Space to write, space to create and space to let the spirit speak.
Write Now!
This blog started as a 'Lenten Writing Project', where we wrote each day in Lent. Now that Summer is here, let's keep up the discipline of writing with a weekly writing challenge! A prompt will be posted each week and anyone is welcome to join in and post their writing here or participate just by reading it.
Every writer has their own special light to add to this blog and all of your writing offerings are appreciated, whether poetry, prose, essay, thoughts, lists or comments and encouragement.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Lenten Writing Prompt #39
What traditions do you have or can you start, to celebrate your OWN baptism on your baptismal anniversary?
I have commited to writing on this blog everyday through Lent. This prompt, however, leaves me with not much to say. I have no baptismal celebrations nor do I plan to start any.
We used to light the baptismal candles of our kids when they were little, on their baptismal anniversaries' but did not continue the tradition for very long.
I have a similar experience each year - forgetting to light the candle for my kids and completely letting my anniversary go by without thinking about it. Your comment inspired my blog post below, so thanks for your honesty! I hope the next prompt is more inspiring for you though, because I love reading your writing! I so appreciate your commitment : )
I knew I was baptized as an infant, but didn't know much about it until my confirmation days.
I was baptized on July 2 at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Withee, Wisconsin. I was 10 weeks old. It was the 182nd day of the year, Sunday, July 2 (26,563 days ago today!). That day is the exact mid-point of the year.
It was a hot, sticky Wisconsin Sunday. Daddy had to plan his work carefully so that he could get to church on time with Mom and me. He had worked late the night before to get the haying finished. The cows were milked and turned out to pasture with fresh water in the trough, the barn was clean and prepared for the evening milking, and the five-gallon milk cans were cooling in the milk-house water tank.
We drove the 2 ½ miles to church in our black 4-door Chevrolet sedan which was but a few years old. When we arrived at the church, many people greeted Mom and Daddy in Danish, as most of the church members were first and second-generation immigrants from Denmark. On this day, the service was in English. Mrs. Marking, a friend of the family, was there as my Godmother.
After the worship and baptism service, Mom and Daddy carried me back outside. Many friends stopped to see the little baby girl! Before walking to the car, they walked over to the north edge of the cemetery that surrounded the church. There they stopped for a few moments at the large gravestone where Daddy’s parents were buried, before driving back home to the farm.
On the day I was baptized there were a number of events occurring in the world. There was a double-header at Fenway Park, where both Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio of the Yankees played the Red Sox. Also on July 2 the 1st World Science Fiction Convention opened in New York City. Another event that same day was the Palio di Siena horse race in Siena, Italy, run on that dare since Medieval times. Albert Einstein wrote to President Franklin D. Roosevelt that day, urging "watchfulness and, if necessary, quick action" on the part of the United States in atomic research. Later he deplored the use of atomic bombs. Dwight Watson, Erick Larson and Andy Hennig climbed Mount Rainier on skis. Theodore Roosevelt's head was dedicated at Mount Rushmore on the 50th anniversary of South Dakota’s statehood on that date.
During my confirmation studies I read about how Martin Luther instructed people to make the sign of the cross every morning to remember their baptism as a child of God. Ever since, I have celebrated my baptism every morning by making the sign of the cross on my forehead.
I get so caught up in the guilt of not lighting the candle for my kiddos that I forget about celebrating my own baptismal anniversary. Since I seem to miss the *exact date* every year (father’s day – it could be that I am distracted…), I could just take some time to be conscious and thankful for it in everyday and have random special celebrations during the year. I can also take that time to be thankful and honor the baptisms of my husband, my kids, my godchildren and others’ that are in my life. Here are some ideas of how to celebrate it:
10 ideas to celebrate your baptismal anniversary with water:
1. Make sure on that day that you drink your 8 glasses of water to celebrate the healthy body that God gave you. Say a prayer of thankfulness with each one.
2. Take time when washing the dishes to think about and pray and also be conscious of the water and how it is moving and working in its gentle way with these dishes and your hands
3. Go visit a waterfall (Snoqualmie Falls in North Bend – Ooh! And they have an ‘Angel Mist’ coffee liquor drink that is *heavenly* in their upstairs lounge, ‘The Attic’. I have no problem with adding that to my tradition…) Get as close as you can to the falls to feel the mist and/or take some time to sit and write or take pictures, thinking about the falls and God’s creation. Marvel at the power of the water and what it does.
4. Go to a waterpark with your kids
5. Go out in the rain without a grumble and be thankful for all the gifts it bestows upon the earth, our renewable energy and the animals that depend on it.
6. Go to a children’s museum with kids where they have a water sensory area. Frolic with them.
7. Let yourself splash in puddles – put on your raingear and go crazy.
8. Think or write about or photograph animals that may or may not live in the water, and use it as part of their lives. Ducks, worms, bugs, frogs, beavers etc. Say a prayer of thanks for them.
9. Take a long, hot shower and be conscious of the healing properties of the water
10. Start with water for a meal to make something wonderful: pasta, iced tea, rice, beans, etc.. Say a prayer of thanks for the nourishment that can be built up with it.
You are right, water is SO important for baptism. This is a good idea, to honor one of the elements of baptism on your baptismal day, which was June 17 ...and you do it in a prayerful way.:) s.h.
As a godmother, I always tried to be diligent about remembering my young godchildren's baptismal birthdays. Over the years, however, this very important day of my own, has faded into the background. In fact, for this prompt, I had to go and look up the date.
My birthday is at the end of August, but my baptismal birthday is September 25. I had two sets of godparents. One became rather honorary and the other set became the working set. This second (strong) set of godparents was my mother's brother and his wife, Uncle Jack and Aunt Ann. They held me during my baptism, sent me my confirmation study Bible, and even traveled 2000 miles to attend my church wedding (seated in an honored pew, right behind my parents). I knew that I was in their thoughts and prayers, and that they were keeping track of my spiritual journey. They were also wonderful Christian role models for me (in fact, my aunt later went to seminary, and her son got to ordain her!). Along with my parents, they were very strong faith influences for me, especially in my youth.
This Prompt has reminded me that, just as I did for my children when they were growing up, I need to continue to celebrate my own baptismal birthday. Starting this September 25, I think I'll light a special candle (I have just the one). I can give a special offering on the nearest Sunday, in memory of my loving godparents (and in honor of my my living parents). They all made sure that I received instruction about the Word of God, and let me watch them model their real, honest Living Faith. I can also celebrate by continuing to share my life with and among the communion of saints around me. I think that might honor my baptismal vows and help me to remember how special that day was. s.h.
Baptismal anniversaries were akin to birthdays in my family. We always lit our candle after a special chosen dinner and sang this song: Happy birthday to you, We're glad you have two! Baptized means salvation, Your family just grew.
Also, my baptismal birthday was only 3 weeks after my birthday so my godmother would ignore my birthday and take me out on the town for the baptismal anniversary. We would go to lunch where I wanted, sometimes a movie, and to the shops to buy me a new outfit.
Now as a parent, I try to keep the tradition with a dinner of the persons choice, and we light the candles during dessert. My theology has shifted so I changed the words to the song and now we sing this: Happy birthday to you, But one will not do! Baptized means we're family, We're glad you have two! In addition, every night at bedtime after our lullabies and prayers, I will moisten my finger and make a cross on my children's forehead, letting the last thing I say to them before I leave the room be this: Remember your baptismand be thankful, For you belong to God.
Maybe I'm a lifelong luthean nerd, but baptism is one of my favorite images to participate in and every time we baptize a new member into our godly family I take those vows seriously and pray that those babes get to remember the day with as much love as I try to.
I love the idea of the sign of the cross on their foreheads before sleep. Of course, in the Norwegian Lutheran Church, that would have been too Roman Catholic, but now it is a wonderful idea that Martin L. probably even did. I think I'll add it to my repertoire. Thanks. s.h.
by Pat Mason
ReplyDeleteI have commited to writing on this blog everyday through Lent. This prompt, however, leaves me with not much to say. I have no baptismal celebrations nor do I plan to start any.
We used to light the baptismal candles of our kids when they were little, on their baptismal anniversaries' but did not continue the tradition for very long.
I have a similar experience each year - forgetting to light the candle for my kids and completely letting my anniversary go by without thinking about it. Your comment inspired my blog post below, so thanks for your honesty! I hope the next prompt is more inspiring for you though, because I love reading your writing! I so appreciate your commitment : )
DeleteI knew I was baptized as an infant, but didn't know much about it until my confirmation days.
ReplyDeleteI was baptized on July 2 at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Withee, Wisconsin. I was 10 weeks old. It was the 182nd day of the year, Sunday, July 2 (26,563 days ago today!). That day is the exact mid-point of the year.
It was a hot, sticky Wisconsin Sunday. Daddy had to plan his work carefully so that he could get to church on time with Mom and me. He had worked late the night before to get the haying finished. The cows were milked and turned out to pasture with fresh water in the trough, the barn was clean and prepared for the evening milking, and the five-gallon milk cans were cooling in the milk-house water tank.
We drove the 2 ½ miles to church in our black 4-door Chevrolet sedan which was but a few years old. When we arrived at the church, many people greeted Mom and Daddy in Danish, as most of the church members were first and second-generation immigrants from Denmark. On this day, the service was in English. Mrs. Marking, a friend of the family, was there as my Godmother.
After the worship and baptism service, Mom and Daddy carried me back outside. Many friends stopped to see the little baby girl! Before walking to the car, they walked over to the north edge of the cemetery that surrounded the church. There they stopped for a few moments at the large gravestone where Daddy’s parents were buried, before driving back home to the farm.
On the day I was baptized there were a number of events occurring in the world. There was a double-header at Fenway Park, where both Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio of the Yankees played the Red Sox. Also on July 2 the 1st World Science Fiction Convention opened in New York City. Another event that same day was the Palio di Siena horse race in Siena, Italy, run on that dare since Medieval times. Albert Einstein wrote to President Franklin D. Roosevelt that day, urging "watchfulness and, if necessary, quick action" on the part of the United States in atomic research. Later he deplored the use of atomic bombs. Dwight Watson, Erick Larson and Andy Hennig climbed Mount Rainier on skis. Theodore Roosevelt's head was dedicated at Mount Rushmore on the 50th anniversary of South Dakota’s statehood on that date.
During my confirmation studies I read about how Martin Luther instructed people to make the sign of the cross every morning to remember their baptism as a child of God. Ever since, I have celebrated my baptism every morning by making the sign of the cross on my forehead.
I get so caught up in the guilt of not lighting the candle for my kiddos that I forget about celebrating my own baptismal anniversary. Since I seem to miss the *exact date* every year (father’s day – it could be that I am distracted…), I could just take some time to be conscious and thankful for it in everyday and have random special celebrations during the year. I can also take that time to be thankful and honor the baptisms of my husband, my kids, my godchildren and others’ that are in my life. Here are some ideas of how to celebrate it:
ReplyDelete10 ideas to celebrate your baptismal anniversary with water:
1. Make sure on that day that you drink your 8 glasses of water to celebrate the healthy body that God gave you. Say a prayer of thankfulness with each one.
2. Take time when washing the dishes to think about and pray and also be conscious of the water and how it is moving and working in its gentle way with these dishes and your hands
3. Go visit a waterfall (Snoqualmie Falls in North Bend – Ooh! And they have an ‘Angel Mist’ coffee liquor drink that is *heavenly* in their upstairs lounge, ‘The Attic’. I have no problem with adding that to my tradition…) Get as close as you can to the falls to feel the mist and/or take some time to sit and write or take pictures, thinking about the falls and God’s creation. Marvel at the power of the water and what it does.
4. Go to a waterpark with your kids
5. Go out in the rain without a grumble and be thankful for all the gifts it bestows upon the earth, our renewable energy and the animals that depend on it.
6. Go to a children’s museum with kids where they have a water sensory area. Frolic with them.
7. Let yourself splash in puddles – put on your raingear and go crazy.
8. Think or write about or photograph animals that may or may not live in the water, and use it as part of their lives. Ducks, worms, bugs, frogs, beavers etc. Say a prayer of thanks for them.
9. Take a long, hot shower and be conscious of the healing properties of the water
10. Start with water for a meal to make something wonderful: pasta, iced tea, rice, beans, etc.. Say a prayer of thanks for the nourishment that can be built up with it.
You are right, water is SO important for baptism. This is a good idea, to honor one of the elements of baptism on your baptismal day, which was June 17
Delete...and you do it in a prayerful way.:)
s.h.
Lenten Prompt #39 March 31 2012
ReplyDeleteAs a godmother, I always tried to be diligent about remembering my young godchildren's baptismal birthdays. Over the years, however, this very important day of my own, has faded into the background. In fact, for this prompt, I had to go and look up the date.
My birthday is at the end of August, but my baptismal birthday is September 25. I had two sets of godparents. One became rather honorary and the other set became the working set. This second (strong) set of godparents was my mother's brother and his wife, Uncle Jack and Aunt Ann. They held me during my baptism, sent me my confirmation study Bible, and even traveled 2000 miles to attend my church wedding (seated in an honored pew, right behind my parents). I knew that I was in their thoughts and prayers, and that they were keeping track of my spiritual journey. They were also wonderful Christian role models for me (in fact, my aunt later went to seminary, and her son got to ordain her!). Along with my parents, they were very strong faith influences for me, especially in my youth.
This Prompt has reminded me that, just as I did for my children when they were growing up, I need to continue to celebrate my own baptismal birthday. Starting this September 25, I think I'll light a special candle (I have just the one). I can give a special offering on the nearest Sunday, in memory of my loving godparents (and in honor of my my living parents). They all made sure that I received instruction about the Word of God, and let me watch them model their real, honest Living Faith. I can also celebrate by continuing to share my life with and among the communion of saints around me. I think that might honor my baptismal vows and help me to remember how special that day was.
s.h.
Baptismal anniversaries were akin to birthdays in my family. We always lit our candle after a special chosen dinner and sang this song:
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to you,
We're glad you have two!
Baptized means salvation,
Your family just grew.
Also, my baptismal birthday was only 3 weeks after my birthday so my godmother would ignore my birthday and take me out on the town for the baptismal anniversary. We would go to lunch where I wanted, sometimes a movie, and to the shops to buy me a new outfit.
Now as a parent, I try to keep the tradition with a dinner of the persons choice, and we light the candles during dessert. My theology has shifted so I changed the words to the song and now we sing this:
Happy birthday to you,
But one will not do!
Baptized means we're family,
We're glad you have two!
In addition, every night at bedtime after our lullabies and prayers, I will moisten my finger and make a cross on my children's forehead, letting the last thing I say to them before I leave the room be this:
Remember your baptismand be thankful,
For you belong to God.
Maybe I'm a lifelong luthean nerd, but baptism is one of my favorite images to participate in and every time we baptize a new member into our godly family I take those vows seriously and pray that those babes get to remember the day with as much love as I try to.
I love the idea of the sign of the cross on their foreheads before sleep. Of course, in the Norwegian Lutheran Church, that would have been too Roman Catholic, but now it is a wonderful idea that Martin L. probably even did. I think I'll add it to my repertoire. Thanks.
ReplyDeletes.h.
Its Raining, It’s Pouring
ReplyDeleteDrops from above
gently sprinkle the ground
randomly landing
no pattern to be found
I stand there reflecting
that water’s like leaven.
The renewal of life
by waters from heaven
The pace then increases
and all becomes wet.
The noise of the splashes
overtakes all and yet…
I’m entranced and enthralled
and nearly ecstatic!
But I’m soaked, no umbrella,
not so fantastic!
Drip! Drip! Drip!
The life of mystic
in Seattle.
(To celebrate you baptism you could just move to Seattle!)