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Babies on the Brain
BAH! (baptism vent)
We still haven't gotten the duo baptized, because I want to have it done in the church I grew up in, and so far we haven't had everyone in our hometown at the same time. I want to have it done while we're home for Christmas, because that will be the only time before DH deploys that everyone will be there. The problem is there's about a month's worth of weekend classes you have to take before you can do it. Our old pastor would have had no problem working with the fact that DH and I live out of state, he's military, and we can't just come home whenever. In fact for our wedding he let us just come in one Saturday for a few hours instead of doing the several premarital classes because neither of us lived nearby anymore. He is an awesome, understanding man and was my pastor for years and years so he knows me personally, and how much my faith means to me.
Unfortunately he has Lou Gherig's (sp?) Disease and had to step down last year. The new pastor is NOT so understanding. He is very by the book, and is giving me so much craap about baptizing the duo because it is impossible for us to be there for a freaking month's worth of classes, especially because the godparents have to be at most of them and they also live out of town/state. I grew up in this church, I understand the doctrine, I was confirmed in this church, married in this church, and participated in EVERYTHING when I lived at home. I don't understand why we can't meet with him for a few hours, with the godparents, and do the classes that way. I would really like to have my children baptized in this church, and I would like to have it done BEFORE there's a chance of something happening to DH overseas, but it seems like he isn't meeting me anywhere in the middle on this.
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Re: BAH! (baptism vent)
Can you do it in the church where you are now?
That is super frusterating.
The new pastor should work with you. What good is it to stick to the "rules" on this one? I mean, he should be able to satisfy the church and you guys too by making some accomodations.
We just go to the chapel on base, and it doesn't have that same personal feeling as the church back home. Plus none of our friends and family would be able to come up for it. I even asked if we could do the classes here and have them baptized back home, and the pastor back home said he'd think about, with a NO tone to his voice.
He still comes for services and functions, but his disease is progressing rather rapidly. I don't think he'd be physically able to do the ceremony.
I will definitely be inviting him to attend as a guest though if we're able to make this happen.
That sucks. he should be willing to bend a little for your circumstances!
Our church was great about doing DS#1's baptism. They let us do it on a non-baptism week (they have so many that they do them one Sunday a month), so our family could be there and they let me particpate even though my membership wasn't in that particular church (it was in a different one in the same denomination).
Baby # 2 edd 11/26/08 - Ezra Jacob born 11/29/08, 9 lbs 6 oz., 21 3/4 in
Baby #3 edd 05/04/13 - Titus Jude born 05/01/13, 9 lb 5 oz. 21.5 in
Yeah, I asked him that when I was on the phone with him a little bit ago, and he said he'd think about it, but it sounded more like a no. I think because the godparents don't live here and wouldn't be able to attend with us. So frustrating.
Are you or your family close with an Elder or something that could put a litte pressure on him? I know it's playing politics, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
Baby # 2 edd 11/26/08 - Ezra Jacob born 11/29/08, 9 lbs 6 oz., 21 3/4 in
Baby #3 edd 05/04/13 - Titus Jude born 05/01/13, 9 lb 5 oz. 21.5 in
Or maybe have a clergyman from the base write a letter about how important it is to the family with DH going overseas? Yes, I'm suggesting using military wartime guilt.
This will be the next step if he turns down the idea of us doing classes here. I'm past feeling guilty about it at this point in time. Having them baptized before the deployment is very important to DH and myself and I'm at the point of doing whatever it takes to make that happen.