"The Lord bless your head, that you might think think the thoughts of Jesus after him, thoughts of purity and truth. The Lord bless your feet, that you might walk in the ways of Jesus, the ways of faith and obedience. The Lord bless your hands, that you might do the works of Jesus in the world, the works of service and love."
And as Reid added when speaking to the congregation after the baptism and blessing, before the congregational response, every PK needs all the help he can get...
It was a very special day on June 9th. We've been blessed to be a part of the Bluff Park UMC congregation during the last two years, and have enjoyed being here during the last years of Rev. Reid Crotty's time here. He is retiring after 22 years here and forty-four years in ministry. David was baptized during Reid's last Sunday morning worship service at Bluff Park. It was a special service for us because of the baptism and having our friends and family with us, but it was also a special service for the whole congregation with Reid's retirement. Such a beautiful time.
So David carried on the tradition of being baptized on a minister's last Sunday at a church (Mommy and Julia were baptized that way too). He also wore a baptismal gown that is 127 years old, passed down from Poppy's family. It was worn by Mattie Stone Bobo, Wanda Bobo Burkett, Samuel Wallace Burkett, Poppy, Uncle Todd, and David. Three of the 'W' boys. :)
Also as unique was that the baptismal font that was used to baptize David was also used to baptize Peter and Uncle Martin. Peter's great grandfather was a United Methodist minister in North Alabama. He passed away long before Peter was born, but Peter's great grandmother lived in superannuate housing near McCoy UMC. When Peter was a baby, Nana and Pa had Martin and Peter baptized at McCoy UMC so that she could easily attend. McCoy UMC closed a few years after that. When Bluff Park UMC built the new sanctuary that opened in 1999, they acquired McCoy's organ and baptismal font. When we first visited Bluff Park just before we moved, we were so surprised and overwhelmed to find out about this. With the Methodist tradition never having pastors serving in their home churches, this is a really unique situation.
So much meaning and specialness in such a little moment.
I loved how much water was on little David's head after Reid sprinkled him... it was everywhere... and his little booties were too cute... and were were glad to have all the grandparents and my brother there, though we were sorry we had to plan it when Uncle Martin and Aunt Andrea and the Martins were in Australia... and we were glad Donna Johnson and Jennie and Larry Sherrer and Uncle Will and Aunt Stacey could be there too!
David, we chose your name for many reasons. Perhaps most important is that it is short with only one way to spell it. We know you'll be spelling and explaining your last name forever and often, so you're welcome that you don't have to explain your first name. ;) We chose your middle name so that you would have a W middle name just like Uncle Todd, Poppy, Poppy's Daddy and both of Poppy's grandpas. William has been used a good bit in all sides of our family, Mommy's and Daddy's, (including Grandma Young's Daddy 's middle name being William, and MawMaw's grandpas were William David Bright and Phillip William Elrod). And William is a good name too because it is also Uncle Will's name. We hope you like your name and we pray that you grow into your baptism and your special blessings and that we can be good guides as your parents along the way.
