To think that if you are having your child baptised during a Communion service you should take your child up to be blessed?

[Klio]

I would like to make it clear that I am not expecting people who have their child baptised to attend church on a regular basis but........ in the last six weeks five of our Sunday morning Communion services have included a Baptism and in every case not a single member of the Baptismal party (about half the congregation) have gone forward for either Communion or a blessing, even the parents of the child being baptised have not taken the child forward for a blessing.

In every case the priest has made a general invitation to everyone to come forward for Communion/blessing, although I know that the importance of the blessing is explained to parents as part of the baptismal preparation course parents undertake. Also in the last baptism one of the baptismal party actually made a phone call during Communion to tell someone that "they're just doing the bread and wine thing but we'll be out of here soon"

Should people who have their child baptised during a Communion service take their child up for a blessing or AIBU?

I don't think the reason why other Christians are not allowed to take communion in the Roman Catholic church is anything to do with them being considered non-Christian. Especially as the RC church specifically recognises one baptism, and so people who convert say from the Anglican to the RC church are not baptised again.

The difference is in what the Eucharist mean in differet Christian churches surely?

Incidentally, when DH (CofE) started going out with me, he was told by some Chrustan Union friends not to 'yoke himself to an unbeliever'. Fotunately he did.

I'm not even sure I agree with your not expecting the parents of baby baptismal candidates to be churchgoers, surely that just makes them hypocrites? YANBU

Also, I was unaware of the only having communion if you had been confirmed.

In my church (methodist, since I was 5yo) children are taught about communion in sunday school and invited to take part. Blessings seemed to be saved for babies and young children (under age 7 or so)

I can remember taking ym first communion at about 7yo, but wasnt confirmed until I was 16.

I agree with justabout. And so does our priest .

Gosh this is all getting terribly confusing! Anglican catholics,non-catholics....
I am Roman Catholic but dont take communion if i go to a C of E church.Why?! I have no idea

baptism seems for some to be such a huge event but not taken seriously once the party is over

I didn't say they shouldn't be allowed it, I just don't understand why it is important for one day for a baby, when it isn't high on the priorities for the parents' lives

It seems silly to me to get baby baptised in the C of E when you have intention of keeping the promises. If you want to celebrate a baby's birth then churches do offer the option of a blessing service for a baby.

The C of E is happy to celebrate the birth of ANY baby.

Jammi I think you mean transubstantiation, not transfiguration Yes in the Roman Catholic tradition it is believed at the moment of consecration the bread and wine "transforms" into the body and blood of Christ, whereas in the CofE and other denominations the bread and wine are symbolic of Christ's body and blood, which is the fundamental difference between Rome and other demominations.

Anglo-catholics are a branch of the CofE who emphasise continuity with Catholicism. Ever since the reformation there has always been Anglicans whose thoughts and views are closely aligned to Rome and they are normaly called Anglo-Catholics.

Justabout - I agree that a genuine desire to have your child baptised should be honoured whether or not you are a regular churchgoer. Maybe this opens up a whole new can of worms as to baptismal preparation courses, expectations of parents, etc...... ?

I wish it would all just merge again really. It's so stupid that there are romanc catholics and anglican catholics (cofE) and most people couldn't say more than 20 words what the differences are.

There are a few, but not many. And because of those few differences, oh so much drama and trouble and upset!

ALL christian churches should be trying to work towards a REUNIFICATION of the A&R catholic churches

Or am I being HOPELESSLY naive here?!

Oh yeah, good point justabout, now you mention it. I also think that women should be allowed to be ministers.

I hope that the cofE don't end up splitting over that. The old dinosaurs who are against women mininstering are .. makes me [cross]

Ah yes, our baptismal preparation for ds' bptism involved the curate popping over to practice holding ds as it was his first baptism (curate that is, not ds!)

Totally agree with women ministers, and so I also have no desire to work towards reunification with Rome. Just don't get me started on that element of the CofE who are against the ordination of women

Many Anglicans believe that the bread and wine become Christ's Body and Blood in the Eucharist but in a spiritual not physical way. I have always thought that Elizabeth 1's reputed answer to her sister Mary's Inquisitors' question abou the meaning of the Sacrament was a complete answer both to our human inabiity to understand fully and our arrogance in so often thinking that we do. She is reputed to have said:
'Twas God the Word that spake it:
He took the bread and brake it,
And That which He did make It,
I do believe and take It."
When I go to Roman Catholic weddings here I am always sad not to be able to take Communion. Roman Catholics can do so in Anglican Churches who welcome all in good standing with their own church. In France the Roman Catholic clergy seem to be able to permit Anglicans not only to take Communion but also Anglican priests to concelebrate. That seems to me to be amuch more catholic and Christian approach and I wish it was more common here as well.

I had DD christened as part of a communion service but didn't take her up for a blessing at the service because she was fast asleep on DH who is an atheist. I preferred to let her sleep than take her off DH, calm the screaming and settle her back down, go for a blessing, sit back down again. As it was, I took communion on my own.

Sorry, didn't realise that meant I'm not a committed Christian .

BTW, I do attend church regularly and often with DD.

I can understand why,many parents/members of their party might not go up for a blessing,a church service can be very daunting & it was the fear of doing the wrong thing that stopped me doing it on my first few visits to church.eventually we were guided through it.how much baptism classes/practice does your church offer before the service? maybe if you are making sure that the parents are confident & aware of church etiquette/what to do then they would feel happier more confident to take part & encourage others.Im sure if the parents of the babies were to become regular members of your church & you asked them why they didnt come up for a blessing the answer would be fear of the unknown.i now think back to the times i didnt go up for a blessing & hope that none of my congregation were sat there judging me,use your time before communion not to judge others but to pray or help others eg.ask new people sitting next to you looking lost if they want to go for a blessing & what to do etc

I think that it should be complusory to for at least one parent have 25% attendence at a church for six months before having a child baptised in a church. It would weed out those who just see the church as a suitable place to hold a party.

If you are choosing to make promises to bring your child up as a christian then not knowing the ettiquette of the church is pathetic.

I'm sorry justabout, but I really do not think you have a clue what infant baptism is.

If you are promising to bring your child up as christian then its not unreasonable to expect someone to go to church occassionally. The promises are supposed to be taken seriously. The adults in a child's life are supposed to lead by example.

Jesus' disciples certainly met regularly and were instructed to do so. If you are bringing your child up as christian then you should follow Jesus's teachings. Otherwise you are a liar and hyprocite getting your child baptised in the Church of England.

There is the option of a dedication if you don't want to make promises that you have no intenion of keeping. The Church of England has a service of blessing as the birth of any baby is worth a celebration.