Categories: uncategorized
Date: 25 May 2008 15:01:30
As I've previously mentioned, in a weeks time Third Party is going to be baptised (along with another member of the youth group). It's a significant life event; a landmark. It's also a "family" celebration and I think that's one of the things which I've really been struggling with.
It's a "family" celebration yet Third Party's dad won't be there due to work commitments (and whilst he is still v. much part of Third Party's family he is most def not part of mine). So for various reasons the only blood family who are going to be there are me and Third Party. Yet our family will be there sitting together, Surfing Madness is coming down from Scotland for the event and other members of our urban family (close friends who are there for each other) are going to be there to celebrate.
Yet there was still the issue we weren't going to be considered / look like a "proper family". There will be a clear example of "proper family" there, supporting the other person getting dunked and I was very conscious of that.
I have also been getting het up because I have been worried that this baptism will be a celebration of a smiley type of evangelical certainty and worship songs that contain questionable theology that I struggle with, rather than just two young people standing up to proclaim the faith they hold. To put this within context I am aware that both myself and much of my "urban family" exist within the "smiley evangelical" sub-culture but are to a certain extent the heretics in the corner.
Over the last few weeks, though, some very supportive friends have helped me see that Third Party's faith is bigger than I give it credit for. Whilst the symbols may reflect on an aspect of that faith and the culture it has grown up in it is actually much wider and reflects a full range of influences.
The family thing also got dealt with today, quite accidently. Family was being talked about in church and within this the minister actually referred to the way we have to take seriously the importance of our roles within family by referring to a whole range of different shaped families. I was able to see, therefore, that the shape of family which is going to be sitting there, supporting Third Party next Sunday is just as legitimate as the more traditional type.
I think this is a long winded way of telling readers, who are familiar with my ongoing issues regarding the baptism, that I think it's actually going to be ok. I finally get that the purpose of next Sunday evening is simply to celebrate the way God has been working in my daughter's life (and the life of her friend).
**final note having seen the draft order of service for next week I am pleasantly surprised about the songs chosen - with the exception of the odd "novelty praise" item the theology is actually quite sound**