Here is a liturgy I have worked from with my and other children:

Dedication

Welcome & expression on our behalf of our appreciation to family & friends.

This morning is special for ___ & ____ & child ___,

together with members of their wider family, & friends – warm welcome.

- ___ & ____ are here to dedicate to God their child & themselves as his parents. Thus they recognise their child is not their personal property, but belongs also to God, & that as parents they have responsibilities before God, that this morning they will promise to fulfill.

- For our part we will recognise that our support & friendship is important to this family, as we join with ____ & _____ in sharing our faith, friendship & love with their child ____

Let us begin with some readings about children.

Readings

The blessing of a child

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 backwards nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children

as living arrows are sent forth.

- Kahlil Gibran

Psalm 139:1-2,13-16

‘Jessie’s song’ (from ‘Rachel’s song’ by Ross Langmead in his songbook ‘On the Road’, music may be accessible at http://www.licensingonline.org/songs/73045 or on Ross’ cassette and music book)

Prayer of thanks,

Praise you God, creator of all things, giver of life, & Parent of each of us.

Joyfully we thank you for the gift of Darren & Jenni’s daughter Jessie Rae Eileen.

For all that you have given & will give us through her,

For the enormous potential of her young life, and for the care which surrounds her;

we thank you – we all say thank you.

6. Blessing of child & parents – inviting us to commit to parenting etc,

Adapted from BOFL:.

___ & ___) , you come to present yourselves afresh in commitment to parenthood, before us & before God.

&, in appreciation for ____ you are presenting her to her Lord.

In dependence on God’s grace, will you endeavour, by example & teaching, to provide her with a home of faith & love:

That she may know throughout her childhood and growth into womanhood the warmth, hope & freedom of the Christian faith;

That she may welcome life’s beauty, learn from its pain, & share in its joys;

That her love for others may deepen with knowledge & insight of every kind;

That she may discover what is the breadth & length & height & depth of the love of God, & of Jesus Christ who has made God’s love known.

That her life may be open to the grace & purpose of God & to the call of Christ Jesus our Lord.

Response: WE WILL.

An invitation for congregation to commit to and bless the child too;

eg “Will you commit to love & pray for Jessie & be a community in which she can discover the meaning of faith, grow in character, & learn about the gifts God has given her, whatever they may be?”

Response: WE WILL.]

and a Congregational blessing for all to stand & read;

“The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Num 6:24-26)

Parent’s prayer for child:

- Lord we thank you for Jessie and the joy she has already brought into our lives, and thankyou for protecting her through the full-term of ____’s pregnancy.

- As parents of Jessie help us with wisdom & patience. May we always take time to listen, play, & pray with ____; to tuck her in & read her stories. For we know life is short & a little girl grows up so fast.

- Help us continue to grow in love as a family, that Jessie may learn to love your world & the whole family of your children. (We pray You might) Help her to experience the joy of learning & the rewards of work well done.

- Let her days be filled with laughter & play, & give her the protection of good companions.

- Instill in her the ingredients for healthy self-esteem, so she has the confidence to reach for her dreams & to reach out to others in need.

- We ask you to give her all the richness of a life well lived, knowing you & experiencing your love. And so we dedicate ____ ____ _____ & ourselves to you.

Pastor’s prayer

Darren

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