Example of ceremonies
Name giving ceremony No.2
Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen. My name is Ruth Inglis and I would like to invite you all to join me in celebrating the naming of this child, for which we have gathered. We meet here today, to take part together in a simple happy ceremony. This is the occasion when Father and Mother wish to express before you, their special family and friends, the deep thankfulness that they feel as parents of this little child.
I would like to read a poem entitled ...........
CHILDREN LEARN WHAT IS LIVED
If children live with criticism, they learn to
condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
BUT.....
If children live with tolerance, they learn to
be patient.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith.
If children live with acceptance and friendship,
They learn to find love in the world.
It is certain that the love this child receives during early childhood will be of great benefit in the growth years ahead. This will be reflected in return, by the love he/she is able to pass on to others. So your presence today is important, and much appreciated, as will your interest and involvement be in the years ahead, as you watch Baby grow from childhood, through adolescence, to adult life.
So we all join together in this ceremony, thereby demonstrating to each other our willingness to share in the task of nurturing and training a new life, guarding him/her from the things he/she needs to be guarded from, and teaching him/her what a thrilling and enjoyable thing life can be!
Father and Mother recognise that parenthood is a serious responsibility, which can never be entered into in a spirit of light-heartedness, although the coming of little ones into our lives is not all serious and solemn.
There is unbelievable happiness to be experienced as we watch the helpless young child commence his journey through the many stages of growth. These are the days full of exciting new adventures. The first smile, the first tooth, the first words and the first step - all the wondrous things that mark each stage of development. In the life of each new child, all the hopes and aspirations of mankind are renewed. The home becomes the training ground of good men and women. In it are bred either those who will become leaders of new generations, showing other men and women what is true and beautiful, or those who live only for themselves. So we take this opportunity today of formally welcoming Baby among us.
Let us be more aware that our lives are inter-related and may we
all benefit from our involvement with Baby, and with each other.
It really is our duty to assist in the coming years in giving this
child a broad and balanced view of life generally, and to encourage
those virtues we all regard as important - honesty, integrity, fairness
and compassion.
The Godparents
An important tradition in our culture on these occasions is the responsibility accepted by the Godparents. They undertake to take a special and lifelong interest in the child=s welfare, and in his ethical, material and moral development. They agree to assume a more than ordinary responsibility in the event of the death or default of the parents. But it is a responsibility that can also be most rewarding, and we come now to this very important part of the proceedings, where I must ask the Godparents:
"Do you Name and Name, undertake, as the needs arise, to assume appropriate responsibility for the well-being, care and future help and guidance of Baby?
Godparents: We do.
Giving a name to a child is one of the most important decisions parents can make, that remains with him or her throughout life. It is one of the few truly unique things in a person=s life. So I invite Father and Mother, and our Guardians, to join me in the naming.
The Naming: Parents and Godparents join with Celebrant and say ..........
We agree to call you (full name). Accordingly, we name you .......
It gives me pleasure to read a little poem especially for Baby,
and it is called ..... (Poem can be changed if not suitable. See
list.)
WHY NATURE MADE LITTLE BOYS
Nature made a world out of it's dreams,
Of magic mountains, oceans and streams,
Prairies and plains and wooded land.
Then paused and thought,
Someone is needed to stand,
On top of the mountains, to conquer the seas,
Explore the plains and climb the trees.
Someone to start out small and grow,
Sturdy, strong like a tree. And so ....
It created boys full of spirit and fun,
To explore and conquer, to romp and run,
With dirty faces, banged up chins,
With courageous hearts and boyish grins.
When it had completed the task it had begun,
It surely said "That's a job well done!"
To Baby
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 a wondrous thing for all those with whom you come in contact. Ladies and Gentlemen, this concludes the formal part of proceedings. Please join me in congratulating the people who have undertaken these serious responsibilities today.
We will take a minute or two while the Namegiving Certificate is
signed.