Explanation of Christening ceremony to a 3 year old!!!

[alj1968]

My 3year old daughter and my 10 month old son are to be christened in a couple of weeks. It is at URC church (for those who don't know it is similar to CofE ish!). Can anyone help with a basic explanation of the ceremony that will help my daughter understand?

Can you explain that in order to be really part of her church family the priest/vicar/minister will pour water over her head as a way of starting her new church life? (having had a discussion first about water meaning life - watering plants, drinking, refreshing etc)

I'd think about what your own baptism means to you. What did it mean to you as a child? To me it was and is a sign that God loves me and that the Spirit is always with me, so that is what I would emphasise to my dds - both have been baptised but we will be getting ds 'done' one day. I personally don't see it as a welcome into the Church but I understand that is very important for many. I don't see it as 'remission for sin' either particularly in relation to a child.

A good place to start might be telling the story of Jesus being baptised by John the Baptist.

Another nice idea (and one I am shamefully rubbish at remembering) is to mark the day of your child's baptism with a small gift and celebration as a day of 'new birth'.

its when god and jesus welcomes her to their house where they can come and go and always be welcome.