i am baptising my daughter in a methodist church, is it tradition, & how much should you donate to the church?
553924
So many people baptizing their babies,Matt.28:19 GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DICIPLES...BAPTIZING THEM.ACTS 8:12 Men and women were baptize not babies..A person should know why they are being baptize..the meaning....BAPTISM IS FOR THOSE WHO EMBRACED HIS WORD HEARTILY (ACT 2:41)
118702
It should be available to the same people you allow to marry (or baptize, or whatever religious ceremonies you provide in that line) in the church.  The best deal I saw when setting up my sister's wedding was the space provided, tea and coffee provided.  Guests supply the food.  No alcohol, rude pictures or items, appropriate music, etc..  Keep it inline with your church's beliefs.  If your god would frown on it; don't allow it.  If your god would smile on it; go for it!
847335
None!  God doesn't need your money.  Want to donate something?  Donate blood, give old clothes to the salvation army, donate your time to a shelter or program like Big Brothers/Big Sisters...you will make a much more positive impact than throwing your money into a plate to cover the church's light bill.
124428
If you are a student or have a job working around lots of people, or if you have lots of friends in that area, I'd ask them.  Anytime I've needed to find out about going to church, word of mouth was the best incentive for me.  I would talk to people about whether or not they found the services to be moving or not, and then I would just go on their word.  I mean, they go there regularly, right?  I would hope they'd be able to make an informed judgement about something like that.  \n\nGood luck, in your search for church!  (Hey, that rhymed!)
305146
Well it is up to you have active you are in the ceremony, but personally I would not participate actively in something that I did not believe in. It all depends what it is they're doing though. For example if they are praying then I would stay silent and wait for them to finish, but if they wished me to be a godparent then I would probably have to decline because that would involve me saying things that I did not believe. I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that. You should just see the baptism for what it is, a way for the parents to celebrate the birth of their new child and introduce him to the community. That something we can all enjoy :-)
756509
This is standard considering they don't get paid but volunteer.It is fair but should not be asked to donate during the class. Donations should be left after class in a drop box without any names on them. Standard is $5.00 per class of about six weeks. Don't feel pressured and make the judgement yourself on how well you thought the instruction was.
909928
Olivia has a good response. In my church, our praise teams, youth and children shop together for blankets, cologne, trinkets, candy, fruit, and any other items we can provide for the elderly and we go and visit.  Usually the nurses and caregivers will have the whole room filled with the residents.  Hot chocolate and warm cookies are served (for those who can have them) and we tell the story of Jesus' birth. The children sing, dance, recite Bibical scriptures, and pass out the gifts.  We share love with the residents and caregivers and carol up and down the hallways.  It always brings a smile to their faces AND more importantly - it's not done ONCE A YEAR.  We go every month to share Jesus with them and show them love.  That's one of the most rewarding things we do.  If you want to do a program for the church, go online or to a Christian bookstore and find a very simple "play" that you can put together.  You might need some assistance from other members of the church or parents, but we also do this. Our play this year is called: The Greatest Gift.  All of our kids are participating, and even the older people have parts.  I play all the music and our young people will peform a dance to "O Holy Night".  We carol in the neighborhood and we also decorate the neighborhood's mail boxes while we sing.  Good luck.
823252
Wow, this opens up a can of worms.  Be prepared to duck; you may get some very sharpish answers!\n\nFor what it's worth (FWIW), I've heard that some very conservative Christians are not very happy with the idea of organ donation because they want to be resurrected with all their parts.  \n\n(Personally, things are going to decay anyway, I figure, and I cannot see how an omnipotent Deity is going to be slowed up significantly if someone's minus a few tissues....But I'll leave it for such believers to believe as they choose, and if I've misunderstood their doctrine, hope they'll accept it as an honest goof and not malicious.)   \n\nI understand that some of the more conservative Jewish groups feel that autopsies and such are disrespectful to the dead, and THINK that some Muslim groups have similar beliefs.  However, do NOT know whether the potential "good" and charity that can come from saving life overrides such "disrespect". \n\nI've found, again FWIW, that people in the more "liberal"  denominations (examples:  Quaker/Friends, United Church of Christ), Unitarians, and Pagans/Wiccans tend to be very vigorously IN FAVOR of donating organs and tissues, on the basis of "hey, let's not waste them, and we can do some wonderful good for a number of people".  \n\nHowever, individual people may vary.  You may need to check for "policy papers" on organ donation for each separate spiritual denomination/belief, if you want better data....but this is going to be almost impossible for the atheists/agnostics, and also for the Pagans/Wiccans (because we're independent-minded and ornery as cats, and HAVE no centralized religious governing body to set policy).\n\nI signed the "organ donor" designation on my license right when turning legal age....and before that, told my parents to donate anything and everything as my last wish.  Was raised Lutheran (Missouri Synod---one of the more conservative L.), but now am a very happy Goddess-worshipping Pagan.
565809
You ought to be ashamed of yourself for going behind your sister's back. Innocents don't need baptizing and you  violated your sister's trust in you by having the children baptized without her consent. You might consider it for the best, but she doesn't and God doesn't require it. Shame on you.
346206
First off I'm very sorry and Second off get her on a prayer list at your church and if you don't go to a specific church then try calling a local church prayer list.. then ask that church for donations. start putting little buckets around your town with her picture on it with the information about her problem and people should start putting their extra change in while standing in line I will pray for you and your daughter God Bless!
1100799
Isn't it amazing how little people know about our faith? You will hear a lot of anti-Mormon stuff from a lot of very ignorant people. Get used to it. Satan works very hard against the true church.\n\nDon't worry about your past. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ you can be completely forgiven! All you have to do is to repent and be baptised by one holding the authority to perform this ordinance.\n\nYou will indeed have some discussions with the missionaries so that you know all about what it means to be a follower of the saviour. They will probably require you to commit to follow the word of wisdom (give up smoking, drinking, tea and coffee) before your baptism, and of course you will be covenanting to live the law of chastity in future. Don't worry, they can advise you of everything you need to know.\n\nAnd don't worry; the boys in the church will love you for you. There is a great single adult programme, and your past will be washed away with your baptism. \n\nMy ten-year old daughter just told me to tell you "It's the best experience of your life and you'll never regret it". We are converts, and I have to say that is quite true. If you want me to help further, please feel free to write to me.
711889
Yes! My church does this every year. It's such a great ministry. These kids have nothing compared to us. It's a wonderful opportunity to be involved in something like this.
644003
It all depends on what is if for. Since I will be spending this dollar, I believe at least I need to know what is it for. I would usually do it if it's for a good cause (feeding kids, paying for a hospital bill, etc). If you're asking for this donation to buy liquor, drugs, etc, I would rather send you an advice that hopefully would make you think twice about these topics.
413427
My daughter is getting blessed at church on Sunday.  My parents-in-law, my brother and his family, and some friends are all coming out for it.  We'll be playing and catching up on Saturday.  On Sunday is the blessing and my 2 month old daughter will be wearing the same dress that her grandpa, 2 aunts, and cousin wore for their blessings.  The dress is about 60 years old!
1135211
No honey, you do not need permission about when the time is right. You get that answer from God inside of your heart.  When you are willing, then the Minister or Priest of the church you attend should willingly bless you with baptism.  I have even done it twice in my life.  I became closer to the Holy Spirit, the Power of God within me a few years ago and decided to be baptised again...the first time I was 4 years old. Just contact the church office and let them know ~ as most churches only baptize one time per month.  God bless you in your Christian walk.
612092
Yes! Look at Matt 7; If you ask for God's love or his forgivness then he will give it to you!\n\nAs for more earthly possesions, you can always ask but He might not answer in the way you expect (I had an experience of this today. I got what I asked for, and more, but it wasn't what I was expecting! He must have a sense of humour!). I don't think it is wrong to ask (though you should really thank him and ask for forgivness even more often) but sometimes I feel a bit guilty. I tend to just tell Him what I am worried about, that I trust that what He does is right, and put my faith in His judgement. If it is right, then you will get what you ask for!\n\nPS For a good reference to asking for a child, look at 1 Samuel 1, and read about Hannah.
262108
If you really want to give something back to your old neighborhood, check with the local hospital there.  There are usually all kinds of worthwhile places within the organization that could put donations to good use.  (To the children's ward, cancer center, a memorial contribution, etc).  Also I would check into a homeless shelter or somewhere in need of donations to feed the needy, or perhaps even the animal shelter.  And of course, there's the church.  Just put your heart into it and see what has touched your life and go with it.  And good luck to you!  You're very thoughtful.