Christening a baby

[BeBop]

A friend is having a christening for her daughter. I'm - to say the least - not well-versed in the Christian religious thing. Help. Looking at cards, I can't tell whether the guest of honor is the child or the parent. (They seem to cut both ways.) And so I find myself wondering: what the heck as I supposed to be writing on the card? Something about having a gret, blessed life, it seems. I'd really like to keep my foot out of my mouth on this one.

I've done a bunch of internet searches, but don't think I've found an answer.

I could ask someone down at the local mosque(?)

I repeat: help - anyone?

[Dan Gould]

Someone help him, please-he's confusing a CHRISTening with Islam.

I'd offer help but the only christening I've been too was my niece. My wife was asked to be one of the Godparents, and part of the deal was affirming to the priest that she's "living in Christ" or some such thing. Unfortunately, she'd already turned away from her Catholic upbringing, but that didn't stop her from lying to the priest's face.

So, as far as cards go, I didn't have anything to do with it, didn't see it, didn't sign it.

[Big Wheel]

Dan, I think that was a joke.

Though what country are you IN now, Bebop?

Edited October 24, 2004 by Big Wheel

[DTMX]

Is christening a baby anything like christening a ship? I would think you'd have to break the champagne bottle on the first swing because the kid isn't going to hold still for a second one.

[BruceH]

  BeBop said:

A friend is having a christening for her daughter. I'm - to say the least - not well-versed in the Christian religious thing. Help. Looking at cards, I can't tell whether the guest of honor is the child or the parent. (They seem to cut both ways.) And so I find myself wondering: what the heck as I supposed to be writing on the card? Something about having a gret, blessed life, it seems. I'd really like to keep my foot out of my mouth on this one.

I've done a bunch of internet searches, but don't think I've found an answer.

I could ask someone down at the local mosque(?)

I repeat: help - anyone?

Can't you just ask someone at the church?

DTMX---thanks for stealing my line!

[JSngry]

Best thing to do is offer congratulations and best wishes (for patience, wisdom, etc.) for the child and parent alike as they go down life's road, or something like that.

It might also be gracious to informally express thanks at being invited. After all, a christening is (in theory, anyway) a religious ceremony first and foremost, and the fact that you were invited to participate, even as a "spectator" is an indicator that the child's parents view you as a close and special friend. In that regard, it's not unlike a Christian being invited to a Bar/Beth Mitzvah. My daughter was inveted to a Beth Mitzvah a few years ago, and we made sure that she realized what an honor it was, that the girl and her family must view her as a special friend to invite her. Same thing here.

This is all going on the assumption that the child's parents aren't evangelical zealots who are trying to convert you (but I don't hink that you'd be this close to them in the first place if they were, right?). In that case, all bets are off.

In short, graciousness and simple respect for the specialness of the occasion to the participants are called for, nothing more, and nothing less.

[DTMX]

  JSngry said:

This is all going on the assumption that the child's parents aren't evangelical zealots who are trying to convert you (but I don't hink that you'd be this close to them in the first place if they were, right?). In that case, all bets are off.

And that's when you hit them with the champagne bottle!

[JSngry]

Ex-ACT-ly!

[Matthew]

  BeBop said:

A friend is having a christening for her daughter. I'm - to say the least - not well-versed in the Christian religious thing. Help. Looking at cards, I can't tell whether the guest of honor is the child or the parent. (They seem to cut both ways.) And so I find myself wondering: what the heck as I supposed to be writing on the card? Something about having a gret, blessed life, it seems. I'd really like to keep my foot out of my mouth on this one.

I've done a bunch of internet searches, but don't think I've found an answer.

I could ask someone down at the local mosque(?)

I repeat: help - anyone?

A Christening is an important event for parents, and I would recommend to following:

1. Bring a gift for the baby, the child is the "guest of honor."

2. A card of appreciation for the parents. Just thank them for allowing you to be present at this important event in their childs life, and that you will keep the child and parents in your thought/prayers in the days to come.

3. Be well dressed. This might go without saying, but I've seen people come to baptisms in blue-jeans and sweatshirt. Not a good sign to the parents that you are taking this seriously.

4. Thank the minister for performing the cermony. Ministers need some love too .

[7/4]

  DTMX said:

  JSngry said:

This is all going on the assumption that the child's parents aren't evangelical zealots who are trying to convert you (but I don't hink that you'd be this close to them in the first place if they were, right?). In that case, all bets are off.

And that's when you hit them with the champagne bottle!

great timing...

[Leeway]

There's a great christening scene in "Godfather 2" (?); while the baby is being christened, the film cuts to shots of rival mob bosses being assasinated.

Anyway, as a former altarboy, although now quite lapsed, I can say

Matthew's advice is pretty much on-target. The christening is when the baby really becomes a person in the eyes of the Church, receiving its name (in the old days, it was invariably the name of a saint).

Guests should dress nicely, although not overly so-- i.e, you don't need a tux, but a decent suit, or at least business casual (depending on what part of the country and whose neighborhood you are in), should be the order of the day.

A gift for the baby, a nice clothing outfit, for example, or a keepsake, such as a a christening cup with the baby's name initialed on it, are appropriate. Also nice: take some pictures of the baby and proud parents, make a little album, and send it to the parents after the event.

Most of all, it's not so much a religious event, but a celebration of a new life going into the world. Think of it that way, and smile .

[Guest ariceffron]

if i ever make the mistake of having a broad cock me out a baby i can assure you to pieces that i wont make it go through any of that voodoo-bullshit. im not saying i wont let it celebate x-mas-- of course i will, but the baby will be raised solely on the tangeble aspect of the religion, ie. santa and presents. besides that a steady dose of jazz and classical will suffice. (no prog rock until age 13)

[Big Wheel]

(religion)-(morality)+(materialism)^2+(jazz)+(classical)+(.5prog)=??

maybe I should have made the materialism an exponential?

[Chrome]

  BeBop said:

(They seem to cut both ways.)

No, no, that's a bris ... and there's only one cut, but you'll never forget it!

[BeBop]

Thanks everyone for the contributions. Hopefully I'll be able to separate the serious from the less-so. A jazz discussion board would seem the second most unlikely place to look for answers (after the aforementioned mosque), but y'all came up with 'em. Again, thanks. I can now look forward to the event with reduced trepidation.

[Alexander]

  Leeway said:

There's a great christening scene in "Godfather 2" (?); while the baby is being christened, the film cuts to shots of rival mob bosses being assasinated.

It's at the end of "The Godfather." Michael (Al Pacino) is standing Godfather to his sister Connie's son. The best part is that right afterwards, Michael has her husband rubbed out!