christenings and Baptisms

The Purpose of Christening

The ritual of Christening is ancient in origin predating even the earliest Christian traditions. Over the centuries, the form in which the rite is administered and the interpretation of its meaning have undergone many changes, and even today it is practiced in many different forms.

Underlying all differences in religious traditions is a common foundation - a sense that we are more than physical beings. The purpose of Christening is to recognize in an outer way the spiritual identity and purpose of a soul.

In Unity, we look to the example of Jesus as our guide. In Mark 10: 13-16 we read that Jesus took children in his arms and blessed them. Christening in Unity is the act of welcoming a child into our world and recognizing this soul by name in its human journey. It is a time for parents to dedicate themselves to raising their child in an awareness of God's loving presence.

What the Service Is Like
The service lasts about 20 minutes. We explain the purpose, pray, recognize the divine potential of the child, ask the parents to dedicate themselves to the privilege and joy of nurturing the child, and extend our blessings to all.

Godparents and Sponsors
You may choose as many people in either or both of these roles as you wish, or have no Godparents or sponsors. There is no legal obligation or responsibility made through this service. If you choose to have someone in either of these roles we will ask them during the service to bless the child and parents in their life journey.

Baptisms

For older children (age 7 & above) and adults, we provide a baptism service.