Question about baptism

[rsholla]

I was wondering if this is a stake thing, or a new church wide thing.

After a baptism, in your ward, are you allowed to do refreshments, lunch, dinner, etc. ?

We will probably be baptizing our 11 year old (she'll be 12 in a few weeks), and maybe our 10 year old. We were told in January at a meeting for all kids turning 8 this year that we aren't allowed to do anything after the baptism, that we have to leave right after. The reason was that they wanted all those who attended to leave with the spirit still fresh. Makes since. But we will be having a lot people coming that will be driving about an hour to get here, about 50/50 members/non-members. We could come back to my house, but that is another 20 minutes in the other direction, and I am thinking it will really be a lot of people. I was just trying to make it easier on them. So I was going to talk to the Bishop in the next couple weeks to see if we can bend the rule. But if it's a new church rule, then I don't want to ask & will figure something else out.

Thanks,

Robyn H.

[katrack]

I don't know if there is protocol about a little get-together after a baptism (or baptismS in your case!). It didn't used to be done but lately I've seen it a number of times. I've only seen it done at an off-site location though. I don't think it would be a problem to ask people to drive 20 minutes to your house if you prefer an at-home luncheon. You might also consider someplace like a buffet restaurant where you can control the price you pay. And . . . if you want to have it at the church you can always ask. All they can say is yes or no, and then you'll have your answer.

When will the baptism be?

[sweet em]

I'd say go with an off site location like a park/picnic shelter near the church. That would be way nicer than a church gym. Although I agree with katrack - if you ask all they can say is no.

[rsholla]

Oh, that's a good idea. I like the idea of a park. I really wouldn't mind it at my house. I like to have get togethers, and it's always easier with the baby to be at home. I just felt bad for the people that will already drive about an hour to get here. It would take them almost 1.5 hours to get home if we come back this way. But we'll do what we need to.

Actually, I've never been to a baptism when they didn't have a lunch, or refreshment thing after. I've even been to one where there was a little birthday celebration after, although I admit, I didn't like that.

I'm not sure when we'll do it exactly. But I would like to do it before she goes to YW, which around the middle of Aug. She'll start discussions next week since she is over 9. We have my parents coming here one week and DH's the next at this time. For different reasons they can't change and their visit's wont overlap. So we have to decide which parents get to be here for it (all are members).

We don't know if my 10 year old will be baptized then or not. We might wait a while longer, maybe till she's the same age as my oldest. At least if we did that we can have his parents here for this one, and my parents here for my other DD, or even the one after that (I have 4 girls, 11yrs, 10yrs, almost 8yrs, and 15 months).

Anyways, thanks! I'm rambling. It's been a long day, and nice to just, well, ramble.

Robyn H

[katrack]

I can see you have lots of baptisms in the next few years! I think there are also regional customs about such things as luncheons after and you are in a different part of the country than I.

A family in my (recently) former ward kind of went over the line a bit like what you were saying. They had a birthday party at the church after one of their kids' baptisms and the next year had a big party for one of their younger children in the church gym. I'd really have to see what the exact direction is on that kind of thing, but I'll bet they were outside the guidelines.

If you get permission to have a bite to eat afterward, you might do what another family in that ward did which was to have a morning baptism, then have a continental breakfast set out for afterward. It wasn't a sit-down kind of thing and was pretty casual.

[rsholla]

Missionaries come tonight.

I think we are going to do what was suggested and find a park. I like that idea. Especially because now it looks like DH's parents and my dad and step mom will all be here together (yea, that will be fun).

My dad gave his trip to someone else who just got laid off so that he can get the extra money, so they will try and come up if we baptize her next month.

Time sure is coming up fast. Thanks for the help.

Robyn H

[MamaBear]

It can depend. If you're doing a group baptism....like with all the kids in the stake, then it might be different than if you are doing a private baptism. We did a private baptism with our oldest DS and my niece because we were coming from out of town so they could be baptized on the same day. We also had several out of town guests coming. We scheduled the cultural hall and kitchen at same time and did it all there. No one else was there and it didn't interfere with anything else going on.
When my next DS gets baptized in January......we'll be living in another state and won't likely have a ton of people there. DH's family will definitely be there.....maybe my Dad and his (will be then) new wife will be able to come out too. So, we'll do something either at our house or go out afterward. With so few people, it wouldn't be worth the Church hassle anyway. I don't know how they do baptisms there.....there are not as many members there, so I don't know if they do it as stake baptisms or on an individual basis....as I imagine baptisms might be few and farther between.