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St Peter's Church
Kineton
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Our New Baby's Baptism and Our New Community (A Personal Experience Story) - By Michael Mychajluk
As fairly new members to Kineton's friendly and family orientated community we were still a little nervous at approaching St. Peter's Church to discuss the baptism of our now third daughter. However, there was really no need to be nervous. We went to St. Peter's one bright and sunny Sunday morning and found Charmaine (the Vicar) and Ian Host and all the regular worshippers friendly and welcoming, despite our over excited young daughters and crying (teething) baby. Just like the village of Kineton and its wonderful Church of England Schools and Playgroup, St. Peter's was a perfect reflection of this warm and caring place, as of course you would expect being centred at the heart of this community.
After the peaceful (peaceful for me as my wife was soothing the baby) yet uplifting service, Charmaine took some time to talk about the baptism and to get to know us a little better. We explained that we were slowly settling into this vibrant village life, and we felt that our five month old baby should be christened soon. Charmaine was delighted that we had come to Church to ask her about the baptism and even offered to baptise our older girls, but my wife so eloquently stated that they had already been done.
Charmaine arranged to visit us one evening when we talked more about the importance of baptism, the arrangements for the baptism, the church and its community. Everything she said was useful, thought provoking and important. We found the evening useful in getting to know Charmaine as a person and not just a the vicar. Once we had asked and more vitally had agreement from the Godparents, we arranged a further pleasant evening with the vicar, godparents and ourselves for another meaning of life evening which was actually great fun (especially after the cork was popped from a nice bottle of wine).
I believe this process of really getting to know the vicar and discussing the meaning of the baptism was just so great and important to what turned out to be a most wonderful and joyful baptism service. Our special thanks to Charmaine, Ian, and our daughter's Godparents and to all our friends and family for making this one of the most special days we have ever had.