Stupid Forgiveness Vespers Question

[ufonium2]

So, during a normal church service, one of two things happens: either my husband and I pass the baby back and forth throughout the service, or one of us holds the baby while the other goes to read/sing/etc. But I'm not sure how this is gonna work for Forgiveness Vespers. It just seems like it will be very awkward not prostrating, but obviously one of us will have to hold the baby.

So, fellow TAW-ites, what do you do with your infants, or what have you seen done in your parish?

[Philothei]

Well, just taking turns I guess. Can you bring the carriage in the church? That was my solution. Put it next to you. I know that Holy week was a challenge with mine too! God give you streghth. :)

They grow fast... then you will run around chasing him...


God bless,
Philothei

[The Prokeimenon!]

I think me and my wife will each hold a baby specifically for the purpose of avoiding prostrations :D

(seriously- last year we had this "pan-Orthodox" thing and there were tons of people there who I'd never met before and I had to prostrate myself before these total strangers and ask their forgiveness. I'm really hoping that it's just the 5 people who normally attend non-Sunday-morning-Liturgy services this year.)

Rdr Moses

[choirfiend]

Do you have a carseat/carrier? You leave them in there until you've made your way around the line and are stopped in your new location, then you can just hold them, and dont worry about prostrating. Not everyone does it all the time.

[VickiY]

Choirfiend said it best, but remember that you can "prostrate" with your heart if you can't with your body while holding a baby. :D

[ufonium2]

Choirfiend said it best, but remember that you can "prostrate" with your heart if you can't with your body while holding a baby. :D

Right. I realize that it's not like it doesn't count if I'm not prostrating. But it's still awkward, and that's what I'm trying to avoid.

[gzt]

i've seen people who for various reasons didn't prostrate before, so it's fine if you have an excuse.

[Orthosdoxa]

After spending 5 months on bed rest, my body still isn't recovered. I couldn't make more than one or two prostrations even if I tried. But holding a kid will be a good excuse to not have to, anyway. ;)

Hon, I could easily carry both of them if you want to try to make those prostrations. :kiss: ;)

We don't leave the kids in car seats/carriers because the kids have had problems with flat head, so we don't leave them in that position, plus, I dunno, sounds sad to me, just leaving them there. I want them with us, fully involved, every second.


I missed all of Lent last year, being bedridden. I'm excited for Forgiveness Vespers this year. Now let's just see if I can be sincere in my forgiveness of those who keep giving me (rude and) unwanted parenting advice...

LK

[Mary of Bethany]

Ufonium & Anonykat -

several of the women at our parish have these sling-like wraps that holds the baby either to their back or at their front, and it seems to work well even for older babies.

Would that work for you?

Mary

[choirfiend]

Oh yea, I meant to suggest that as well for the older woman who has narcolepsy---would that help her "hold" the baby while lessening the risk of the child falling while she is seated?

[Akathist]

I can't do the prostrations due to my back. I bow as best I can.

In my parish we get a good turn out for Forgiveness Sunday (often over 20 people in a parish that usually only has 30 on a normal service day.)

What the parents do is they hold the baby and they bow their head down a bit as a gesture of prostration or bows.

When it comes to the little ones who can go running around, typically their parents hold their hands or actually hold the child.

Children older then that fully participate in the service. It is kind of neat seeing a father or mother bowing or prostrating and asking forgiveness of their own child. If the place is not flooded by tears by the time this happens it starts then.

(*reminder to self: buy a couple family sized kleenex boxes before this Sunday.)

BTW, for those new, I have thought being later in the line would be easier for me, but it isn't in fact, I think that by the time I get to the people near the beginning of the line (or circle that is) they are so worn out they don't really even hear my request for forgiveness. I know someone has to be near the end, but I suggest not doing this two years in a row if you can help it.

advice for newby's women: don't make the mistake I made and wear a skirt that pulls tight when you get up and down during Lent. In fact, on Forgiveness Sunday evening last year, I wore slacks for modesty sake. During the rest of Lent I make sure to wear one of my more fuller and longer skirts and always a slippery slip with static guard!