Baptism, what to wear???

[tateziwin]

Hi y'all!

Getting dunked shortly and want to know what is the appropriate attire for such an occasion. I know that sometimes they give you a white gown to wear over your clothes but do you wear , like, bathers or jeans & t-shirt or what?

[HolyRoller]

Talk to your pastor about this. It is a common question. I wore a dark dress with a bathing suit under it. No one could see it but I felt better.
Hey congratulations;))

[jenptcfan]

I think I wore shorts and a t-shirt under mine. But our robes are white, so you have to plan well or people can see right through them! :)

[12volt_man]

Hi y'all!

Getting dunked shortly and want to know what is the appropriate attire for such an occasion. I know that sometimes they give you a white gown to wear over your clothes but do you wear , like, bathers or jeans & t-shirt or what?

I just wore shorts and a t-shirt. No gown.

[JeffreyLloyd]

White

[Knight]

White
Do not listen to Jeffrey....... He's trying to lead you astray. :P :D

We had a young lady baptised in our church about a year ago wear a white shirt...... When she came up you had a who congregation of men looking the other way....... :)

[christianmom]

We wear gowns at our chuch and most people wear shorts and a t-shirt underneath. Shoot, our pastor wears waders under his gown.

[Violet]

I wore a bikini under my dress....then when the time came I put the robe over my bikini.

[JeffreyLloyd]

Do not listen to Jeffrey....... He's trying to lead you astray. :P :D

We had a young lady baptised in our church about a year ago wear a white shirt...... When she came up you had a who congregation of men looking the other way....... :)

I've seen a few of those moments back in my Baptist days :) I meant with an under shirt on too :)

[GreenEyedLady]

We use BLUE gowns.......so that doesn't happen!
HAHA!
GEL

[Knight]

I've seen a few of those moments back in my Baptist days :) I meant with an under shirt on too :)
Sure you did..... ;)


(Just messing with you... :))

[JeffreyLloyd]

:)

[P_G]

White hehehehehehhee

Oh my

I have been having a serrious conviction about this lately. I come out of a background that is sort of utilitarian about baptisms. So no one really cared what you wore so long as you got wet. And I suppose that has some merit.

I have embarked on getting some gowns made up. I think that looks very nice. I would suggest being modest undernieth that gown too. Shorts and a shirt and a dark color at that. AND NO PRINTING!

If your church does not use gowns why not buy one? They are not too expensive about $40 and when you are done donate it to your church and if they don't want it donate it to mine! (We are poor and not afraid to ask!)

Now I like to do a river baptising. It can be kind of interesting when the river is real high and running fast. Trust me you WILL learn how to pray then! (And not for the fish)


I am in the process of writing a new baptism service and think this would be a good time to talk about your baptism service and what you liked and what you didn't like about it. Please share in detail. You will be helping brothers and sisters you don't know to have a more wonderful experience.

One thing we will be doing is using the song "I went down to the river to pray" as a hymnn because I really like it.


Blessings
Pastor George :wave:

[Knight]

The only thing I currently dislike about our baptism services is the tank that we have to haul in and fill before the service begins. (We're currently meeting in a High School so this is our only option.)

[JeffreyLloyd]

.... Shoot, our pastor wears waders under his gown.

My old pastor wore those too!!! He always has a shirt and tie on withit however! He looked funny when you saw him all at once, but you'd never know it looking at the font.

Here he is at my baptism when I was 8 :)

http://jeffreylloyd.blogs.com/photos/family_and_friends/jeff_before_baptism.jpg

[Knight]

My pastor wore waders when I was baptised....

Pity they sprung a leak on him that day.. :)

[Crazy Liz]

Nehemiah, for a Mennonite baptism service it is absolutely essential that in some way it is signified that the baptism is the act of the whole church, and not just of the pastor and the person being baptized. I have seen this done many ways, but haven't been in a Mennonite church now for a long time. Was at a Mennonite baptism last fall, though. I don't remember the whole service, but do remember that this did still come across in some way.

How are you thinking of dealing with this aspect? Does your church have a custom for this already? If you are thinking of changing that custom in some way, have you considered how this will affect the other members of your congregation?

What I mean is that this is similar to the argument that wedding ceremonies should not be innovative. They should look familiar so the married people in the congregation will recall their own weddings as part of their worship. I think the same would be a valid argument WRT baptism.

[P_G]

How are you thinking of dealing with this aspect? Does your church have a custom for this already? If you are thinking of changing that custom in some way, have you considered how this will affect the other members of your congregation?


Liz

One thing to bear in mind is I am not ordained under the Mennonites. I belong to a mennonite congregation. Thus I am a Mennonite. I am ordained under a messianic ministry. Confused yet?

Anyway I do agree with you that the congregation is part of the ceremony and that it should be open. I really hate these private baptisms. Because it is like you say a point of rememberence for them too.

So all have been invited and all will sing etc. And all will witness. Do you have suggestions too?

Pastor George :wave:

[sunshinejennii]

our minister wears all white when he baptises - except he always wears blue y-fronts! urgh! we have white baptisimal gowns and people generally chose to wear these with whatever they like underneath generally its expected that its more than a bikini! we have blue towelling material cape things that are worn to keep them warm before their baptism and are put on staright after to keep them warm until they get into the vestry to change.

[Crazy Liz]

So all have been invited and all will sing etc. And all will witness. Do you have suggestions too?

Pastor George :wave:


I was looking to see if I could find an order for a Mennonite baptism service online. I found this short note:

http://www.directionjournal.org/article/?385[/url]]Neufeld’s manual includes an order for baptism. The candidates are read the church rules.21 After they assent to them a single baptismal question is asked: “If you believe with your whole heart, that Jesus Christ is God’s Son, then answer.” Baptism in the name of the Trinity follows. The most significant liturgical aspect is the subsequent laying on of hands with the words of blessing taken from 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.22 It preserves the ancient pattern of following baptism with the laying on of hands as a petition for the Holy Spirit. The service was customarily concluded by the presentation to the candidate of a Scripture verse chosen by the efficient to commemorate the day of covenant. {16}

The reference to laying on of hands with the blessing from 1 Thessalonians brought back memories, as this was done at my baptism, although it is not done as regularly now. I think older members would especially appreciate seeing you bring back this custom if it has fallen into disuse where you live.

Check the back sections of several different Mennonite hymnals. They should contain examples of appropriate charges to the candidates and charges to the congregation. A Mennonite baptism should contain some form of each. Finally, go speak to 2 or 3 Mennonite pastors over the age of 60. They will have a good idea of what things have stayed constant and what things have varied over time. Be sure to ask them whether there is anything they remember havig been done in the past that they wish we would do now.

[Crazy Liz]

BTW, for my baptism, my mom made me a sleeveless white dress out of a heavy cotton pique. For the service, I wore a white blouse under it like a jumper, and a slip, so you couldn't see through it when it was wet.

It is traditional to wear white, whether it is a robe or street clothes, but everyone who posted above is quite right that especially for women you have to think about it still being modest after it is wet.

[KristiXP]

I just wore a T-shirt and khaki shorts.

See:

[JeffreyLloyd]

:)

[P_G]

I just wore a T-shirt and khaki shorts.

See:

I really like the river mural behind you.

See if you had waited and let me baptize you
you would have gotten a real river! And maybe a fish in
your pocket when you came up.

I am enjoying this thread imensly. Though I am in an anabaptist congregation the most profoundly lovely baptism service I was ever at was at a the Greater New Hope Baptist church in Washington DC where I had the opportunity to preach one time (allbeit briefly)

They had a seperate area where the baptisimal font was downstairs in the front of the building and they too had a nice mural behind it. Made for nice pictures too for remembering such an important day.

I really feel that while your baptisim is a profoundly personal moment between you and Jesus it is also a community covenant too. Much the same as I feel about marriage.

See if I am there when you are baptized I take on a responsibility in covenant with you and with G-d. I watched you die in obedience and arise a new creature. I share a responisiblity with you then to assist you on your walk. If I as your brother watch you stumble a little or start to go astray it is more real and I feel more a pull to help you back on the path of righteousness.

Sometimes I think we forget we are family you know? Sometimes I think that we forget we have a shared salvation and a shared baptism. We need to remember that more and love one another more like we were told to.

Thanks for sharing your baptism day with us Kristi and also Liz This weekend I will see do I have a picture of mine or of our family baptism.

Bless you all

Pastor George :wave:

[Frankie]

Hi y'all!

Getting dunked shortly and want to know what is the appropriate attire for such an occasion. I know that sometimes they give you a white gown to wear over your clothes but do you wear , like, bathers or jeans & t-shirt or what?what ever you wear, just make sure it is clothing!:D

[FreeinChrist]

what ever you wear, just make sure it is clothing!:D

hehe! I say AMEN to that! :D

[SumTinWong]

Hi y'all!

Getting dunked shortly and want to know what is the appropriate attire for such an occasion. I know that sometimes they give you a white gown to wear over your clothes but do you wear , like, bathers or jeans & t-shirt or what?
I wore shorts and a tee shirt. Couldn't get my snorkel and fins into the robe :cool:

[tateziwin]

>>>I wore shorts and a tee shirt. Couldn't get my snorkel and fins into the robe :cool:<<<

:D Now, that's funny!! I guess the aqualung is out too?

oh, seriously though, are you allowed to hold your nose before going under? I can just see me coming up out of the water all coughing and spluttering. :)

[CometCatcher]

Some pastors hold your nose for you or put a hanky over it. Some get you to hold it. Otherwise breathe out of your nose while under water. Helps stop the water getting in. But your not under for long.

I see your in Australia! Me too! If you have the option wear something warm so you don't shiver (it's winter here for our overseas readers).

Is this in a church or a stream?

Get your friends to take some pictures. But if it's in church better ask beforehand, especially for flash pics. Some pastors don't mind them, some do.

When is the big day?

[Propadeutic]

I've usually seen blue robes in the US, and every pastor I've ever had has worn waders under the robe. I was baptized in white and wore a swimsuit underneath.

The Baptist churches in the Ukraine use white robes made of a thick material that stays opaque when it gets wet. Over there, they prefer river baptisms so the community can witness it rather than just the church.

[SumTinWong]

>>>I wore shorts and a tee shirt. Couldn't get my snorkel and fins into the robe :cool:<<<

:D Now, that's funny!! I guess the aqualung is out too?

oh, seriously though, are you allowed to hold your nose before going under? I can just see me coming up out of the water all coughing and spluttering. :) You hold your nose, and the pastor holds the back of your kneck with one hand and your hand over your nose with the other. At least that is how they did it at our church.

Great baptism song: Randy Travis, "Pray for the fish"

[tateziwin]

Hi CometCatcher,

I understand the service will take place in a teeny weeny old stone church that has a baptismal pool that will be hired for the event so the whole congregation gets a day trip outing!
I am a little bit nervous as I hate to be the centre of attention at any time!

Fortunately I was told that the water can be heated!
You are right, it is freezing over here at the moment ( for non-Aussies -freezing = by Aussie standards, does not necessarily mean ice or snow).

Hopefully it will take place within the next month, my job kinda makes things difficult ( I work 2 jobs, one day shift, one night shift + I go to school), my Pastor keeps mentioning it during his sermons so I think he is keen to get it done soon too.

[CometCatcher]

Two jobs + school... that must keep you busy.

I know what you mean. I don't like crowds either. Especially if they are focused on me!

I was lucky to be in a whole group of people being baptised so they forgot about me pretty quick.

Are there others being baptised the same day?

Anyway have a great day. You will look back at the day with pleasant memories I'm sure.

[wherdaluv]

When I was baptized i just wore my tighty-whities under my white robe. The ladies wore their bras and panties. Though the robes were white, they were not see-thru.
You might want to check with your pastor because I have been to baptisms where the were clear as glass when wet. Your robe might be the same way. As far as the nose is conserned, I held it when i went under and at the same time i was holding on to the pastor's wrist.
Good luck with your baptism! You will look back on that day many years from now. God Bless you for your obedience to His command and commitment to Him