Hi everyone- I was wondering if anyone has had this same situation. We just had a little boy and want to do some type of ceremony to welcome him into our families- we will not be doing a bris or a baptism for reasons that are too long to get into but would love any ideas of how we can do something for him that is spiritual in nature that would include both sets of grandparents.
How about a baby dedication service? A nice simple one and you can dictate what you want to be presented in the dedication.
My mom was raised Methodist and my father was Jewish (non-practicing), so when I was born they went through the same issue. My dad didn't want me baptised because he wanted religion to be my choice when I was older and my mom just wanted me named under God somewhere. They decided to have me named in the Hebrew Temple, which gives the child a Hebrew name and simply asks God to recognize the baby being named. That was the first and only time I have ever been to Temple, I went to Sunday School at a United Church of Christ for a while and I have never been baptised to this day.
If that's too much like choosing one side over the other for your comfort, you might want to look into a small, backyard ceremony with a non-denominational minister. You can do whatever you like that way, even write your own ceremony or at least have a hand in crafting it. You could involve whatever aspects of religion you choose and have the grandparents participate in the ceremony. You can find someone by calling any outdoor wedding facility and asking them for a list of ministers they recommend. I myself am an ordained minister, not associated with any church, but have performed several weddings for friends and acquaintances. If you'd like to chat more about a personalized ceremony, please message me privately on here and I'll get in touch.
Good luck with whatever you choose!
Congrats on your new addition!
I am a christian also and my family is all catholic. WE decided that we did not want to baptise our children so we dedicated them to God. It is just a little ceremony to tell everyone that we agree to raise our children knowing about God. This way when our children are older they can make the decision about what they believe. Most non-denominational churches will have these ceremonies. Good Luck!
M.
What about a baby dedication?? No baptism or bris. Just a dedication of your son's life back to the Lord.
You might want to have a baby naming ceremony. A really great book to look at would be Anita Diamont's book The New Jewish Baby Book. She give suggestion on how to write your own bay naming ceremony. The some of the ideas that are in the book aren't necessarily Jewish and the can be however you and your husband are comfortable.
When my daughter was born we had a baby naming ceremony. We lit several candles to represent all the things we wished for our child. Her grandparents, brother and us lit the candles as what each candle represented was read.
The ceremony can be where ever you feel comfortable with, a couple I know just had a naming ceremony in a park.
D.,
We had a naming ceremony for my daughter (everyone uses different names for it). I had hired a minister/pastor that did the "ceremony" - but it wasn't religious it was spiritual and named her godparents and surrounded her with love and family.
We did it outside in a park like setting next to a pond with about 20 friends and family and then we took them to lunch. It was very beautiful and solidified her relationship with her godparents who are our best friends.
Good luck, always difficult finding the right fit with so many differing opinions.
