Evelyn's Blessing

Yummy cake for the kids' blessing.

Evelyn and me on Sunday, January 11th at the Renton Community of Christ at the reception after the blessing.

The Dahlquist family were there to support and celebrate with us!

Lauren, Makayla, Kaleb and Jade with the cake the congregation had for us. I can't believe how the time goes so fast! It seems just yesterday that I was baptizing Lauren as a little girl!

Some of my favorite people: Janet, our co-pastor, Peter, my brother, and Bruce, Janet's husband and Todd's Xbox buddy!

Grandpa Jim (my dad), Uncle Mark and Grandpa Burt holding Evelyn as my dad gives the blessing prayer.


Sorry the pictures are so dark! Evelyn was blessed at our congregation in Renton, January 11th, along with her two little cousins, Makayla and Kaleb, my niece Lauren and her husband Jade's, kids. Usually this is a baby blessing, not a toddler blessing so Lauren and I were both a little nervous to see how this would go! Makayla had a hard time but it was a new setting and a lot of new people she didn't recognize. Evelyn just kind of chilled out in Grandpa Burt's arms, and Kaleb just beamed the whole time during his!

In our denomination, Community of Christ, a baby blessing is just that. A blessing and show of support by the congregation. It is a sacrament that represents Jesus' blessing of the children and holding them up as the example of the purity and joy of the kingdom of heaven. This isn't a theology lesson, but I do like that our tradition inclues this wonderful ritual of recognizing that children don't need "saving", but rather that parents do need support and children thrive in communities that love, empower and protect them. It feels really healthy to me.

My brother David played his guitar, including an orignal piece he composed. It was absolutely beautiful. Dad gave the blessing prayers for all three, with Grandpa Burt assisting with Evelyn's. He did a really great job, keeping the short but eloquent and meaningful. Not an easy task! My older brother Mark, gave the sermon and did an equally wonderful job. He talked about the "stories" we tell ourselves about our lives and how those stories are powerful and important and we need to pay attention to them. What kind of stories are we helping our children tell about their lives? How do we incorporate the stories of each other's lives and piece together our experiences as a community to create a meaningful, loving and supportive body. It was really good stuff!