Back to previous page
At the end of August we went to Amsterdam for Emma's baptism, which took place on Sunday 30th August in the Dominicus church in a special service led by Gerson Gilhuis. The Dominicus church was chosen as Jan went to this church during his last years in Amsterdam, while the Dutch Church in London was impractical due to the short period between Sarah's due date and the date we were intending to leave the UK. As the Dominicus congregation only has baptism services four times a year and none in August, a short dedicated service has been held for Emma's baptism. Gerson is married to Annigje, Jan's sister, who led Sarah and Jan's marriage service. Gerson works as drugs pastor in Amsterdam and hence rarely has the opportunity to baptize a child.
Emma was wearing the baptismal dress from her paternal grandmother's family. Jan was also baptized in this dress and more recently Emma's cousin Tiem. During the service, the children were invited to fill the baptismal font with water until it overflowed, the flowing being the symbol for living water. Emma had to be woken for the actual baptism. Oma Bep lit the baptismal candle and handed it over. The service was held mostly in Dutch, see the liturgy and sermon.
After the service and a little chat in the church, Emma really woke up and we went for drinks in a local pub's (Wijnand Focking) garden with friends and family. It was the last opportunity for a group picture with all Emma's cousins and their parents.
During the weekend, Sarah's cousin Pen, her boyfriend Andrew and his daughter Kate stayed with us in a rented apartment in the Jordaan in Amsterdam. Pen and Andrew became Emma's godparents. During the week, we went to the playground in the Vondelpark, where we met the Hoekema family on their way back from Friesland. Tracy and Andries are Piet's godparents. After two months, their daughter Melissa had caught up with Emma in weight.
