Rev. Susan Anderson
MANY BLESSINGS MINISTRY....CHILD NAMING CEREMONY
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CEREMONY CELEBRANT AND OFFICIANT
Standard Child Naming......$99
Welcoming a baby into your home is truly one of the most
cherished times in a parents' life. Choosing to celebrate this
amazing experience with a dedicated ceremony is a
wonderful way to welcome your baby into your family and
home.
What is Included with Your Ceremony...
One in-person meeting at Many Blessings office and additional telephone or email
consultations to finalize preparations for the ceremony. You will receive a printed copy
of the text of the ceremony, and a decorative certificate commemorating the date of this
special occasion. There is a mileage fee for travel over 10 miles from our home office.
Standard Ceremony...
Minister's Welcome
Friends, We meet here to take part together in a simple ceremony. We do so for a
number of reasons. Firstly, [DAD] and [MOM] wish to express their joy to you on the
birth of [CHILD]. They are pleased that [CHILD] has arrived safely in this world. They
want to welcome him/her into their family unit, to the wider family of their relatives, and
to the community of their friends and the world.
They wish you all to share this joy. It is certain that the more love this child receives the
more he will benefit in his life and the more love in turn he will be able to give to others.
The more people to whom this child relates the more balanced and rich his growth will
be.
So your presence at this celebration today is appreciated, as will be your interest and
involvement in the years ahead.
First Reading
The first quotation I would like to read involves us all. As a community of friends and
family we all share a responsibility to provide the atmosphere in which young [CHILD]
will develop as a person. It is called:
A CHILD LEARNS WHAT HE LIVES
If a child lives with criticism
he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility
he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule
he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame
he learns to feel guilt.
BUT,
If a child lives with tolerance
he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement
he learns confidence.
If a child lives with fairness
he learns justice.
If a child lives with security
he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval
he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship
he learns to find love in the world.
Second Reading
This celebration also is an occasion when [DAD] and [MOM] want to make themselves
aware of their proper role as parents. This, they feel, is expressed well in the words of
the prophet, Kahlil Gibran.
And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, speak to us of Children.
And he said:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters
of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you.
And though they are with you
yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love
but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts,
You may house their bodies
but not their souls
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit
not even in your dreams
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you
For life goes not backward
nor tarries with yesterday
You are simply the bows from which your children
as living arrows
are sent forth.
Grandparents (optional - edit as required)
It is not always possible for grandparents to involve themselves in the development of
their grandchildren - but when they do it is a great bonus and blessing. The important
role played by grandparents is the passing on of cultural values to children.
They assist children find their identity and their inner security - and to integrate
themselves into society. The special relationship of trust and mutual enjoyment which
develops between child and grandparent is something very special. Through this
relationship children learn their lineage, their history - and many values and skills.
This cultural inheritance lays the foundation for the young person to construct their
personality during childhood and adolescence and adds great meaning to their existence.
For this reason [DAD] and [MOM] wish to recognize and express their gratification that
[GRANDFATHER1] and [GRANDMOTHER1], as well as [GRANDFATHER2] and
[GRANDMOTHER2] are here today.
Godparents (If parents elect to have godparents)
The next special and unique step in this ceremony involves the godparents. In this age of
the nuclear family when many of us live isolated from our family and friends godparents
have perhaps a more important role today than they have had in the past.
They undertake a special and lifelong interest in the welfare of their godchild and to
assume a more than ordinary responsibility in the event of the death or default of the
parents.
So, I now ask the godparents, are you, [NAME] and [NAME], willing to accept this
serious charge?
Godparents: We are.
The Naming
[CHILD] you are named with water as a symbol of the common life which is in you and
in the world about you. We welcome you to the community of life on earth and dedicate
you to everything which is beautiful and truthful and good.
[MINISTER] I will now ask everyone to repeat after me:-
We all agree to call you [CHILD]
We therefore name you [CHILD]
We wish you long life and happiness
In a loving and peaceful world.
May you bring joy to your parents,
your godparents, your grandparents
To each of us, your family and friends.
Final Declaration
This ceremony will in no way inhibit [CHILD] from seeking the truth during his/her life
and any future religious or non religious commitments of belief. In fact, it is our duty to
present him in the coming years with a broad and balanced view of life, and encourage
him in the virtues we all agree as good - integrity, honesty, concern, fairness and love
toward his fellow human beings.
[CHILD], may life's richest joys and blessings be yours. May you grow in health of body
and mind to full adulthood and may it be your good fortune to play some worthy part in
making life more pleasant for those whose paths you cross.
Welcome
On behalf of all who shall know [him/her], with the hope that [he/she] finds among us all
the nourishment [he/she] needs, I now welcome [state full name of child] to our
community.
Presentation of the Naming Certificate
[Mom] and [Dad] would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation for your presence here
today in welcoming [child] into the family and community. Please enjoy the rest of the
day [or give specific directions to your guests following the ceremony].
:
Welcoming a baby into your home is truly one of the most
cherished times in a parents' life. Choosing to celebrate this
amazing experience with a dedicated ceremony is a
wonderful way to welcome your baby into your family and
home.
What is Included with Your Ceremony...
One in-person meeting at Many Blessings office and additional telephone or email
consultations to finalize preparations for the ceremony. You will receive a printed copy
of the text of the ceremony, and a decorative certificate commemorating the date of this
special occasion. There is a mileage fee for travel over 10 miles from our home office.
Standard Ceremony...
Minister's Welcome
Friends, We meet here to take part together in a simple ceremony. We do so for a
number of reasons. Firstly, [DAD] and [MOM] wish to express their joy to you on the
birth of [CHILD]. They are pleased that [CHILD] has arrived safely in this world. They
want to welcome him/her into their family unit, to the wider family of their relatives, and
to the community of their friends and the world.
They wish you all to share this joy. It is certain that the more love this child receives the
more he will benefit in his life and the more love in turn he will be able to give to others.
The more people to whom this child relates the more balanced and rich his growth will
be.
So your presence at this celebration today is appreciated, as will be your interest and
involvement in the years ahead.
First Reading
The first quotation I would like to read involves us all. As a community of friends and
family we all share a responsibility to provide the atmosphere in which young [CHILD]
will develop as a person. It is called:
A CHILD LEARNS WHAT HE LIVES
If a child lives with criticism
he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility
he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule
he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame
he learns to feel guilt.
BUT,
If a child lives with tolerance
he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement
he learns confidence.
If a child lives with fairness
he learns justice.
If a child lives with security
he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval
he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship
he learns to find love in the world.
Second Reading
This celebration also is an occasion when [DAD] and [MOM] want to make themselves
aware of their proper role as parents. This, they feel, is expressed well in the words of
the prophet, Kahlil Gibran.
And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, speak to us of Children.
And he said:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters
of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you.
And though they are with you
yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love
but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts,
You may house their bodies
but not their souls
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit
not even in your dreams
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you
For life goes not backward
nor tarries with yesterday
You are simply the bows from which your children
as living arrows
are sent forth.
Grandparents (optional - edit as required)
It is not always possible for grandparents to involve themselves in the development of
their grandchildren - but when they do it is a great bonus and blessing. The important
role played by grandparents is the passing on of cultural values to children.
They assist children find their identity and their inner security - and to integrate
themselves into society. The special relationship of trust and mutual enjoyment which
develops between child and grandparent is something very special. Through this
relationship children learn their lineage, their history - and many values and skills.
This cultural inheritance lays the foundation for the young person to construct their
personality during childhood and adolescence and adds great meaning to their existence.
For this reason [DAD] and [MOM] wish to recognize and express their gratification that
[GRANDFATHER1] and [GRANDMOTHER1], as well as [GRANDFATHER2] and
[GRANDMOTHER2] are here today.
Godparents (If parents elect to have godparents)
The next special and unique step in this ceremony involves the godparents. In this age of
the nuclear family when many of us live isolated from our family and friends godparents
have perhaps a more important role today than they have had in the past.
They undertake a special and lifelong interest in the welfare of their godchild and to
assume a more than ordinary responsibility in the event of the death or default of the
parents.
So, I now ask the godparents, are you, [NAME] and [NAME], willing to accept this
serious charge?
Godparents: We are.
The Naming
[CHILD] you are named with water as a symbol of the common life which is in you and
in the world about you. We welcome you to the community of life on earth and dedicate
you to everything which is beautiful and truthful and good.
[MINISTER] I will now ask everyone to repeat after me:-
We all agree to call you [CHILD]
We therefore name you [CHILD]
We wish you long life and happiness
In a loving and peaceful world.
May you bring joy to your parents,
your godparents, your grandparents
To each of us, your family and friends.
Final Declaration
This ceremony will in no way inhibit [CHILD] from seeking the truth during his/her life
and any future religious or non religious commitments of belief. In fact, it is our duty to
present him in the coming years with a broad and balanced view of life, and encourage
him in the virtues we all agree as good - integrity, honesty, concern, fairness and love
toward his fellow human beings.
[CHILD], may life's richest joys and blessings be yours. May you grow in health of body
and mind to full adulthood and may it be your good fortune to play some worthy part in
making life more pleasant for those whose paths you cross.
Welcome
On behalf of all who shall know [him/her], with the hope that [he/she] finds among us all
the nourishment [he/she] needs, I now welcome [state full name of child] to our
community.
Presentation of the Naming Certificate
[Mom] and [Dad] would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation for your presence here
today in welcoming [child] into the family and community. Please enjoy the rest of the
day [or give specific directions to your guests following the ceremony].
:
PERSONALIZED
Child Naming
Blessing
SEEDS FOR CHANGE
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