of water as a symbol of life and link all this with the Christian concept of cleansing and living water. Look also at the symbolism of the candle and the use of oils (this is particularly significant for the Catholic Church) Think through infant baptism - sheet 4. Understand that some Christian parents may decide to have their children dedicated rather than baptised. 4. Why do some Christian parents choose to have their children dedicated? 4. For some Christians having their child dedication rather than baptised is seen as more appropriate believing that baptism is for when a person is old enough to choose for themselves to follow Jesus. Dedication is often linked with thanksgiving but does not only include saying thanks it is also a way of promising to bring your child up in a Christian home. 4. Child s Dedication film 5. Explore why believers may decide to be baptised 5. What is believer s baptism? Why do people decide to be baptised? 5. For many Christians the day of their baptism is amongst the most significant days of their life. Through baptism they are associating themselves with the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and in doing this they are recognising the new birth this offers them. Baptism is also the outward symbol of the Christian dying to their old life and being born again into a new life with Jesus. 5. Believer s Baptism why be baptised? film Believer s Baptism Service film A Believer s Baptism Wheel sheet Talk about believer s baptism prompt sheet
6. Explore what happens during Confirmation and the significance of becoming a member of a church 6. What is Confirmation? What significance does it hold for a believer? 6. Some Christians who were baptised by their parents as babies later on choose to be Confirmed. During the service the person will confirm for themselves the promises that were earlier made on their behalf by their parents. There will also be a time when the Bishop will lay hands on the person s head as a symbol that they are being commissioned or sent out to do God s work in the world. In some churches it is from this point that the person will be recognised as a full member of the church and will be able to participate fully in the Lord s Supper. 6. Confirmation film Talk about confirmation prompt sheet