Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

Reasons to tell Vicar why I want DS's christened - any advice?

111 replies

Holymoly321 · 30/07/2008 09:09

DS1 is coming up to 3 and DS2 is 8mths. We've always wanted to get them christened and named the god parents long ago (esp DS1 godparents who have now been waiting for it to be made 'official' for over two years!). Well we can't put it off any longer, and we are going to see a church this week to talk to the vicar about organising a christening. Only thing is, I was never christened and we've never been to church. I'm sure the vicar will want us to give good reasons why we want the boys christened - what can we say? It's not anything to do with schools or anything - I would just love them to be properly christened.

OP posts:

ElfOnTheTopShelf · 30/07/2008 15:52

I always like to read these threads, never sure if I'm a hypocrit because I do not go to Church

butterflybessie · 30/07/2008 16:02

In answer to the op what about the obvious?

That you are Christians and intend to bring your dcs up in the Christian faith.

If this is not the case then you should have a naming ceremony or something along those lines.

I am not a Christian and did not care if my dcs were christened or not, my dh is one and wanted them done, so be it.

To have a Christening just because.......... its a good party, it is a rite of passage or the photos will look lovely etc is (IMHO) a pile of shite and incredibly hypocritical

lizinthesticks · 30/07/2008 16:37

Best thread title ever.

Need reasons to spiel vicar w/ to blag a christening. CLASSIC!!

Brilliant. Wish I'd bloody thought of it. Wind up or not, it rules.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting Philosophy & religion

ComeOVeneer · 30/07/2008 16:43

Elf I don't believe yu have to attend church regularly to be christian, I do however feel christianity, belief in the religion, educating your child about it, praying etc must have some part in your life in order to validate (for want of a better word) having your child christened in church. Otherwise what is the point of doing it?

ElfOnTheTopShelf · 30/07/2008 17:33

I was only asking because I have had people question why I had DD christened "because you dont go to Church".
But I am a Christian, I pray, I read her bible stories at bedtime, I have faith.
I just sometimes feel as if people are questionning my faith because I do not go to Church.

CarGirl · 30/07/2008 17:42

The bible is clear that if you follow Jesus being part of his body is a requirement which means being part of a church (ie the people being in relationships with them).

Now I understand being part of church has it's draw backs because we're all human, and yes you can follow Jesus & be a christian without attending a church but you are ignoring a strightforward commandment that Jesus gave by not being part of his body.

Hope that makes sense???

I'm not judging you for not going but I'm explaining the rational behind why it's important to attend/be part of IYSWIM

SqueakyPop · 30/07/2008 17:49

I agree totally with Cargirl.

You do not have fullness of faith without being part of a church community. You cannot grow in faith. I cannot imagine what it is like not to go to church, or why people only go a few times a year.

TinySocks · 30/07/2008 17:52

I'm with ElfOnTheTopShelf! Feel exactly the same.

CarGirl · 30/07/2008 17:59

it's taken me 8 years to become a member of the church I go to because of the people in it etc, well God has rapped me over the knuckles and I'm becoming a member even though a lot of the time I feel like running for the hills away from some of them!

Being part of a church certainly makes your love for others grow and teaches you lots about forgiveness too.

reethi96 · 30/07/2008 19:43

Smiling, sorry for not replying earlier, it has been too nice to MN today!

The vicar will give you a video explaining the differences between a blessing and a full christening. I suppose I felt pretty much like you, I wanted to thank god for giving me ds but I wasn't ready to commit to the vows of a full christening. The blessing ceremony is similar to a christening but there are no vows. The video will explain it in more detail.

I felt it was the right thing to do. Ds attends the church very very occasionally, he will probably go to sunday school and when he is older he can make his own mind up and decide then if he wishes to be christened.

I was baptised catholic and apart from one funeral I have never even been in a catholic church! I don't think that is right, which is why I put a lot of thought into deciding what to do with ds.

tassisssss · 30/07/2008 19:53

At my church there's a service of blessing or thanksgiving that can be offered as an alternative to a baptism. Might that be an option for you?

Be honest with the vicar, explain why you want it. If you have a deep sense that this is something you want for your kids do try to find a church where you can take them along on a regular basis.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5