Local Events - Part 1

[smallhobbit]

When I considered the idea of doing a monthly blog post on Local Events, I realised that there might not be sufficient to cover, so I decided that some of the events I would write about would be specific to me and my life.  This means that some will refer to my church involvement, and you are under no obligation to read or agree with me.  However, my aim is to explain what happens, so you may like to imagine yourself as a visitor.

And so, Part 1, is all about a baptism (or christening) service.  The photos were all taken before the service - there are no people in these pictures, for obvious reasons.  Our church Facebook page normally shares an agreed photo of the family, but otherwise it is entirely personal.

The first view is of the church:



With the flag of St Margaret of Scotland flying:



There is an outer door:



And an inner door:



Which has an enormous key (standard Yale for comparison):



Once inside, the service begins with the congregation in the pews:



And part way through parents and godparents (plus any of their children who wish to) take the baby to the front:



Following the service in the booklets we have compiled:



The booklets include songs which we encourage the congregation to join in with.  We also hand round musical instruments for the children (and any adults) to play.  If nothing else it's good fun and helps to mask the singing.



At the appropriate moment parents, godparents plus grandparents and children move to the back to the font for the act of baptism. Everyone else turns round in the pews - there isn't the space to fit large numbers at the back.



There is warm water already in the font, and siblings, or other suitable children may help by pouring some more cold water in.



After which we move back to the front (altar end) to finish the service, as it is easier.  The Easter (Paschal) candle will have been lit partway through the service and a baptism candle is now lit from it and presented to the baby.  The parents will normally hold it, although at the last baptism I gave it to the two older brothers (very sensible boys) to hold.



The service ends with a blessing and then friends and family take photographs and hopefully feel they have had an enjoyable service.

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Very interesting! Your church looks nice.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. It is a lovely church.

[adafrog]

Very lovely. Does the priest sometimes fling water at people afterwards and say 'remember your baptism!" lol Our last priest let the kids do that during the peace after the Baptism. It was fun.

[margaret_r]

The church is lovely! It sounds like a really nice ceremony.

[smallhobbit]

The priest doesn't, but the bishop will following confirmations.

[smallhobbit]

It is, people like coming there. It is normally fun.

[sister_raphael]

Those photos are really great! Thanks for sharing them and the ceremony.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. I'm glad you liked it.

[rusty_armour]

You've taken some beautiful photos of both the inside and outside of the church. I also appreciated being able to see pictures of such things as the font and the baptism candle. I've never attended a baptism (and wasn't baptized myself), so I enjoyed learning more about this ceremony and your own experiences with it.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much. I was hoping it might be interesting to those who haven't experienced anything of this nature - I found it quite helpful to reflect on how visitors would see what we did as well.

[adafrog]

Cool.

[cuddyclothes]

What a lovely church!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you!