two baptisms, two wet ones to go please

My little boys haven't been baptized yet. I'm in the process of finding out the proper procedure to get them baptized at FAPC. So far, I understand that at least one of the parents must be a member of the church (me) and that I've got to take a confirmation of faith in their name.

The sacrament of baptism (one of the two sacraments instructed in the Bible; the other being the Lord's Supper, performed on the first Sunday of every month) in the Presbyterian church and in most Protestant denominations is different than in the Catholic Church. I grew up with the belief that's best to have a child baptized as early as possible in his/her life to cleanse off the Original Sin (Adam and Eve for eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_sin). Therefore, if a baptized child were to die, the child would automatically be accepted into Heaven for being a pure soul (an angel, free from all sin). As a matter of fact, I was baptized less than month after being born, about the same time I almost died.

ashes to ashes, dust to dust

So yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the day church goers get a smudge of black ashes on their foreheads. I'm still trying to understand all the reasons behind this tradition, which marks the beginning of Lent.

As I understand, the ashes are from last year's palms (Palm Sunday). Being smudged with ashes is a reminder that we were created from dirt (mud) and that we'll return to the dirt when we die. It's also seen as a reminder of the sacrament of baptism, in which we were named children of God. A third meaning is penitence for our sins.

Nonetheless last night I went to FAPC to get smudged with ashes. It was a weird and new experience for me to say the least. I had no idea what to say as the pastor put the ashes on my forehead with his right thumb. I think that he smiled at my ignorance.

09/28/2008, third week in a row, yeah!

Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church (http://www.fapc.org/)
Service from 11:15 to 11:15am
with Pastor Rev. Dr. Scott Black Johnson

1. World Prayer Sunday, all Christians in united prayer and communion, started by Presbyterians in 1800's, now (1940's) adopted by other Christians faiths, languages, origins, etc
  1.1. Baptism of two and introduction of new (registered) members of the congregation, me not a member still (well at least, not yet)
2. Sermon: difference between agnostics and atheists using new movie with Bill Maher:
  2.1. Agnostics confused, not sure about Christianity, would rarely fight
  2.2. Atheists sure that there's no God, passionate to fight and sell their conviction, belief that religion does more damage than good
  2.3. Good to question what we don't understand in our faiths, not as lack of blind faith, but to really understand and learn our faith
3. Me feeling not worthy, still feeling like fish out of water, still sitting in the back left of the church, trying to understand customs and over all church behavior, still taking notes
  3.1. Didn't take communion (small piece bread and small cup of wine), which was passed around, not ready, no confession before communion?
4. Why not walk four blocks down to St Pats?
  4.1. Still find Presbyterian church very rock n' roll, not so formal and up-tight, no saints and prayers to them (weird?)
  4.2. Much more sense than Catholic church, married pastors, female pastors (uh?)
  4.3. 'Our Father' also recited