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Naming Ceremony<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Welcome to this naming ceremony (Purposely not using the child\u2019s name until they are named during the ceremony.)<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWho can say when love begins? Love is eternal – a continuity. What or whom we love, we have loved before our meeting.<\/p>\n And when our love takes form and becomes real – our hearts swell so much, we can’t find words to adequately express what we are experiencing.<\/p>\n We are gathered now by a love that became real – so real that hearts overflowed again and again, while love was taking form in a mother’s womb.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n These words by Edward Searl reflect the fact that\u2026<\/em>This baby has been in our hopes and dreams for years. How wonderful that we can welcome and name them here this morning.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The following are words from The Masai People\u2026 which are said at birth\u2026<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hail the day on which this child was born.\u00a0 Rejoice!\u00a0 Let us all sing and praise her that gave birth to a son for whom she longed.\u00a0 Greet this day with joy.\u00a0 Our hearts are glad.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n READING by Kahlil Gibran<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Your children are not your children<\/p>\n They are the sons & daughters of life\u2019s longing for itself.<\/p>\n They come through you, but not from you,<\/p>\n though they are with you \u2026.yet they belong not to you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You may give them your love but not your thoughts,<\/p>\n For they have their own thoughts.<\/p>\n You may house their bodies but not their souls,<\/p>\n For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you,<\/p>\n For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You are the bows from which your children, as living arrows are sent forth.<\/p>\n The Archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,<\/p>\n and he bends you with his might that his arrows may go swift and far.<\/p>\n Let your bending in the Archer\u2019s hand be for gladness,<\/p>\n For even as he loves the arrow that flies,<\/p>\n so also he loves the bow that is stable.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The ceremony in which we now share is both ancient and timeless.<\/p>\n Through all of the ages, and around the world parents have invite friends and family together to witness the bestowing of their child\u2019s name. Sharing their own thanksgiving for their child, while inviting the support of the wider community.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Traditionally this is also a time to recognize the child by name, for it is by our names that each one of us is acknowledged as an individual; a unique and separate person.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is a celebration, shared by our community, to mark the fact that all of us have a responsibility for the care and nurture of all children.\u00a0 It is our task to work for a world of peace and justice in which children may have the freedom to grow and find fulfillment. It is our duty to share with them our ideals, our reverences, and our hopes and to help them develop their own. It is our task to learn from them the zest and wonder in life with which all children come into this world.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In presenting this child, we invite everyone here present to share with us in our joy and to support us as we undertake to help, with love and guidance, the fullest unfolding of the personality of this child, entrusted to our care.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n That understanding will not always be an easy one.\u00a0 The time may come when their parents, may be called upon to sacrifice ambitions and set aside dreams, in order that our children may tread more surely the onward path of life. We accept this service to our children, with whose lives; our lives are intertwined, knowing that we will be the richer and fuller in consequence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I will now ask the child\u2019s family and (if there are any) the God \/ Guide \/ Guardian Parents to stand<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The following question I ask of all of those whom I have invited to stand, as well as everyone gathered here today.\u00a0 If you agree, please respond \u201cWe will\u201d to the next two questions:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWill you love and encourage this child on their spiritual journey, promote their search for truth and meaning and assist them in working for peace and justice?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Response<\/strong>: \u201cWe will\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWill you help them to be compassionate, to follow their heart, to appreciate beauty in the world and assist them to grow into their unique and joyful place in the interdependent web of life?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Response:<\/strong> \u201cWe will\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n What name have you given this child and why?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Parents reply<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Traditionally, the element of water has been used for blessing, for all life has arisen from water.\u00a0\u00a0 It is through water that life is sustained…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With this water, source & symbol of life,<\/p>\n we welcome and bless you \u2013<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0a circle of sea water: to represent the circle of life, your name, the circle of our family and of our community.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n May the blessings of an understanding heart,<\/p>\n strength and integrity of purpose,<\/p>\n love received and given<\/p>\n be yours and remain with you<\/p>\n as you go forward into ever fuller life.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is an ancient Celtic Blessing said by the Midwife after the birth of a child\u2026<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A little drop of the sun, may he always shine on you<\/p>\n A little drop of the moon, may her wisdom guide you<\/p>\n A little drop of the Spirit, may you always be protected<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now I would like to introduce this child to the elements:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Powers of the East, meet___________ (name of child), Protect and bless them on their journey, help them to allow their imagination to soar, grant them with your gifts of intuition and a keen intellect.\u00a0 May your winds be gentle on their face and strong at their back.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Powers of the South, meet____________, Protect and bless them on their journey, help them to warmly pursue the path of their desire, grant them with your gifts of courage and passion.\u00a0 May your fire always warm them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Powers of the North, meet___________, protect and bless them on their journey, help them to walk safely in the darkest places and to learn the wisdom of the forest and the field, grant them the ability to call on their ancestors for wisdom.\u00a0 May they be grounded and deeply rooted in your soil.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n To friends and family \u2013 meet__________\u2013 support them in their quest and help us raise him to be a joyful member of our community.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ROSEBUD CEREMONY<\/u><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Invite the Guide \/ Guardian \/ God Parents forward and any siblings<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We give the child a flower, which symbolizes the beauty of life. It is not for us to open the bud into a blossom, but we can give it the nurture that will enable it to unfold.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n No flower grows alone, apart from the sunshine and the rain, apart from the soil in which it lives. So too, no child grows alone.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n May this flower be a reminder of_______\u2019s naming and of your<\/u> special link with them as Guide \/ Guardian \/ God Parents.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Can have a bush, shrub or tree to plant with these items at the roots or give these as gifts to the child:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Motherwort<\/strong> for happiness, Garlic<\/strong> to avert negativity, Vervain<\/strong> for creativity, Sage<\/strong> for protection, Bread and milk<\/strong> so they will never know hunger or thirst, a Coin <\/strong>so they will never know want and always manifest abundance, Rose petals<\/strong> for love and Chocolate<\/strong> so they will always know sweetness in life.<\/p>\n Now we ask for your wishes for ________.\u00a0 We invite you to take your time to do\u00a0 this\u2013 there are colorful pieces of paper and pens on the table at the back. Please write your wish for _______on the paper and sign it or leave it anonymous \u2013 then leave themin the basket.\u00a0 We will keep these wishes and show them when they are older so that we will be reminded of this naming ceremony.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Concluding words:<\/p>\n We lift our hearts in gratitude<\/p>\n for life in it\u2019s endless procession;<\/p>\n for the parents who gave us birth<\/p>\n and who cared for us in the days of our childhood;<\/p>\n for the blessing of love and renewal<\/p>\n that brings to us, in our turn, the gift of children.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n May__________, to whose care we have dedicated ourselves today, grow to be a courageous and compassionate seeker after truth and beauty,<\/p>\n with deep reverence for this earth that nurtures and sustains us all.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We acknowledge our share<\/p>\n In the responsibility for the making of the world<\/p>\n in which our children will live.<\/p>\n We pledge ourselves to work in hope and love<\/p>\n to make of it a fairer and a kindlier place<\/p>\n for the generations yet to come.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Will everyone join me in saying \u201cWelcome _________\u201d Baby\u2019s Name<\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n (The Rosebud Ceremony is a part of a Traditional Unitarian Naming Ceremony.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PAUSE<\/h6>\n
Thank you, you may now sit down, except for the parents who may now come forward:<\/h6>\n
Powers of the West, meet__________, protect and bless them on their journey, Help them to be able to express their emotions, grant them with your gifts; the strength of a waterfall and the gentleness of a mountain pool, may your waters always sooth them.<\/h6>\n
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Silbing(s) give child a flower\u2026<\/h6>\n
Give flowers to Guide \/ Guardian \/ God Parents<\/h6>\n
We also give a flower to each of _______ new Guide \/ Guardian \/ God Parents<\/h6>\n
Thank you \u2013 you may now sit down<\/h6>\n