Prayers for Gigi

Next weekend, Feb 22nd to be precise, Georgia Gail is being baptized at the Episcopal Church of St. Paul's in Chatham, NJ.

We have a wonderful Priest and Pastor in Reverend Elizabeth. And luckily, she has great trust in me. She allows me into her pulpit when I ask. I preached at Olivia's baptism five years ago (to the day) and will be preaching again next weekend for Gigi's baptism. I'm looking forward to it - but am worried that my sermon is... well... a little too simple. For Olivia's baptism, I preached about what Baptism meant to me and how our faith worked out in that space. Next week's sermon has more to do with our life at St. Paul's and why that is so important to us. Actually, it about our daughter's lives at St. Paul's and why that is so important to them for us. I'm hoping that the simplicity of the sermon will be enough.

Our dear friends Paul and Larry are Olivia's Godfathers. Paul played piano at Olivia's baptism and will do so again at Gigi's. Larry made the bowl that was used to baptize Olivia. We plan on using that again (set inside the baptismal font), but I wanted something that Georgia could have as well. So I've been working on a pitcher to hold the water. The two forms are wonderful. The handles are a little gnarled, but very comfortable... and if I give some more thought to it - it's rather representational of the beauty and comfort mixed in with the giving up of one's life in baptism. My dear friend and pottery teacher, Carla, helped me every step of the way with the pitchers.

Georgia's Godparents are two wonderful friends of ours. I like to think that they, along with their two gorgeous daughters, are actually Gigi's Godfamily. We're lucky to have friends like them in our lives.

I'm looking forward to Sunday. We have invited 50 people or so to join us at the Church. I'm thrilled that Gigi will be surrounded by the love and concern of those there. Please keep her in your prayers for her big day.