We were sitting towards the back of the church on Sunday, prepared for the necessity of escorting a child out of church with a minimum of distraction to everyone else.

Matins was preceded by the baptisms of two children, one about seven and the other about eleven, by my guess. Baptism are cool to watch.

My poor shorter and more vocal daughter tried to get a glimpse. I even let her stand on my lap for a little bit, when to my horror, she blurted out, “he’s not doing it like they do in the real church.”

After I reassured her that these were good, too, I realized what she was talking about. Easter Saturday we had been watching the Easter Mass in the Vatican, where the Pope had baptized adults and children representing all the continents. Pope Benedict sprinkled water on the baptized heads, while Pastor Gau wet his hand and pressed his palm to the children’s foreheads. So long as there is water and the Word, baptizing in the name of the Triune God as scripturally understood, the rest is secondary.

As my other daughter got a little noisy and needed to go to the “cry room,” my first daughter wanted to go with Dad and sister, and I felt a little guilty. Someone who is smart enough to take an interest in rubrics should be allowed to watch them, instead of being told to sit down and be quiet. Now, if she would just whisper… :)

The cry room in our building is at the back of the sanctuary and has good intentions — large glass windows allow an open view of the sanctuary, and Pastor Gau’s microphone is broadcast in. It until recently had a pew in it, but there are too many kids in it now. The kids who are there just to play end up being a distraction for my kids. Logistical issues keep us from Sunday School, so church has to be a time when my family hears the Word of God. When we go back, I take a hymnal and a bulletin, and we participate as best we can. I probably look like a pietist, but we didn’t drive 35 miles just for play time.

I suppose in a perfect world there would be a typical play room for those who have no interest in participation, and a “cry room” or a “training room” for those who wish to participate without distracting everyone else. It would probably also be better if the training room were actually near the chancel, perhaps to the side, where youthful Christians can watch what is going on and obtain a healthy appreciation for it. Throw in a back door where parents can sneak in and out, and we’d be all set.

Something to think about should I come into extreme wealth. :)