Baptism as non church members?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe Unitarian? Although may not do baptism

We don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

We just don't have the energy or time to attend church right now with two very young kids.

Part of the Baptismal vows is a promise that you will "continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers." You are not ready to uphold that commitment, therefore you should not be having your child baptized at this time.

FWIW, it's really not that hard to get to church on Sunday. Find a service that starts at 10:30 or 11am. If you can't be bothered to get your family washed and dressed in that amount of time, I don't know what to tell you.

+1

[Anonymous]

You baptize your child because you want them raised in that faith. Wait until you can actually take your children to church. Silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, if this is about a grandmother really wanting the child baptized, then just have it done at her church.

This is what we did. It's very important to my ILs that DS was baptized. We were open to the idea, but not church goers. He was baptized at their church. It was easier that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, if this is about a grandmother really wanting the child baptized, then just have it done at her church.

This is what we did. It's very important to my ILs that DS was baptized. We were open to the idea, but not church goers. He was baptized at their church. It was easier that way.

I never got this, it's YOUR child. Not your IL's. You make the decision. If you're not going to raise your child in that faith you shouldn't be baptizing them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A Catholic Church might do it.

Nope. I'm an active Catholic and still had to take six weeks of classes before my DD was baptized.

[Anonymous]

You really can't get your family to church by 10:30-11 one morning a week? How do thousands of people do it?!

[Anonymous]

oy vey poor OP. we wanted the same thing for our first. Not really religious but just religious enough to want it done, and so we chose a church (st marks) that did not require membership, but god, they required lengthy classes and it was a huge, huge pain. Second child we baptized in church we got married at, out of town, they didn't require us to do classes since we'd already done them with DD1.

[Anonymous]

I'm confused why OP wants this child baptized if her family can't make it out the door late on a Sunday morning. It sounds like it's only because the first kid got baptized. If that's the reason, it's almost as bad as doing it for the g-parents.

Baptizing a baby means you make a covenant to God that you'll raise your kid in that faith. It's not to be taken lightly the way OP is. The other baptism is when an older kid or adult is baptized, which happens when they confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and promise to follow him. Also not a light decision.

OP and others, please don't trivialize those who have true faith for some cultural idea you want to fulfill.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Sheesh. Yes, it's hard for me to get two kids to church. The baby naps till about 10:30, the older one wants lunch around 11, and DH is big law and often working or tracking weekends.
I have a very strong faith and belief in God. However, I don't believe that regular attendance at Mass is required to maintain that faith. There are people who go to church every week and don't live a life in the footsteps of Jesus. I try to be a good person but I admit, it's a struggle for me to get two young children out the door and at a certain place at a certain time. Especially a place where they have to sit still and be quiet. But does that mean that my child shouldn't be welcomed into God's family? Those of you being snarky and rude should perhaps think about the way you live your lives. Going to church does not equal patience, love, and an open heart.

[Anonymous]

^^ traveling weekends

[Anonymous]

What exactly is your religion? If you have a strong faith, you must have a grasp on what you want. I have a chosen religion and I would not baptize my child into another church just because the logistics were easier.

My advice is to contact your church of choice. You will not be the first one to say it is too hard to attend. Find out what the minister/priest/whatever suggests.

And take the advice as you will. Some will tell you that it's not as hard as you make it out to be. Sometimes they are right. My church has 5 Mass options each weekend (and a very nearby church has a few others) so we have no excuses for not making one of them - which we have made it a priority to do. It's not always easy but we do it. We would go to a bbq or a party we were invited to so attending Mass should not be logistically any harder than that. However my friend of a different faith has only one church service on Sunday mornings. That is certainly harder to work around and they sometimes just can't do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Sheesh. Yes, it's hard for me to get two kids to church. The baby naps till about 10:30, the older one wants lunch around 11, and DH is big law and often working or tracking weekends.
I have a very strong faith and belief in God. However, I don't believe that regular attendance at Mass is required to maintain that faith. There are people who go to church every week and don't live a life in the footsteps of Jesus. I try to be a good person but I admit, it's a struggle for me to get two young children out the door and at a certain place at a certain time. Especially a place where they have to sit still and be quiet. But does that mean that my child shouldn't be welcomed into God's family? Those of you being snarky and rude should perhaps think about the way you live your lives. Going to church does not equal patience, love, and an open heart.

If you don't think that regular church attendance is required to maintain your faith, then why do you think baptism is necessary?

[Anonymous]

OP, join a Catholic parish. Do whatever they require you to do as Baptism-prep (wait a certain amount of time? attend the classes? etc.) Have your child baptized. From here on out, try to go to some Masses occasionally, as often as you can. For example, can you and your DH split up and go to separate Masses? That is what DH and I sometimes do. He'll stay home with the kids while I go, and vice versa. Or, here's another option: when we do go as a family, he sits up front with the 7yo so she can have a good view and follow along with what's happening (helps her to stay on task) and I sit in the crying room with 2yo (who def. still needs to be in the crying room). Do we go every week? No, we do not. So I do understand where you are coming from. But maybe take this as a gentle wake-up call that you cad do a BIT more, so it's not like you are just asking the parish, "Hey, can you do something for us, but I won't make the effort to do anything in return?" Best of luck to you. I'll say a prayer for you guys!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, join a Catholic parish. Do whatever they require you to do as Baptism-prep (wait a certain amount of time? attend the classes? etc.) Have your child baptized. From here on out, try to go to some Masses occasionally, as often as you can. For example, can you and your DH split up and go to separate Masses? That is what DH and I sometimes do. He'll stay home with the kids while I go, and vice versa. Or, here's another option: when we do go as a family, he sits up front with the 7yo so she can have a good view and follow along with what's happening (helps her to stay on task) and I sit in the crying room with 2yo (who def. still needs to be in the crying room). Do we go every week? No, we do not. So I do understand where you are coming from. But maybe take this as a gentle wake-up call that you cad do a BIT more, so it's not like you are just asking the parish, "Hey, can you do something for us, but I won't make the effort to do anything in return?" Best of luck to you. I'll say a prayer for you guys!

PS Even if you cannot attend regularly, do give regularly. Our parish lets us do it on-line so I've set it up that there is an automatic withdrawal each month. Done. I don't even have to think about it ever again.