Lutheran Baptism Traditions

[Womblewilly]

Hello,

I need some advice. My best friend (Roman Catholic) and his Swedish wife (Lutheran) are having their son baptized. I (Anglican) am to be the child's godfather. The baptism is within the Roman Catholic church, so I'd like to give something that would reflect his Lutheran heritage. Any traditions, gifts or ideas that would come to mind?

Cheers,
C.

[SavedByGrace]

To my understanding, there are no specific traditions involving infant baptism that are unique to the Lutheran Church. I can't think of anything that would represent "his Lutheran heritage."

[Womblewilly]

I'm thinking of getting a gift inscribed with:

So hear ye all, and well perceive
What God doth call baptism,
And what a Christian should believe
Who error shuns and schism:
That we should water use, the Lord
Declareth it his pleasure;
Not simple water, but the Word
And Spirit without measure;
He is the true Baptizer.

[teddyv]

I'm thinking of getting a gift inscribed with:

So hear ye all, and well perceive
What God doth call baptism,
And what a Christian should believe
Who error shuns and schism:
That we should water use, the Lord
Declareth it his pleasure;
Not simple water, but the Word
And Spirit without measure;
He is the true Baptizer.
That idea sounds nice. I have no idea of a how that relates to a Lutheran background to that (I'm not) - unless the poet was Lutheran?

Oh, I just wanted to add - can you call a local Lutheran church and see if there is some traditional gift?

[Walstib]

I'm on the same page as teddy here. *He's a gneiss guy, real down to earth. :saint:

I can ask my wife for you as she speaks Swedish and lived there for a few years. Knows the Scandinavian Lutheran culture as well being from Finland. I'll ask her when I get the chance.:)

She could translate something like that poem if you wanted to go down that path.

Peace,
Joe

*got to love geology puns. Ore maybe you don't have to......

[Cloudwalker]

Mod. hat on.

This thread was started to get information about a gift, NOT as a debate about whether infant baptism should, or should not be practiced. Any comments on that are derails. If you wish to debate that issue please start a thread to that end. I would suggest that Anything Goes, Controversial Issues or World Religions are the best forums for that. However, until you start that thread, keep your debate OUT of this thread. UNDERSTOOD?

Cloudwalker
Facilitator for Families in Christ

[SavedByGrace]

The ony thing I've been able to think of that would be specific to the Lutheran denomination is a Martin Luther Chatechism. Not sure if that would be an appropriate gift for a baby though.

What about a Piggy Bank? I found a cute Noah's Ark one that I tried to show you but can't. Or maybe a pewter taper candle holder to display the candle used in the service (I just remembered that part of the service)

[IBWatching]

Second chance for this ex-Lutheran since I realized this was not an apologetics thread.

You can find small promise books (small books with selected Bible passages in them) with nice covers at local Christian bookstores in the $10-15 price range. Look for one with a presentation page that you can write in (include date of baptism) and since this is a boy, a black cover would work.

[Walstib]

Found out that the birth information engraved on a spoon or in a frame is fairly traditional for godparents to give at this time. :)

[kricaud]

As a good old Lutheran, I do not know that there is anything "specific" to a lutheran baptism. There is water, God's word and the amazing gift of the Holy Spirit bringing new life to the child. I enjoyed for my children receiving children's bibles, pictures/wall hangings that commemorated the baptism date, picture frames that were for a baptism, etc. Anything is going to be greatly appreciated.