Waltham Forest Deanery
Baptism and Confirmation with the Celebration of Holy Communion
by the Bishop of Chelmsford The Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani
at St Edmundʼs Chingford
Sunday 12th October 2025 3pm
‘You will receive the power of the Holy Spirit which will come
on you. And then you will be my witnesses…ʼ Acts 1:8
Confirmation marks the point in the Christian journey when we affirm for ourselves the faith into which we have been baptised – often as a baby – and our intention to live the rest of our lives as a follower of Jesus Christ. This step is confirmed through prayer, anointing with holy oil and the laying on of hands by a bishop. Once someone has been Confirmed, they are full members of the Church of England and are welcome to receive Holy Communion in any Anglican church. It is my privilege to be the bishop confirming our candidates this afternoon. I ask you to join with me in praying for them as they take this important step forward in their Christian witness and journey of faith.
+ Guli
The Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford
The candidates for confirmation are:
St Maryʼs Walthamstow
Noah Copperwheat
Violet Danaswamy-Santiz
Clara Danaswamy-Santiz
Libbi Barrick
Imogen Griffiths
Mary Desowska
Leanne Saunders
Zach Fouhy
Laura O’Brien
St Edmund’s Chingford
Malcolm Beale
Shania Bishop
Alex Bowen
Harley-Mason James-Field
Jasmyne Jeffries
Jacob Sohail
Anu Sriskandarajah
St John’s Leytonstone
Darren Kigongo
The ministers enter during the first hymn.
Hymn
Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come:
’tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease:
I shall possess, within the veil,
a life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
the sun forbear to shine;
but God, who called me here below,
will be forever mine.
The Greeting
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
There is one body and one spirit.
There is one hope to which we were called;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all.
Peace be with you
and also with you.
The bishop offers informal words of welcome.
The Collect
The bishop introduces a period of silent prayer.
Gracious God,
You call us to fullness of life:
delivery us from unbelief
and banish our anxieties
with the liberating love of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
Readings
Jeremiah 29:1,4-7
These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.
Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn
We have a gospel to proclaim,
good news for all throughout the earth;
the gospel of a Saviourʼs name:
we sing his glory, tell his worth.
Tell of his birth at Bethlehem,
not in a royal house or hall
but in a stable dark and dim:
the Word made flesh, a light for all.
Tell of his death at Calvary,
hated by those he came to save;
in lonely suffering on the cross
for all he loved, his life he gave.
Tell of that glorious Easter morn:
empty the tomb, for he was free;
he broke the power of death and hell
that we might share his victory.
Tell of his reign at Godʼs right hand
by all creation glorified;
he sends his Spirit on his church
to live for him, the Lamb who died.
Now we rejoice to name him King:
Jesus is Lord of all the earth;
this gospel-message we proclaim:
we sing his glory, tell his worth.
Gospel Reading
Luke 17:11-19.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Glory to you, O Lord.
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!ʼ When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.ʼ And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesusʼ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?ʼ Then he said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.ʼ
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
The Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani
The Liturgy of Initiation
Presentation of the Candidates
The candidates are presented by those who have prepared them.
The bishop asks those who are candidates for baptism
Do you wish to be baptized?
I do.
The bishop asks the candidates for confirmation who have been baptized
Have you been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit?
I have.
The bishop asks all the candidates
Are you ready with your own mouth and from your own heart to affirm your faith in Jesus Christ?
I am.
The bishop addresses the whole congregation
Faith is the gift of God to his people. In baptism the Lord is adding to our number those whom he is calling. People of God, will you welcome these candidates and uphold them in their life in Christ?
With the help of God, we will.
The Decision
The bishop addresses all the candidates
In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light.
To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him.
Therefore I ask:
Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?
I reject them.
Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?
I renounce them.
Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour?
I repent of them.
Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?
I turn to Christ.
Do you submit to Christ as Lord?
I submit to Christ.
Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?
I come to Christ.
Signing with the Cross
The bishop makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of each candidate for baptism, saying
Christ claims you for his own.
Receive the sign of his cross.
When all the candidates for baptism have been signed, the bishop says to them
Do not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified.
Fight valiantly as a disciple of Christ
against sin, the world and the devil,
and remain faithful to Christ to the end of your life.
May almighty God deliver you from the powers of darkness,
restore in you the image of his glory,
and lead you in the light and obedience of Christ.
Amen.
Prayer over the Water
The ministers and candidates for baptism and confirmation, gather at the baptismal font.
The bishop stands before the water of baptism and says
Praise God who made heaven and earth,
who keeps his promise for ever.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
We thank you, almighty God, for the gift of water
to sustain, refresh and cleanse all life.
Over water the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation.
Through water you led the children of Israel
from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land.
In water your Son Jesus received the baptism of John
and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ,
to lead us from the death of sin to newness of life.
We thank you, Father, for the water of baptism.
In it we are buried with Christ in his death.
By it we share in his resurrection.
Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, in joyful obedience to your Son,
we baptize into his fellowship those who come to him in faith.
Now sanctify this water that, by the power of your Holy Spirit,
they may be cleansed from sin and born again.
Renewed in your image, may they walk by the light of faith
and continue for ever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Lord;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be all honour and glory, now and for ever.
Amen.
Profession of Faith
The bishop addresses the congregation
Brothers and sisters, I ask you to profess
together with these candidates the faith of the Church.
Do you believe and trust in God the Father?
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Baptism
The bishop may address the candidates for baptism, saying
Is this your faith?
This is my faith.
The bishop pours water on each candidate, saying
N, I baptize you
in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
May God, who has received you by baptism into his Church,
pour upon you the riches of his grace,
that within the company of Christʼs pilgrim people
you may daily be renewed by his anointing Spirit,
and come to the inheritance of the saints in glory.
Amen.
The candidates for confirmation who have previously been baptized may come forward to the font and sign themselves with water, or the bishop may sprinkle them.
Almighty God,
we thank you for our fellowship in the household of faith
with all who have been baptized into your name.
Keep us faithful to our baptism,
and so make us ready for that day
when the whole creation shall be made perfect in your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The ministers and candidates for confirmation return to the chancel step during the hymn.
Hymn
Come down, O Love divine,
seek thou this soul of mine,
and visit it with thine own ardour glowing;
O Comforter, draw near,
within my heart appear,
and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.
O let it freely burn,
till earthly passions turn
to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
and let thy glorious light
shine ever on my sight,
and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.
And so the yearning strong,
with which the soul will long,
shall far outpass the power of human telling;
for none can guess its grace,
till Love create a place
wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.
Confirmation
Our help is in the name of the Lord
who has made heaven and earth.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
now and for ever. Amen.
The bishop extends their hands towards those to be confirmed and says
Almighty and ever-living God,
you have given these your servants new birth
in baptism by water and the Spirit,
and have forgiven them all their sins.
Let your Holy Spirit rest upon them:
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding;
the Spirit of counsel and inward strength;
the Spirit of knowledge and true godliness;
and let their delight be in the fear of the Lord.
Amen.
The bishop addresses each candidate by name and anoints them with oil
N, God has called you by name and made you his own.
The bishop then lays their hand on the head of each candidate, saying
Confirm, O Lord, your servant with your Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The bishop invites the congregation to pray for all those on whom hands have been laid
Defend, O Lord, these your servants with your heavenly grace
that they may continue yours for ever,
and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more
until they come to your everlasting kingdom.
Amen.
The Welcome and Peace
The bishop may address the newly baptized
There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism:
N and N, by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body.
We welcome you in the fellowship of faith;
we are children of the same heavenly Father;
we welcome you.
The congregation may greet the newly baptized and confirmed (usually a round of applause).
The bishop introduces the Peace.
God has made us one in Christ.
He has set his seal upon us
and, as a pledge of what is to come,
has given the Spirit to dwell in our hearts.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
All may exchange a sign of peace.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist
Offertory Hymn
O Jesus, I have promised
to serve thee to the end;
be Thou forever near me,
my Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
if thou art by my side,
nor wander from the pathway
if thou wilt be my Guide.
O let me feel thee near me,
the world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
the tempting sounds I hear;
my foes are ever near me,
around me and within;
but, Jesus, draw thou nearer,
and shield my soul from sin.
O let me hear thee speaking
in accents clear and still,
above the storms of passion,
the murmurs of self-will;
O speak to reassure me,
to hasten or control!
O speak, and make me listen,
thou Guardian of my soul!
O Jesus, thou hast promised
to all who follow thee
that where thou art in glory
there shall thy servant be;
and, Jesus, I have promised
to serve thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow,
my Master and my Friend!
Preparation of the Table
The table is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it.
The Eucharistic Prayer
The bishop says
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
Father, we give you thanks and praise
through your beloved Son Jesus Christ, your living Word,
through whom you have created all things;
who was sent by you in your great goodness to be our Saviour.
By the power of the Holy Spirit he took flesh;
as your Son, born of the blessed Virgin,
he lived on earth and went about among us;
he opened wide his arms for us on the cross;
he put an end to death by dying for us;
and revealed the resurrection by rising to new life;
so he fulfilled your will and won for you a holy people.
And now we give you thanks
because by water and the Holy Spirit
you have made us a holy people in Jesus Christ our Lord,
you raise us to new life in him
and renew in us the image of your glory.
Therefore with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we proclaim your great and glorious name,
for ever praising you and singing:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness;
grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit,
and according to your holy will,
these gifts of bread and wine
may be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ;
who, in the same night that he was betrayed,
took bread and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way, after supper
he took the cup and gave you thanks;
he gave it to them, saying:
Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me.
Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.
And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross,
his perfect sacrifice made once for the sins of the whole world;
rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension,
and looking for his coming in glory,
we celebrate this memorial of our redemption.
As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving,
we bring before you this bread and this cup
and we thank you for counting us worthy
to stand in your presence and serve you.
Send the Holy Spirit on your people
and gather into one in your kingdom
all who share this one bread and one cup,
so that we, in the company of all the saints,
may praise and glorify you for ever,
through Jesus Christ our Lord;
by whom, and with whom, and in whom,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Breaking of the Bread
The bishop breaks the consecrated bread.
We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many, we are one body,
because we all share in one bread.
Jesus, Lamb of God:
have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins:
have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world:
give us your peace.
Giving of Communion
God’s holy gifts for God’s holy people.
Jesus Christ is holy,
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
The bishop and people receive communion.
Prayer after Communion
Lord, we pray that your grace
may always precede and follow us
and make us continually to be given all good works;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Sending Out
Commission
Those who are baptized are called to worship and serve God.
Will you continue in the apostlesʼ teaching and fellowship,
in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
With the help of God, I will.
Will you persevere in resisting evil,
and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
With the help of God, I will.
Will you proclaim by word and example
the good news of God in Christ?
With the help of God, I will.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all people,
loving your neighbour as yourself?
With the help of God, I will.
Will you acknowledge Christʼs authority over human society,
by prayer for the world and its leaders,
by defending the weak, and by seeking peace and justice?
With the help of God, I will.
May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith,
that you may be rooted and grounded in love
and bring forth the fruit of the Spirit.
Amen.
The Blessing
The God of all grace,
who called you to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus,
establish, strengthen and settle you in the faith;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be upon you and remain with you always.
Amen.
Hymn
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
be all else but naught to me, save that thou art;
be thou my best thought in the day and the night,
both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.
Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word,
be thou ever with me, and I with thee, Lord;
be thou my great Father, and I thy true son;
be thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.
Riches I heed not, nor manʼs empty praise:
be thou mine inheritance now and always;
be thou and thou only the first in my heart:
O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art.
High King of heaven, thou heavenʼs bright Sun,
O grant me its joys after victʼry is won;
Great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be thou my vision, O Ruler of all.
Giving of a Lighted Candle
The bishop gives each of the newly baptized and confirmed a lighted candle, usually lit from the Paschal candle. When all have received a candle, the bishop says
God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness
and has given us a place with the saints in light.
You have received the light of Christ;
walk in this light all the days of your life.
Shine as a light in the world
to the glory of God the Father.
The Dismissal
Go in the light and peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
The bishop leads the candidates out of the church to symbolise taking the light of Christ into the world.
Refreshments will be served in the Blake Hall – all are welcome to join confirmation candidates and their supporters to celebrate!
There will be a retiring collection for the LMDC Charity. The LMDC Charity (https://www.lmdccharity.org.uk ) supports clergy and licensed lay people in financial hardship, who minister within the Diocese of Chelmsford.
Gift Aid envelopes are available which can increase the value of your donation by 25% if you are an eligible tax payer.
Source material: “Common Worshipˮ, © Archbishopsʼ Council 2000-2006
The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible is copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches in the USA. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved.
Hymns
CCLI Licence No 1207856
Amazing Grace, by John Newton (1725-1807) Public domain>
We have a gospel to proclaim, by Edward Joseph Burns (1938-)
© 1968 The Lorenz Corporation (Admin. by Song Solutions http://www.songsolutions.org)
Come down O Love divine (Discendi, Amor santo), by Bianco da Siena (c1350-c1434), translated by Richard Frederick Littledale (1833-1890) Public domain
O Jesus I have promised, by John Ernest Bode (1816-1874) Public domain
Be thou my vision, Irish c8th century, translated by Mary Byrne (1880-1931), versified by Eleanor Hull (1860-1935) Public domain
St Edmund, Chingford 