Baby Ceremonies

Baby Blessings, Baptisms, Christenings, Naming & Welcoming Ceremonies

No Matter How You Choose To Welcome Your Baby Into The World, Reverend Sara Provides Religious And Non-Religious Celebrations. Call Or Email Reverend Sara Today For Your Consultation In Person, On The Phone, FaceTime Or Skype. She Will Help You Determine Which Baby Ceremony Best Fits With Your Spiritual, Secular Or Religious Orientation.

From Reverend Sara,

Dear Parents,

Congratulations On The Birth Of Your Baby! Whether This Is Your First, Second, Third Or Fourth Baby I Am Sure You Have Discovered, The Birth Of A Baby Is Truly A Miracle!

A Baby Ceremony Is A Wonderful Way To Celebrate Your Baby’s Safe Arrival Into The World In A Formal Way. It’s Also The Perfect Opportunity For Friends And Relatives To Greet This New Member Of The Family With Love And Affection. And, For You As Parents As Well As For The God Parents & Grand Parents To State Your/Their Commitment To Your Child’s Welfare.

I Will Help You Figure Out Which Type Of Baby Ceremony Works Best For You: A Baby Blessing Ceremony, Baby Baptism, Baby Christening Or Baby Welcoming Ceremony! Whether You Prefer A Spiritual, Interfaith, Religious Christian, Non-Religious, Secular Or Humanistic Ceremony, I Will Offer You Many Choices From Amazing Ideas And Samples. I Will Personally Work With You To Help You Identify The Type Of Baby Ceremony Most Fitting For You In Accordance With Your Philosophical, Spiritual Or Religious Beliefs.

NON-DENOMINATIONAL BABY CEREMONY

KATHRYN MEGHAN WALLIS

BLESSING & CHRISTENING CEREMONY

Created & Officiated By

Reverend Sara Henderson

Opening Words 

Greetings, I welcome you all here today! I’m Reverend Sara Henderson and am honored to be here today officiating the Baptism of Baby Kathryn.  A new life has joined your families!  Today, we are gathered in the presence of God to bless and celebrate the life of this beloved child, daughter of Richie and Meghan, sister of Jon, David and Peter and granddaughter to Michael, Marie, Dave and Julia. We acknowledge that children are the greatest gift and most blessed responsibility bestowed upon a family. This space within which we have gathered today is Kathryn's first home, and it is a sacred space blessed by your love for this precious  child.

Richie and Meghan would like to welcome you and thank you for being here with them on this very special day! As we are gathered here today, we pray for blessings upon their baby, with great joy on this occasion of Baptizing Kathryn.  God’s gentle hands have cradled this child to life and have gifted the earth with a unique expression of His love.  May God give strength, courage and wisdom to all of those who will care for Kathryn as they now begin this journey of responsibility. 

Richie and Meghan want you all to know that each and every one of you has a very special place in their lives and hearts, and they are so very honored and proud that you have come to partake in this most joyful and sacred occasion. You are the ones they have chosen to share life's joyous events with, and you are the ones they will look to in times of need.  Your love and support will always be a great source of strength, comfort & inspiration to them as they grow and learn as a family. Let us join our thoughts and hearts in sincere goodwill, asking that God’s peace embrace this family, and that God's light surround this child for all the days of her life.

The Baptism of a child is an important rite of passage to those that recognize the role that God plays in our lives.

May this ceremony be filled with God’s love, great celebration, gratitude, and joy!

Prayer

 Heavenly Father, we praise you for Kathryn’s birth - surround her with your blessings that she may know your love, be protected from evil, and know your goodness all her days. May she learn to love all that is true, grow in wisdom and strength and come through faith to the fullness of your Grace.

May God the Father of all bless these parents and give them grace to love and care for this child. May God give them wisdom, patience, and faith, and help them to provide for Kathryn’s needs.

Eternal Father, we thank you for the families you have created for us, and for the relationships which we see and enjoy within them. Help us to respect and learn from each other. We thank you too for the love that binds the families that are here today, and we ask your blessing upon them.

Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son shared at Nazareth the life of an earthly home, bless the home of this child, may it provide shelter, warmth, and security to the family and to all those who visit.

All this we ask in Christ’s name, Amen.

Prayer

Let us now join in prayer:

Dear God,

As our beloved Kathryn bears witness to her parent’s union, may she learn about love and respect.  May she learn to speak and to listen with an open heart.  May she learn to resolve conflict so that no one must be defeated.  May she learn to be flexible, forgiving, and compassionate.  Most of all, may she learn to love as she is loved by her family, and God, who created her eternal soul.  Amen.

 Parent Vows

As Richie and Meghan continue this journey thru parenthood, they would like to share their vows with us:

Richie, do you affirm your commitment to your beloved wife, Meghan, promising to love her and support her as the mother of your child?

Richie: “I do”

Do you Richie, promise to love, honor, nurture and support your daughter’s uniqueness and regard your parenting of her as a sacred trust?

Richie: “I do”

Meghan, do you affirm your commitment to Richie, promising to love him as your husband and to support him as the father of your child?

Meghan: “I do”

 Do you Meghan, promise to love, honor, nurture and support your daughter’s uniqueness and to regard your parenting of her as a sacred trust?

 Meghan: “I do”

Family Circle – Honoring Siblings

Will Kathryn’s brothers, Jon, David and Peter please come forward.

Richie and Meghan will form a circle with Jon, David and Peter around baby Kathryn.  Rev. Sara will say to Jon, David and Peter:

Jon, David and Peter, this is not only a big day for your new baby sister, but it is also a big day for the three of you too! As baby Kathryn’s big brother’s, you will be her very first friends. You will also teach her many things.  She already loves you all very much and this love will only grow deeper and stronger.

Your mom and dad also want you to know how much they love you today and every day.

Special Blessing for Jon, David and Peter

Jon, David and Peter, your mom and dad have asked me to bless the three of you with a special blessing.  I will now place my hand upon your heads and bless the three of you.

“God bless Baby Kathryn’s big brothers, Jon, David and Peter.  May there always be a bond of special friendship, love, joy, and laughter in and amongst the four of you always and forever.”

Grandparent Vows

Who are the Grandparents of this child? 

Grandparents: “We Are” 

Will you promise to give Kathryn all the benefits of your wisdom and years, protecting, educating, instructing and loving her unconditionally? 

Grandparents: "We will"   

Welcoming of Guardian Angels

 The birth of a child into a family is one of life’s most sacred and joyous events, reminding us that we are all part of the eternal circle of life. Let us remember those beloved family members not with us today. Let us reflect upon the fact that in truth, love is eternal, and these loved ones are all part of the “sublime torch” that is passed along through the generations of family. Let us remember that the light and love of these beloved ones, is here with us on this most sacred day.

Therefore, it is with this in our minds and hearts that Richie and Meghan would like to kindle the light of this candle in loving memory of Richie’s mother & Kathryn’s GG, Jane Marie Wallis, whose light and love have been passed on to Kathryn.

May Kathryn’s Guardian Angels always be with her guiding, guarding, and watching over her, and blessing her with their presence.

Let us now take a MOMENT OF SILENCE……………….

Prayer

Baptism begins with God's love and care revealed to us.

Water represents life, death, cleansing and growth. 

Eternal Father, we ask that you pour your blessings into this water and sanctify it for our use today. In Christ's name, Amen.

(Reverend Sara takes Kathryn, holds her and says):

Richie and Meghan, what name have you given your child?

Richie and Meghan: Kathryn Meghan Wallis

The Baptism

(Reverend Sara makes the sign on the cross on Kathryn’s forehead from a small vessel of holy water.)

 I hereby Baptize you Kathryn,

in the name of the Father (#1 pour), 
and of the Son (#2 pour), 
and of the Holy Spirit (#3 pour), Amen.

May God always hold you close, and may you grow to know His love, and His place in your life. God bless you, always.

Closing

Kathryn, today we officially welcome you. We wish you a long life and much happiness. May you face all challenges that come to you as a person of integrity,
May you continue to bring great joy to your parents, your grandparents, family, friends, and to all those who come to know you. 
May beauty delight you and happiness uplift you,
May wonder fulfill you and love surround you.
May your step be steady, and your arms be strong,
May your heart be peaceful, and your word be true.
May you seek to learn, may you learn to live.
May you live to love, and may you love - always.

Benediction

May the Lord Bless you and keep, may the Lord make His face shine on to you and be gracious to you, may the Lord look kindly on you and give you peace. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always.

 Lighting of candles by parents

(Have two candles lit and a third candle unlit).

The lighting of candles has many spiritual meanings. The light of a candle represents the light of a person's life. The flame represents the eternal truth of God. The collective lighting of a candle represents the sharing and fellowship of faith.  

The center candle, in this ceremony symbolizes Kathryn’s life. The flame of your individual candles represents all that you have to offer to Kathryn as she grows in her faith, and in love. Richie and Meghan, I would now like you both to bring your flames together to create one light for Kathryn…… 

 May your lighting of this candle be a sign of the future happiness and faith of this beloved child.  

 Reverend Sara now places her hand on Kathryn’s head and says:

May your life be blessed with enduring health, ever-growing wisdom, abundant

love and lots of laughter. May every step of your path be guided by the light of God, the love of your family, and the companionship of lifelong friends. Amen. 

 The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be Thy name;

Thy Kingdom come,

Thy will be done

On earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

And forgive us our trespasses

As we forgive those

Who trespass against us;

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil

Amen

 Everyone: In the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.

 Family Sand Pouring

(There will be a container of sand, (A different color for each person.  Each person will pour their individual containers alternatively, a small amount at a time, filling the empty container as directed by Reverend Sara). Note that Richie & Meghan together will pour Baby Kathryn’s sand.)

Richie and Meghan of equal importance to celebrating the birth of your new child, Kathryn today, is that we honor and celebrate the fact that you and your beloved children: Jon, David and Peter and Kathryn are a family.  You will now symbolically illuminate the sacredness and beauty of the six of you, along with Kathryn’s beloved Grandparents, in this following Sand Ceremony:

Each one of you has chosen your own color, which, in the context of this ceremony, represents each of you as an individual, whole and complete in your own right.  And, in terms of your own individuality, your personal color represents all that you are, all that you have been and all that you will ever be.

I now ask that you take your individual containers and, one at a time, take turns pouring your sand, a small portion at a time, into the larger container. 

As you do this, you will see beautiful patterns emerge from your individual colors being poured alternatively. When you have finished, a most exquisite and unique composite will be created.

(After sand is poured):

This beautiful sand composite that you have now created represents you and the beauty of your unity as a family.  Just as the individual colors in this container create a beautiful composite of colors and patterns of sand, so does your unique individuality combined creating a beautiful and unique and loving family!

Let us Pray

Almighty God, source of all life, we thank you for the gift of this new life and for the sacred privilege of parenthood, which adds profound meaning and purpose to our existence.  Grant to Richie and Meghan wisdom, patience, and devotion.  Extend your shelter over them and grant this child love, health and understanding.  May she grow in faith and live as to become a blessing to her parents, family, and friends, as well as to her community and all humanity.  

Blessing

 Kathryn Meghan, may you be blessed by God…, May you be touched by angels…. May you live your life in happiness and health…. May you love, and be loved, without conditions…. And may the hopes and dreams of your parents—and the well-wishes of all those gathered here today—come true for you so that your life may be filled with friendship, laughter, and peace.  May God be with you always and forever.

 Final Words

To everyone who has gathered here today: May God’s love be with you all. Thank you for taking the time to share with Richie and Meghan, Kathryn’s special day!

Contact Sara

Call: 1-914-799-5279
eMail: ceremonies4u@gmail.com