Baptisms

We've always lived in a wards where each child can have their own baptismal service.  The parents help the child come up with a program of their favorite songs, prayer and talk invitations, special musical numbers (if any), what to do in between the baptism and confirmation, and  choice of refreshments (if any) afterward.

From my experience serving in primary, I've come up with a few ways that are extremely helpful ways leaders, including VTers, HTers, primary teachers, etc. can help on the day of the baptism, so the parents can focus on their child's baptism and sharing that experience with family and friends who have come to show their support.

1. Photography- Either ask someone to take pictures for you or better yet, if you're a leader with a camera...OFFER!  You don't need to be a pro, just be there to take pictures of the family, the child being baptized, and candids.  I took pictures at a baptism yesterday and thought this one was priceless.

 

Photographs of the actual ordinances of baptism and confirmation are not allowed, but you can snap a few of the child immediately post-baptism, and you'll capture the biggest smile around!

For our son, Thomas' baptism, we asked a friend to take pictures for us.  It was nice to have ALL of our family in photos, and candids of ALL of our family because no one in our family was behind the camera.  Wayne & I both love photography, but we were happy to focus on Thomas and our loved ones rather than be behind the camera for Thomas' special day.

Thanks again, ELLEN!

2.  Food- Simpler is better, in my opinion, but no matter what the family chooses to do for food, friends and leaders can offer to "man the kitchen" so the parents can mingle, visit, and enjoy.  If you're able to have the baptism on Saturday, this enables you to avoid meal time.  Keep in mind that if you are asking others to help, if you choose to do a meal rather than desserts or something simple, clean up alone will involve at least another hour of their time, not to mention the cost is much greater.

Some ideas for food-

• For Thomas' baptism (July), we invited guests to have cupcakes with us on the front lawn of our church property.

 Bonus: With everyone there, it was easy to get a group photo.  
Clean up was easy, we visited for a while, and then went out to dinner with family who all traveled great distances to be there for Thomas.

• A friend of ours simply had their daughter who was baptized write a "thank you for coming" note which they copied and attached to Lindt truffles.  Two of their daughters handed these out to people as they left the chapel.  Simple and sweet!
  
• Another friend chose to serve rootbeer floats.  This was their son's choice as it was his favorite dessert.
  
• Another friend had a sundae buffet....ice cream and toppings galore!
  
• Christina's friend had a sit down Korean dinner that was amazing and true to their culture.  All of the dishes were disposable, so clean up was super fast.

3. Programs- The child being baptized and his/her parents should come up with the content and then get the nod from the bishop, but leaders can offer to take care of printing and bringing the programs to the church. 

4. Set up/Clean up- Leaders can make their service known ahead of time so the parents know that they've got help lined up to set up chairs & tables, and clean up if necessary.  In my experience, usually people just pitch in, but again, talking about this ahead of time lets the parents know they can count on YOUR helping hands.

5. Clothes- Offer to take the wet baptism clothes home to wash them and return them for the family.  One less thing for them to do!

6. Baptism Book of Remembrance- Many kids now have baptism books of remembrance.  We give them out at our Baptism Preview.  You can purchase them through Deseret Book, but they are also simple to make.  A while back Wayne home taught a family and I knew the daughter who was being baptized didn't have anything like a baptism journal, so I put one together for her.  Here's a basic baptism journal.

You can find a nice binder cover or do something very simple and then place the baptism journal pages within your child's scrapbook....or scan the pages after they are completed and put together a digital memory book through blurb, iphoto, etc.

7. Intermission- Families usually have something special planned for in between the baptism and confirmation.  If the family would like the primary's help, one thing that is helpful in maintaining reverence during intermission is to have the primary children sing several primary songs.  They can practice during primary the Sunday before the baptism- songs they already know, perhaps the baptized child's favorites.  This eliminates kids getting restless during intermission, and anyone who has heard a primary chorus knows what a joy it is to hear their sweet voices!  This also eliminates the tendency for chatter to get loud when simply the piano is played.  Mom or dad should be able to help their child change and look spiffy post-baptism and reflect for a moment on the Spirit, so offer to help with whatever intermission plans the family has in mind.  

8. Talents- Offer to play the piano or lead the music.  Offer to play a musical instrument during intermission, using the child's favorite primary songs or hymns.

9. Water- Offer to fill the font!  You'll need a building key or can plan on meeting someone at the building who has a key, but this saves the family a trip to the church while they are most likely hosting relatives and preparing family members for the baptism.

Baptisms can and should be a spiritual event for all attending, focusing on the actual ordinance and covenant rather than anything else!  The child and family should be able to walk away uplifted rather than exhausted.  This is a great opportunity for leaders, VTers, and HTers to offer valuable service to those they've been asked to serve.

Baptisms, I've found are a live and learn experience.  When I came home from a trip to UT when Christina was baptized, a family moved into our ward and their oldest was to be baptized within the month.  I was primary president at the time, but it took having my oldest child be baptized to really understand what the family goes through in planning and hosting a baptism.  I took my experience with Christina and worked with the family to identify where the primary leaders could best serve.  While the family is responsible for the baptism as a whole, they shouldn't be left alone to pull it off.  Baptism day was beautiful, the family was so thankful, and the mom and I have been friends ever since (that's you, Rolana:))!