What is in Kelvin's Head?

  • Baptising

    There are few more joyful things to do in this world than a baptism service. Yesterday I got to baptise someone called Theodore, which of course means Gift of God. He rather enjoyed proceedings and I’ve seldom held a child more keen to jump right into the font.

    People sometimes comment on how much babies seem to enjoy being baptised at St Mary’s. Some older folk sometimes say, “I thought they were supposed to cry….” to which I reply, “…and I think it is nicer if they don’t”.

    Sometimes people even come out with that old medieval nonsense that the cry of a baby at a baptism is the devil coming out. Here’s your theology starter for 10: the devil ain’t in there in the first place.

    If you want to make a baby cry at a baptism, here are the instructions:

    • hold them upside down
    • hold them so they can’t see anyone they know
    • use cold water
    • flick the water in their face with a large, hard shell
    • hold them as though you are frightened you are going to drop them.

    Otherwise,

    • hold them so they can see what’s going on – sitting on the side of the font is a good start
    • surround them with a sea of happy smiling faces
    • warm up the water
    • talk to them and mean what you say
    • keep parents in sight and free from anxiety themselves
    • lots of splashes
    ,

5 responses to “Exciting Day for the Scottish Episcopal Church”

  1. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    In the excitement of welcoming the news, let’s remember a wee prayer for the people of St Michael’s, who are going to miss our new bishop dreadfully. A well-loved priest’s departure leaves a huge gap in people’s lives.

    Reply
  2. ryan Avatar
    ryan

    Exciting! I suspect that those with names beginning with ‘Ke’ and ending with ‘in’ are uniquely suited to the episcopate 😉

    Reply
  3. Stewart Avatar
    Stewart

    That’s an idea Ryan – another SEC episcopate is about to go vacant if I have read the latest issue of Inspires on-line correctly.

    Reply
  4. Stewart Avatar
    Stewart

    Ryan – We should also note that there is a vacancy in the Southwark Diocese with +Christopher, the Area Bishop of Woolwich, now the Bishop-designate of Southwark.

    Reply
    1. kelvin Avatar
      kelvin

      I used to live round the corner from +Christopher when he was Rector of St Dunstan’s in Stepney.

      Reply

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