A SAMPLE CHILD NAMING CEREMONY
THIS IS A SUGGESTION
TO HELP YOU WRITE YOUR OWN
CHILD NAMING CEREMONY
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A CHILD NAMING CEREMONY for
CHILD’S FULL NAME
DATE
REV EDDY ADDRESSES THE CONGREGATION FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Every culture recognizes, ceremonially, the central significance of parenthood. In the Western European tradition within which our religious community evolved, this ceremony was called Christening. In it, the newborn child was welcomed into the local parish family and the larger community known as Christendom. For many centuries, in Europe and later in America, Unitarians and Universalists were not allowed to be part of those orthodox Christian communities, so we created our own congregations and over the years those congregations created new ceremonies to name their children and help parents celebrate their dedication to their children’s spiritual growth. This is one such ceremony.
Unitarian Universalists do not impose creedal tests on potential members, neither do they require parents to vow to raise their children in any particular vision of the good, the true, and the beautiful for we believe that every child has the right to see many visions of truth and to follow, or create, one that gives meaning to his or her life.
Kalhil Gibrhan said it well when he wrote,
“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 the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The Archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and he bends you with his might that his arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the Archer’s hand be for gladness; for even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves the bow that is stable.”
Kalhil Gibran (1883-1931) in The Prophet”
composed in Arabic and first published in English in 1923.
PARENTS NAMES
Will you as CHILD’S NAME’s Parents:
provide them not only the means to develop physically into a healthy adult, but also the means for then to find and live a vision of life that will sustain their spirits through all tribulation?
If so, say we will.
WE WILL
I ask you, GOD PARENTS NAMES , will you act as moral and spiritual examples for CHILD’S NAME? Will you help PARENTS NAMES to provide an environment that allows CHILD’S NAME the freedom to seek truth and to find a vision that gives meaning to their life.
If so, say we will.
WE WILL
I ask, you, INSERT EITHER “THE MEMBERS OF NAME OF CONGREGATION” or “FRIENDS AND FAMILY” “will you assist CHILD’S PARENTS NAMES and GOD PARENTS NAMES as they help CHILD’S NAME find a vision of life that will sustain HIS OR HER spirit through all tribulation?
If so, say we will.
WE WILL
Rev Eddy takes CHILD’S NAME in his arms and says,
CHILD’S NAME on behalf of your parents and Godparents and this congregation, and in the name of all that is holy, I name you
CHILD’S FULL NAME
REV EDDY GIVES HIM OR HER A ROSE
REV EDDY SAYS
Go now in peace, Go now in peace
And may the spirit of love of surround you
All your life, all your life.