Baptism and Christening 101

I found an article from a guy that was talking about how he thought the perfect baptism gift would be a baby’s first bible. Of course, he eventually realized that after the 3 children his friend had they now had 3 baby bibles. Not really the unique curve he wanted to throw.

It is hard to find a one of a kind baptism gift these days. We understand that all to well here at the blankie biz. Every blanket you order from us is a one of a kind ULTRA personalized blanket. So even if your friend has 10 children, everyone will still be able to posess their own baptism blankie.

visit http://www.baptismblankie.com

Last night I watched “Dan In Real Life” and I was completely floored by the “Murderer of Love” … ha (Im still laughing at this one). I know I am a bit late on this one since the movie came out forever ago but floating around the web today I stumbled onto to something that struck my interest and reminded me of the movie I just watched last night.

This article is pretty much saying that to protect your child you must let go so they can make decision for themselves.

“It might mean making choices we won’t agree with, like dating a non Christian or them becoming involved in activities we would rather they did not or that we disapprove of. ”

Basically forcing your views on your child will only push them away and in some cases cause unneccessary turmoil. I think the best advice for christian parents is,

“Basically we need to keep trusting that God knows what He is doing, that He loves

our children even more than we do.”

Having faith in those who surround us, including God, is what gives us a better understanding of how to lead our lives.

This is the original article

I am constantly getting questions about what is an appropriate way to present a personalized baby blanket as a baptism gift. Today I would like to address a few things that I have found help a lot when it comes to making your decision on what and what not to add to a baptism blankie.

1. White or Ivory are great selections for colors.

2. Add the date of the baptism and the place of baptism.3. Make the font elegant but still readable.

4. Silver thread is a great way to make a classic blanket that is not too loud for the ceremony.

5. Gift wrapping is a great way to avoid wrapping the blanket in such short notice.

What is the appropriate age for baptism?

The shortest answer is: as soon as possible and practical.

Our teaching on baptism is found in By Water and the Spirit. Here is the most relevant section to this question:

“Understanding the practice as an authentic expression of how God works in our lives, The United Methodist Church strongly advocates the baptism of infants within the faith community: “Because the redeeming love of God, revealed in Jesus Christ, extends to all persons and because Jesus explicitly included the children in his kingdom, the pastor of each charge shall earnestly exhort all Christian parents or guardians to present their children to the Lord in Baptism at an early age” (1992 Book of Discipline, par. 221)” (para. 226 in the 2004 Book of Discipline).

No specific age is named, but the expectation is that pastors will encourage baptism to be received promptly AND on a schedule compatible with having appropriate time for meeting with parents, sponsors, and others who are involved most directly in ensuring that the child to be baptized will be nurtured in an environment that will lead her or him to a commitment to personal discipleship to Jesus Christ in the life of the church.

The practice in some congregations is to “baptize on demand,” at a time when this is most convenient for the family. This can place a serious strain on the capacity of the pastor and the congregation to live up to their requirements to ensure that adequate instruction and incorporation of the parents and sponsors has taken place. Ecumenical practice has moved toward offering baptism on or around specific critical moments in the church year– Easter, Pentecost, All Saints, Christ the King, Baptism of the Lord and Transfiguration Sunday. Such a schedule creates opportunity for the congregation to develop a more systemic response (including the scheduling of regular classes or formational experiences) that helps connect the lives of the newly baptized and their parents and sponsors with the life not only of the particular local congregation, but the liturgical life of the universal Church. These Sundays are also often practiced as Communion Sundays in our Church, even in congregations that may not yet practice weekly communion. By Water and the Spirit and This Holy Mystery both indicate that on Sundays when baptism is celebrated, communion should also be celebrated, and that special care should be given to ensure that those newly baptized and their sponsors and parents are included in this celebration.

While baptism is understood primarily as a means of God’s grace toward the child, By Water and the Spirit also states:
“If a parent or sponsor (godparent) cannot or will not nurture the child in the faith, then baptism is to be postponed until Christian nurture is available.”

Baptism is, among other things, incorporation into the body of Christ. The questions asked in the baptism of infants are asked not of the parents and sponsors to answer on behalf of the infant, but on behalf of themselves. Those who cannot or will not answer these questions affirmatively for themselves in good faith are not yet ready to support another in a journey toward discipleship to Jesus Christ, and so are not able to enter the covenant relationship entailed in baptism.

In instances where it is clear that the parents and identified sponsors of a baptized child may not be able or willing to live as faithful disciples of Jesus in the baptismal covenant, By Water and the Spirit offers this instruction:
“If a child has been baptized but her or his family or sponsors do not faithfully nurture the child in the faith, the congregation has a particular responsibility for incorporating the child into its life.”

Find the original version and informational links here.

Trying to decide where to have your Christening party after church? I have an Idea!

Many places have gospel brunches on sundays like Stubbs in Austin or House of Blues in Dallas. Why not invite the whole family to enjoy some live music and sunday praise on the day of your baby’s Christening. The setting is inviting and your guests are sure to be entertained.

Sarah Palin discusses her baptism experience with CBN News,”I was baptized with my family, all my siblings, and we all got baptized together in Little Beaver Lake in Big Lake, Alaska by Pastor Riley,” says Palin.

To read more the video and full transcripts are on CBN.com 

Fr Kennedy got a little upset at church the other day, knocking a camera phone out of the hands of a man taking photos. While the friar was upset about taking pictures of children without consent, the camera phone guy was only taking pictures of the Friar. Turns out, he wasn’t wearing the proper Friar garb and the man was creating evidence to report him to the Vatican and get him removed.

Lesson being: Have a private baptism if you would like to skip the drama.

Check out the whole story here.

A heated debate between a Presbyterian church and a Catholic church neighboring across the street from each other shows the extent to which each faith will go to be #1 in the opinions of God and Heaven.

Here you will find many resources on Baptism and the Church of England translation of what it means to be a baptized christian. Each link will direct you straight through to understanding the important concepts behind baptism. Here you will find:

• Introduction
• Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child
• Confirmation
• Affirmation of faith
• What now

For more information check out Baptism, Confirmation and the Affirmation of Baptismal Faith

Everyday I come across conflicting information when it comes to religious topics and especially now that the Presidency is up for grabs. (might as well be religion!) I thought I would share this with you all.

Good thoughts from kidology.org -

1. We ought to have convictions.

On difficult topics, I would rather someone have a strong conviction that I disagree with than for them to be wishy-washy. James 1:8 says that the double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. Not taking a position IS a position, just not a strong one. We ought never to look down on a person with convictions, but rather, should admire them for having convictions even if we disagree with their conviction!

2. People who disagree with you probably love God as much as you do.

Too often, when Christians disagree, they jump so quickly to judging the other at a level that is above and beyond the issue of disagreement. Suddenly, the other is addressed or talked about as though they are less of a Christian or are somehow less spiritual because they think differently. Too often I hear attacks like, ”You must not want to reach kids…” or ”Then you don’t care about…” Don’t be a Pharisee and mistake outward actions for proof of inner spirituality. People can have the same love for God as you and come to a different conclusion on a controversial subject.

3. Differing opinions in areas not spelled out in Scripture are not so much a result of a lack of unity as they are evidence that we were all created differently.

Discussing our opinions and convictions forces us to think and to challenge our assumptions and presuppositions. Throughout our history as God’s people, disagreements have helped us to define and clarify what we believe. Embrace conflict, for it refines you. Proverbs says that as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. What many fail to notice is that for iron to sharpen iron, it must clash or rub against the other!

4. Remember we are family, and will be spending a lot of time together in the future (eternity!).
   • Be genuinely interested in Truth.
   • Be willing to listen as eagerly as you are willing to talk.
   • Be willing to change your mind.
   • Argue ideas passionately, but never attack the person.
   • Argue in such a way so that when you get to Heaven and find out who was right, you won’t be embarrassed when you run into them!

I started a little discussion group when I was a Bible college student at Moody. It was called C.H.A.T. and it stood for Christians Happily Arguing Theology. We met monthly for a C.H.A.T. session. We would pick a different subject each time and argue about it (end times, election/free-will, infant baptism, gifts of H.S., etc.). Below is our list of basic rules or ideas that kept our arguing ‘happy’. If you broke these rules, you were asked to leave and were not invited to the next C.H.A.T.