Christening v's "Thanksgiving"

[snowchickie79]

We contacted the church we were married in to have DD christened and have been told that they only conduct a true "christening" with the water etc essentially if we join the church and committ to going on a regular basis. We were told if that is not appropriate at this time then we can choose to have a "thanksgiving" where we "give thanks" for our DD but it has much less religious parts and no water. A christening would be held on a sunday with the rest of the church members whereas the thanksgiving we can do any day at any time.

I'm really disappointed that the church is saying we must essentially commit to going weekly in order to have our daughter blessed with a religious undertone. We are not "full on" religious but I believe in God as does DH and i really wanted DD to be christened.

There is a church not far from our wedding church and it is one of the prettiest in the area BUT everyone uses it and we didn't want it to appear to be just another christening and not really stand out from the rest. This church will do a proper christening without having to join.

ANOTHER church which is the local near both sets of our parents would be great to use as it's really nice but apparently they will only have a christening if you live in the same suburb, which we do not.

I'm really stuck now on what to do.. I would really have loved to use our wedding church for obvious reasons but don't really want to have to just have a "thanksgiving" day.

I know we could have a ceremony at home but again i'm not sure how religious these could be or the significance when compared to a church ceremony.

Any suggestions??

[Nelle]

Why do you want your bub christened? Perhaps that will help you decide where to go from here. If it's just something you want to do, for tradition's sake or whatever, then I guess go with one of the other churches. Or is there a church pastor/minister who would be happy to come to your place, say on a Saturday or something?

If it's to commit to raising your child with a knowledge of God, you can do that wherever, your backyard would be fine. God doesn't mind at all. I'm a Christian, and neither of my kids are christened/dedicated/thanksgivinged. It's okay, it's just a symbolic thing that some people like to do, but it doesn't have any bearing on what God thinks of your bub.

I don't know if that helps at all...