We're having Daniel and my neice baptized together in May. I'm making up announcements/invitations to send out and we're wondering about the wording.

My mom's really definite that she doesn't think most people NEED to be at the church service. I don't really care either way but it's important to her. She also doesn't want the announcement to sound like they should not come to the church.

See why I need help?

Here's what she came up with -

Announcing the baptism of
Daniel Christian B.
and
Molly Jeannette S. S.

May 21, 2006 11am
Linthicum Heights United Methodist Church

Please join us for a reception at 1pm
my address
Linthicum, MD

But now she's thinking that it sounds like people should only come to the reception and not the church. She doesn't want them to come to the church but she doesn't want them to feel like they can't come. Does that make sense?

Help!

PS - I would have started with
Please join us for the baptism of....

With your wording I know that I'm (general I'm) invited to the reception at your house, and I know where the baptism is.

The way I read it, I'd arrive at both the baptism and the reception.

I'm not sure how it could be phrased to say "Come to the baptism if you want, but we really don't expect you be there".

I'm no help, am I?

How about something like:

Join us as we celebrate the baptism of
Daniel
and
Molly

Date
1 pm
Your address

Baptism to take place
Date
11 am.
Church

That way, people know they're really just invited to the party, but have the info on the church if they want to go. :dunno:

Personally, if you and your sis don't care that people come to the church, I would invite them to that, too. I think I would be a little offended if I got invited to the party, but not the church.