BAPTISMS, CHRISTENINGS, AND BLESSINGS OF CHILDREN
by Jim Burklo. Jim is a pastor and writer living in Northern
California. He is the author of OPEN CHRISTIANITY and BIRDLIKE AND BARNLESS.
We begin life in water. The amniotic fluid that rocks us and nurtures us in our mothers' wombs is the first sign of impending birth. When the water "breaks", it won't be long before a new life is delivered into the world! This gush of water reminds us that far back in the evolutionary process, life began in water. No wonder that most of our body mass consists of H2O!
So it is fitting that we use water in ceremonies to welcome new life into our families and communities. Each child is born out of water to begin physical life. But each child will be born spiritually, over and over, as he or she grows in wisdom and compassion. A blessing of the child with water reminds family and friends of their special roles in "midwifing"; the many spiritual births that the child will experience through life. Jesus went through the ritual of baptism as an adult, at a critical moment in his life when he was beginning his work as a teacher and healer. It was a moment of spiritual rebirth in his life.
I officiate at baptisms, christenings, and/or blessings of babies and children (and adults, too) with these guiding principles:
1) Baptism isn't hocus-pocus to insure that a baby will get into heaven if he or she dies before choosing to become a Christian. The only "magic" in the ceremony is the feeling of awe that is shared by those who participate in it. As a progressive Christian, I believe in the great value of this ancient ritual. But I don't believe that it confers special spiritual "protection", any more than I believe that Christianity is the only way to salvation.
2) Baptism, in Christian tradition, is having water put on your body (or having your body put in water) with the officiant saying the words "I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." The Catholic Church recognizes the validity of a baptism performed this way, whether or not by a Catholic priest, and most other church denominations do the same. I often add a fourth name in which I perform baptisms: Mother Wisdom (or Sophia in biblical Greek), in order to emphasize the feminine aspect of divinity. Wisdom, portrayed as a woman, is one of the names of the divine included in the biblical book of Proverbs.
3) Christening is a term often used interchangeably with baptism. It refers to the child receiving a "Christian" name, usually in conjunction with baptism. Some families prefer to call the ritual by this term.
4) I have performed blessings of children, using water in the ceremony, much like baptism except without the use of the traditional theological formula. These ceremonies can be especially meaningful for families of mixed religious heritage, or no religious backgrounds.
5) Godparents often have a special role in these ceremonies. Every family has its own definition of the role and number of godparents for a child. Feel free to come up with your own, if you want to name godparents at all! Godparents embody the truth that it takes a village to raise a child.
I am delighted to officiate at these ceremonies in churches, homes, or other settings, and am happy to adjust the details of the rituals for the special needs of families.
Sample Baptism Ceremony: for Kate, an infant:
(Family and friends gather, standing in a circle. Godparent or other special person holds the bowl or chalice in which the water will be poured. Sometimes, families bring water from places around the world that are dear to them, and use a mixture of this water for the ceremony.)
We are here to praise God for the life of Kate, our young friend, who in such a short time has brought us so much joy. Through Kate we have experienced birth again in a new and more conscious way; in her, God has created the world again, opening us to wonder and possibility that we had forgotten. We live not for ourselves alone, but toward God and for each other. Our lives are bound in a covenant of love with Kate.
We baptize Kate with our desire to show her a way of life that naturally displays love, respect, and justice. We baptize her with our intention to witness the unfolding of God's creation as she grows and changes. We baptize her with our desire to be in God's presence as we are in her presence. We baptize Kate with our desire to see her grow in spiritual maturity, in wisdom, and in soulful service to others, following in the spiritual footsteps of the Christ.
Each of us here has a unique role in raising this beautiful child. Do you, her parents, commit yourselves to raising her in a manner that inspires faithfulness, compassion, and spiritual growth? If so, say, We do. And do we, the family,and friends of Kate, commit ourselves to being a faithful community that will guide and support her through life? If so, let us say, We do.
Let us prayerfully focus on this water, as I pour it into the bowl, and as we do, let each of us infuse it with our commitments to share with Kate the unique gifts that God has given us, gifts she'll need from us as she goes along life's way. (
Each person touches the water as it is passed around the circle, and can say a few words of blessing if they choose.)
To paraphrase the scripture: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the most high will overshadow you; therefore this child shall be called holy, a child of God. Let us repeat her name together: Kate...... (Jim does the mark of the cross on her forehead with water): Kate, with this water we baptize you with the love that is God, known to us among other names as the Father, Son, the Holy Spirit, and Mother Wisdom. Jim holds the child: "I present to you Kate, God's gift to her parents, to her family, and to the world! Amen!"
