Service for the Thanksgiving for the gift of a Child Introduction to Service

Transcription

1 St John s Church, Kenilworth Service for the Thanksgiving for the gift of a Child Introduction to Service The birth or adoption of a child is a cause for great celebration. Many people want to express this joy by giving thanks to God for the creation and gift of a new life, and for the new edition to their family. Sometimes this will include promising to bring up the child to know, love and follow Jesus and praying for the child accordingly. This service of thanksgiving gives the opportunity for parents and families, and us as a congregation, to join together in giving thanks for the birth or adoption of a child and to pray for the child, the parents and their family life together. We remember that this service is not the same as a service of baptism (sometimes called Christening ). Baptism is the sign, using the symbol of water, of a full commitment to be a follower of Jesus. It is the sign of full membership into the Christian community and family the Body of Christ. A service of infant baptism requires parents to take oaths promising to live out their own lives as followers of Christ in the context of commitment to the local Christian community. They promise to enable their children also to live out such lives. Baptism in itself does not impart any special magic on the child and all children, baptised or not, are equally loved by Jesus. Many parents prayerfully and responsibly bring up their children to love and follow Jesus, but allow those children the freedom to make their own decision about baptism when they are older. Such children are equally part of the Christian family and a thanksgiving service is a very appropriate way for such parents to celebrate the birth or adoption of a child. At St John s, we would be pleased to hold a thanksgiving service, which includes a naming ceremony, for the birth or adoption of any child. If parents are seeking Christian baptism however, we would expect them to have been attending on Sundays with us regularly for an agreed period, or to have completed one of our ALPHA courses (a very informal and helpful introduction to living the Christian faith). If you are interested in exploring aspects of the Christian faith further, or finding out more about becoming a member of the Christian family, please ask a member of the congregation or the minister taking this service.

2 Order of Service The parents bring the child(ren) to the front of the Church. Supporting family and/or friends may also come and stand with the parents. Let us thank God that in His goodness He has given us... name(s). God our Father, Maker of all that is living, We praise You for the wonder and joy of creation. WE thanks You from our hearts for the life of N, And for the joy (s)he brings. Accept our thanks and praise We are here today to give thanks for N, with his/her family and friends, and to support his/her parents in their responsibilities with prayer and love. God became one of us in Jesus and He understands all that surrounds the arrival and parenting of children. It s is God s purpose that children should come to know and experience His love for them, and the love of parents within the stability of their home. It is His desire that children should grow in their faith, helped and taught by their parents and the local Church family and that they come to join with Him in his kingdom where His love reigns supreme. The works of the Lord are great: His mercy endures for ever. Mary gave birth to a child And called Him Jesus: He is mighty God and will wash people clean from the dirt of their selfishness. He will be called the Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, God with us: And by His Spirit, He is present now And His Kingdom will last for ever. Loving God, You hold all things in life And call us into Your ways of love and peace; May You live with us and we with You And help us to walk on Your true path, Filling our lives with faithfulness, gratitude and joy, Reading People were bringing little children to Jesus for Him to lay hands on them, but the disciples were telling people off for this. When Jesus noticed this, He was angry. He said to them, Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. And He took the children in His arms, laid hands on them and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16)

3 Thanksgiving and Blessing Parents, do you receive N as a gift from God? We do. Do you wish to give thanks to God and seek His blessing? We do. (Optional: Do you wish to affirm your own commitment to follow Christ in the family of the Church and bring up N to do likewise? We do) The parents bring the child(ren) to the front of the Church. Supporting family and/or friends may also come and stand with the parents. God our creator, we thank you for the wonder of new life and the mystery of human love. We thank you for all whose support and skill have surrounded and sustained the beginning of this life. We thank you that we are known to you by name, that you know everything about us from the number of hairs on our head to the intimate, individual pattern on our fingertips. We thank you that you knit us together in our mother s womb and that you love us in ways we can t even imagine. We thank you for the birth of Jesus Christ, who has opened to us the way of receiving the fullness of your love by His dying on the cross and rising again to new life. And we thank you that in His love and power, present by His Holy Spirit now, we have access to all your blessings and love, which we will clearly need as parents! We praise you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Blessed be God for ever. Praise His wonderful name! The minister may say for each child: What name have you given this child? A parent or supporting friend replies His/ her name is... (full name). The minister may take the child. As Jesus took children in His arms and blessed them, so now we ask God s blessing on N. The following prayer may be said: Heavenly Father, We thank you for your love of children. We praise you for the birth of N. Thank you that (s)he is special to you, and to all of us gathered here today. Thank you that (s)he will continue to be special to many others as well throughout his/her life. Be with him/her. Guard and protect him/ her. Nourish him/ her and provide him/ her with all the love and security (s)he needs to grow into the fulfilled person you would have him/her be. Fill him/ her with your loving Spirit. that (s)he may both receive and give the greatest of love. Protect

4 him/ her from evil, enable him/ her to know your goodness all his/ her days, and in the future may (s)he come to a living faith in you. Amen. and/or N, the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord look kindly on you and give you His peace. Amen. When all the children have been prayed for: May N learn to love all that is true, grow in wisdom and strength, and, in due time, come through their own faith, to a knowledge of your love, shown in their baptism; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. The children are taken near to the congregation as a sign of their welcome and inclusion: Song (to give thanks for the child) The minister returns to the parents and prays for the parents. May God, the Father of all, bless you as parents and give you grace and love, to love and care for your child(ren). May God give you wisdom, patience and faith and help you to provide for your child(ren) s needs and, by your example, reveal the love and truth shown most clearly in the ways of Jesus Christ. Lord, surround this family with the light of Your truth and the warmth of Your love (Opitional) The parents may pray the following prayer: Father God, We thank you for the gift of N, Entrusted by you to our care. May we seek your ways and be good parents, Giving and forgiving, Loving and learning through our mistakes, Caring and careful So that through our love s(he) may come to know your love: Giving of a Gift A gift of a bible is presented, with these words. Receive this gift. It speaks of the Good News of God s love and points us to Jesus. Seek Him as your guide. The minister may address the wider family and supporting friends and say: Will you do all that you can to help and support N and N in the bringing up of N? With the help of God, we will. Jesus taught us to call God our Father, And so in faith and trust we pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name,

5 Your Kingdom come, Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins As we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil. For the Kingdom, the power And the glory are yours Now and for ever Amen. Ending The minister may say this blessing either now or at the end of the main service. The love of the Lord Jesus Draw you to Himself. The power of the Lord Jesus Strengthen you in His service. The joy of the Lord Jesus fill your hearts: And the blessing of God Almighty, The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Be among you and remain with you always. Amen