You’ve chosen the godparents, dressed the baby in yards of white, and headed to church for the christening. Now what? What does the sacrament of baptism mean in your child’s life – and yours? In Taking the Plunge, parents explore how the Baptismal Covenant helps to shape the experience of raising children. What are you promising when you baptize your child? Why are “please” and “thank you” theological words, not simply polite things to say? Anne Kitch writes with a light touch and includes plenty of real-life stories.
"Ann Kitch is a quiet treasure of the Church, offering wise and relaxed access to our tradition for ordinary people, in a way that respects their wisdom and experience-while crisply reminding clergy to do the same!" -Barbara Cawthorne Crafton, author of Some Things You Just Have to Live With
"By combining a mother's sensibilities with a priest's passion, Kitch has created the most sensible and accessible overview of baptism I have seen in a very long time."-Phyllis Tickle, compiler, The Divine Hours
"Taking the Plunge: Baptism and Parenting is a very readable, helpful book that brings the Baptismal liturgy to life, but the most original and insightful content is found in the second half which suggests practical ways to use the Baptismal Covenant as a guide to child rearing in the home." -Rev. Dr. John Westerhoff, author of Holy Baptism: A Guide for Parents and Godparents
"Speaking as both a priest and a mother, Anne Kitch explores what promises parents make when they have a child baptized and how they can live out those promises with their children. This book is good theology, and an honest and practical guide to being a good parent and a faithful guide for our children." -Debra K. Farrington, author of Hearing with the Heart: A Gentle Guide to Discerning God's Will for Your Life
"This is a lively unpacking of the baptismal promises as they relate to the everyday challenges facing families today. Anne Kitch's directness, humility and personal witness will be a welcome resource for parents striving to raise their children in the context of Christian faith and parish life." -Thomas E. Breidenthal, Dean of Religious Life, Princeton University
"Anne Kitch's directness, humility and personal witness will be a welcome resource for parents striving to raise their children in the context of Christian faith and parish life."--dioceanlife, December 2006
"Anne Kitch writes with a light touch and includes plenty of real-life stories."-Pathways, March 2007
"Taking the Plunge is an excellent resource for parents and godparents as they begin a faith journey with a child. The question format at the end of each chapter also makes it a rich resource for parenting classes."--Episcopal Teacher, Summer 2007.
"The work brings freshness to the sacrament of baptism which probably arises from the author's ability to bridge the gap between minister and parent, between theology and the practicalities of parenting. The work will also be helpful to those who assist with baptism ministry in the parish and to those who administer the sacrament of baptism."--The Furrow, July/August 2007
