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
    ,

2 responses to “Hearse Victory”

  1. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Re: Hearse Victory
    Surely where the money is coming from is irrelevant if it is being used wastefully!  Wasteful is wastful no matter what the source and, in this case, as a cyclist, I would say they have definitely got it wrong.  Is this a surprise to anyone?

    Reply
  2. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Re: Hearse Victory
    Actually, for all my arm waving, I'm not opposed to the cycle route being done in Keir street. I've been campaigning about the junction at Keir Street/Melville Place for 2 years now and this project means that the junction will get the attention that it needs. Whether that is paid for from a cycling budget or from wherever, does not really matter.

    We are also getting a mini-roundabout at the junction of Keir Street and Henderson Street, which will calm the traffic coming into the village – something which people have said that they want.

    Reply

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