The young clergyman [I can’t believe I just wrote that…am I really so aged?]  looked puzzled when I asked him if he had an up-to-date ‘cradle roll’. I’ve done a bit of research (you know, asked around the office…real indepth stuff) and it seems that the term is unknown to ‘post-boomer’ generations.

In my view ‘cradle rolls’ are brilliant outreach tools. Let me give you the short version; ‘cradle roll by numbers’.

1. A child is baptised (after you’ve done all the necessary preparation). Her name (let’s call her Sophie) and other relevant info goes into the Baptism Register and the Cradle Roll (CR). Parents are told that this is what will happen. These days CR’s are basically data bases updated by the office team. The aim of the CR is to maintain credible, personal contact with Sophie and her family over the next decade or so. Immediately, Sophie’s parents will begin to receive the quarterly e-newsletter from St. Bart’s (where she was ‘done’).

2. On Sophie’s next (and subsequent) birthday(s) a card signed by the staff member who prepared the family for baptism is sent. Always ensure the envelope is hand written.

3. One month before the anniversary of Sophie’s baptism, all the family (including godparents) are invited to a service where Sophie will be prayed for and the family warmly welcomed back. This only takes a few moments in the service, is in no way intrusive, has huge ‘feel good’ value and let’s the family know that they really do matter to God and their local church. This will continue for at least five years (at which point Sophie will be in Sunday School..more of that at point ‘7’).

4. Sophie’s family will receive warm hand written invitations to all ‘fixed feasts’; Mother’s Day service, Father’s Day service, Easter and Christmas services.

5. In addition, Sophie’s parents (or carer) will be asked if they’d like to bring her to the playgroup at St. Bart’s. A personal note from a member of the playgroup team is in order at this point.

6. St. Bart’s have discovered that parenting courses are very popular in their particular community. Sophie’s parents are sent the info packet on the ‘Toddler Taming’ and the ‘How To Be an Effective Parent ‘(or whatever it is called) program.  In this environment they’ll pick up some very valuable skills and they’ll meet other couples (and carers) from St. Bart’s.

7. St. Bart’s run holiday clubs, GFS, CEBS, ‘dad’n'daughter’/‘mother’n'daughter’ camps, and Sunday School ministries. Can you guess what happens? Right! Sophie and her family are given the opportunity to participate in these activities.

8. Roll the tape forward a few years and Sophie will be ready for Friday Fellowship, the evening service and Confirmation classes.

And we know all this because the CR keeps a record of Sophie’s progress and alerts us to upcoming ministry opportunities.

The young clergyman (oops sorry, can’t help myself) was way ahead of me. He’d already figured out the kind of software he’d need and would I mind if he dropped my name when he approached the Parish Council for a new laptop to drive it all?