Friday, February 15, 2008

the Friday Five -- Baptisms

1. When and where were you baptized? I was baptized in the summer of 1955 at St. Mark's United Church in Lockerby, a suburb, sort of, of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
Do you remember it? Yes, I do... I was almost 11 years old.
Know any interesting tidbits? My father's family were Christian Scientists and my mother's family were Church of Christ (Disciples) so infant baptism wasn't a high priority on either side; but by 1955 we were members of the United Church, and when my mother gave birth to twins in March, our minister suggested all four of us kids be baptized at once. And we were.
2. What's the most unexpected thing you've ever witnessed at a baptism? I can't think of anything too outrageous...although I did once baptize a set of triplets...which was fun.
3. Does your congregation have any special traditions surrounding baptisms? No but we're working on it! I do carry little people down the aisle and back to be greeted by one and all...I lead older kids and adults.
4. Are you a godparent or baptismal sponsor? I am godmother to two nieces and one nephew and the son of a friend.
Have a story to tell? Yes! I first met one of my niece-goddaughters at a family New Year's Day gathering when she was two and a half (there had been a proxy at her actual baptism). Her mom and I noticed that she was making very frequent trips to the bathroom. When her mom enquired, Goddaughter confessed that she was making sure she couldn't possibly have an ACCIDENT in front of her godmother (she was just out of diapers and in training pants). When I got home again I sent her a half-dozen pairs of lacy nylon panties...and I'm told that was "the END" for the training pants. Well, it seemed like a godmotherly thing to do!
5. Do you have a favorite baptismal song or hymn? "O Spirit of the Living God" and "Down Galilee's Slow Roadways" are both good (The Book of Common Praise)

10 comments:

Dorcas (aka SingingOwl) said...

Smiling at #4. Very godmotherly thing to do indeed.

Sally said...

great godmotherly thing to do!!!

rev h-d said...

As the mom of a three-year-old trying to potty w/o accidents I loved this story. It's amazing the affects others can have on our kids. Its really grewat to hear a good one!

Rev Kim said...

I love #3, and that you lead teens and adults out into the congregation too. I once read in a book on worship practices, written by one of the giants in the field, something to the effect that we should only carry a baby out into the congregation after a baptism if we're prepared to carry an adult as well - that way we get beyond the sappiness of "ooh, look at the cute baby" to the theological significance of what's happening in baptism. You found a way to do that!

Great play!

Diane M. Roth said...

I love your goddaughter story. really makes me smile.
and that she wanted to impress you so much.

Jan said...

What a nice godmother. Such a good story. Thank you.

RevHRod said...

You aren't just a godmother, you're a god-mommy! What a great story!

Auntie Knickers said...

Great godmother story, and now you've gone and added another hymnal to my wishlist. I don't know either of those songs.

Crimson Rambler said...

Hi auntie, "The Book of Common Praise" (1998)is known familiarly as "New Blue" to distinguish it from the Old Hymnal (1938) = "Old Blue". It IS a pretty good collection. One of our choristers kept track over a year and he said we sang about 44 percent of what was in it, he thought.
In between the two Blues, we used "That Red Book"...a joint hymnal published with the United Church of Canada: a much smaller collection ~~ it had its eccentricities and was not much loved!

Terri said...

Ahhh, yes, very godmotherly indeed!