Baptism & Baby Welcoming

 

There's no miracle

greater than the birth of a baby!

For the gift of childhood,

whose innocence and laughter keep the world young,

we rejoice and give thanks!

 

 

Welcome your precious child into the Kingdom of God

with the Sacrament of Christian Baptism.

or

Celebrate their birth

with a Baby Blessing or Welcoming Ceremony.

 

$150

 

 

Adults are also welcome to be Baptized. 

Should you be in need of these services,
please call Melinda

at  610-743-0467 or email her at

melindaangstadt@celebrationsofthespirit.org

The Christian Sacrament

of Baptism

 

Welcome

Good morning and welcome to this sacred ceremony of baptism.  We come together this day to welcome James, to celebrate his arrival, and to offer our blessings. May the sweet life we see before us receive abundantly, the blessings of health, love, wisdom, and peace.  Matt and Carissa would like to share their joy with each you as they look forward to your continuing involvement with their child's life in the years ahead. They are also aware of the responsibility that is now theirs, and that a great deal of their lives will be involved in caring for their child, and guiding him through the many paths of life. As the years go by, their role as parents will be assisted and enhanced by each one of you here today.

 

Convocation

The Christening of a child is an important rite of passage to those who acknowledge the role that God plays in our lives. We are reminded of a story in the book of Matthew, chapter 19, where little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. Jesus' disciples felt perhaps that the children were not important enough to warrant Christ's time and energy, and they turned them away.  But, Jesus told them

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them,

for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these".

Then he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on each of them,

and blessed them...

 

Prayer

Let us pray.

Dear Lord, as we gather here, we thank you for the wonder of new life

and for the mystery of human love. May Your Holy Spirit surround us and rejuvenate us. We pray that out of  Your glorious riches, you may strengthen this child with your Spirit, so that Christ may dwell in his heart though faith. And we pray that this child, being rooted and established in love, may know the love of God that surpasses all knowledge, so that he may be filled to the measure with the fullness of Your Love. Amen.

 

In this spirit of baptism, I ask these questions:

 

Do you, Carissa and Matt, present your child to God to be baptized? "We do"

 

Do you promise to mirror God's love through all the experiences you share in

           your lives so that James may have a way to follow?  "We do"

 

Do you promise to love him in all ways, to honor his uniqueness, and t0 cherish him always so that he may know the gift of true unconditional love?  "We do"

 

Declaration of Support

The community gatDo you promise to establish a connection to the  Spirit that lives within and around him so that he will grow up believing that he is a Diving Child of God?  “We do”hered here today will also be especially important to James.

As he grows, you will all be a part of his world. He will look among you for companionship and leadership and to each of you for support. By watching you, he will see how life works. He will learn the way people relate to one another by how you create and nurture your own relationships.

 

And so I ask each of you:

 

Do you pledge to support this child, and to be an example of love for him to follow?  If so, please say, “We do.”

 

Will you support these parents, without intruding, as they fulfill the promises

that they make here today. If so, please answer, “We will.”

 

Charge to Godparents (optional)

 

_________ and _________, as Godparents, you are being asked to take a special and lifelong interest in the physical and spiritual development of your Godchild. As you accept the role of a Godparent, you are agreeing to be a guide to whom he can turn for loving support and guidance as he grows.

 

Godparent’s Promises

_________and _________

Will you accept this commitment and responsibility with love in your hearts?

Will you cherish James, and always be someone to whom can turn?

Will you always surround him with your love and affection?

If so…please answer…we will

 

Then together please repeat after me…your pledge to James.

We, the Godparents,

agree to reserve a special place

in our hearts for James.

And to offer our love and support

unconditionally at all times.

 

Charge to Parents

I remind you again that God has graciously given you this child.  He belongs to you, but in a greater way, he belongs to God. God has given you the task of caring for his physical body; his needs of clothing, food, shelter, love, and discipline. Even more importantly though, you are also charged with the responsibility of his spiritual needs because we are more than just physical;

we are spiritual. Raise him to be not only a child of knowledge and grace,

but also a child of faith.

Matt and Carissa, the union of your love has brought this wonderful being into the world. You have been chosen by this child to provide a loving and spiritual foundation upon which he can grow, and to nurture his spirit so that he may come to know his true and inherent nature. 

 

And so I ask: 

Do you rejoice and gladly accept this responsibility before those of us gathered here this day?  "We do"

 

The Sacrament of Baptism

Father, we ask that you pour your blessings into this water, and sanctify it for our use today.

 

What name have you given your child?

 

James Edward

I baptize you in the name of the Father (cross),
and of the Son (cross), and of the Holy Spirit (cross),

 

Prayer   Let us join our hearts in joyful prayer…

Heavenly Father,

May you surround this beloved child with your blessings that he may know your love all him days. May he learn to love all that is true, grow in wisdom and strength and come through faith to the fullness of your Grace. Bless these parents, family and friends, and give them grace to love and care for James. Give them wisdom, patience and faith, and help them to provide for this beloved child's needs. And bless the home of this child, may it provide shelter, warmth and security to the family and to all those who visit. Amen.

 

Blessing

James, today we officially welcome you into God’s Kingdom. May beauty delight you and happiness uplift you, May wonder fulfill you and love surround you. May your heart be peaceful and your word be true. May you live to love, and may you love - always.

 

Benediction

May the Lord bless you and watch over you,

May He make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you,

May He lift up His countenance 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.

Amen.

 

Presentation of Baptism certificate

It is my great honor and pleasure to present to you

James Edward

 

 

 

Baby Welcoming Ceremony

 

Welcome

We gather together this day to welcome Maya, to celebrate her arrival, and to offer our blessings. We also honor her parents, Sam and Nicole, and offer our blessing as they accept the awesome responsibility of parenthood. We are their family and friends, and we honor their commitment to this new little one, who has changed their lives forever. In this special circle, we are bound together by love and respect.  Each and every one of us matters. When we leave here today, we will remain a part of this special circle within which Maya will grow and develop into her own unique and special person.

 

Reflection

For the gift of this child whose innocence and laughter keep the world young, we rejoice and give thanks. May this new life, which we have accepted into our community of ideals and friendship, receive abundantly the blessings of health, love, knowledge, and wisdom. And for the gift of parenthood made to Nicole and Sam, we also give our thanks. May they give this child security and freedom and love, and may they be blessed with much joy, much laughter and much patience in the divine task of nurture.  And so it is!

 

New Mother Blessing

Nicole, now that Maya has been born and is here with us, all the angels and God have blessed you in the most special way. You hold her with your love, in grace, in trust and in the truth of Spirit’s great gifts of life. 

You have connected her to the earth through your body and connected her to the Spirit through your love. May you dry her tears with gentleness, pick her up when she falls and point her toward her dreams. You hold the image of her future, the gift of the present, and the history of all the mothers that have come before you, bringing you both to this moment today. 

You are her mommy.  And so it is!

 

New Father Blessing

Sam, the Spirit of all the universe blesses you as your life in Maya blesses her.

May you fill your home with loving care and stability, nurture her with values and assure her with trust. May you teach her to dream, encourage her to reach for her goals, and comfort her when she misses the mark. 

You are her coach, you are her teacher, and you are her safe place. 

You are her daddy.  And so it is!

 

Parent’s Promises

Sam and Nicole, you have brought your child here to be welcomed into the circle of your family and friends. 

 

What name have you given your child?

Maya Marie

 

In the spirit your love for Maya, I ask...

 

Do you promise to care for her, shelter and protect her for as long as she needs you, as best as you are able?  "We do"

 

Do you promise to surround her with love and affection, encouraging her as she grows up, supporting and guiding her especially in difficult times?  "We do"

 

Do you promise to exemplfy love through all the experiences you share in your

your lives so that she may have a way to follow?  "We do"

Declaration of Support

The community gathered here today will be especially important to Maya.

As she grows, you will all be a part of her world. She will look among you for companionship and leadership and to each of you for support. By watching you, she will see how life works. She will learn the way people relate to one another by how you create and nurture your own relationships.

 

And so I ask each of you:

 

Do you pledge to support this child, and to be an example of love for her to     follow? If so, please say, “We do.” 

 

Will you support these parents, without intruding, as they fulfill the

promises that they make here today? If so, please say, “We will.”

 

Blessing of Water

We will welcome this precious new life with the symbol of water today as an expression of a new beginning. Water symbolizes life-giving energy. Without it, no living thing can go on. However, the physical need isn’t the only thing that makes water relevant to human life; it represents the in-flowing of the spirit. So today, we celebrate not only this child’s new physical life,

but also the beginning of her spiritual journey.

 

Maya Marie...(Anoint child with water) 

 

May your spirit flow through you and from you

to all who you encounter on your journey.

May love flow as a river through all your days

and may you be nourished by the waters of the Universe.

 

Meditation

Oh Creator, Divine Source

We are in awe of the miracle of this new life. We are reminded of the innocence that is the true essence of Spirit, and we honor and celebrate the unlimited potential that she possesses. Together, we express our intent for  Maya to find her purpose in this life and to become all that she is meant to be as her life unfolds. We offer this intent in the light of your Divine presence.   And so it shall be!

 

Presentation

It is with great honor and pleasure that I present Maya Marie.

 

 

Spiritual Baby Welcoming with

Christian Baptism

 

Welcome

We gather this day to welcome Beatrice, to celebrate her arrival, and to offer her our blessings.  May the sweet life we see before us receive abundantly the blessings of health, love, wisdom and peace.  We also honor her parents, Ben and Morgan, and offer our blessing as they accept the awesome responsibility of parenthood. We are their family and friends, and we honor their commitment to this new little one, who has changed their lives forever. In this special circle, we are bound together by love and respect.  Each and every one of us matters. When we leave here today, we will remain a part of this special circle within which Beatrice will grow and develop into her own unique and special person.

 

Prayer

Let us pray...

For the gift of this child whose innocence and laughter keep the world young, we rejoice and give thanks. May this new life, which we have accepted into our community of ideals and friendship, receive abundantly the blessings of health, love, knowledge, and wisdom. And for the gift of parenthood made to Ben and Morgan,

we also give our thanks. May they give this child security and freedom and love,

and may they be blessed with much joy, much laughter and much patience in the divine task of nurture.  Amen.

 

Parent's Promises

In this spirit of baptism, I ask these questions:

 

Do you, Morgan and Ben, present your child to be baptized? "We do"

 

Do you promise to care for Beatrice, shelter and protect her for as long as she needs you, as best as you are able?  "We do"

 

Do you promise to surround Beatrice with love and affection, encouraging her as she grows up, supporting and guiding her especially in difficult times?  "We do"

 

Declaration of Support

The community gathered here today will be especially important to Beatrice. As she grows, you will all be a part of her world. She will look among you for companionship and leadership and to each of you for support. By watching you, she will see how life works. She will learn the way people relate to one another by how you create and nurture your own relationships.

 

And so I ask each of you:

 

Do you pledge to support this child, to respect her uniqueness, and to be an example of love for her to follow? If so, please say: We do.  Guests: We do.

 

Will you support these parents, without intruding? As they fulfill the promises that they make here today? If so, please say, We will.  Guests say “We will

 

New Mother Blessing

Morgan, now that Beatrice has been born and is here with us, all the angels and God have blessed you in the most special way. You hold her with your love—in grace, in trust and in the truth of God’s great gifts of life. You have connected her to the earth through your body and connected her to the Spirit through your love. May you dry her tears with gentleness, pick her up when she falls and point her toward her dreams. You hold the image of her future, the gift of the present, and the history of all the mothers that have come before you, bringing you both to this moment today. 

You are her mommy.  And so it is!

 

New Father Blessing

Ben, God blesses you as your life in Beatrice blesses her. May you fill your home with loving care and stability, nurture her with values and assure her with trust

May you teach her to dream, encourage her to reach for her goals, and comfort her when she misses the mark. You are her coach, you are her teacher, you are her healer

and you are her safe place. You are her daddy.  And so it is!

 

Charge to Parents

Morgan and Ben, the union of your love has brought this wonderful being into

the world. You have been chosen by this child to provide a loving and spiritual foundation upon which she can grow, and to nurture her spirit so that she may come to know her true and inherent nature. 

 

And so I ask: 

Do you rejoice and gladly accept this responsibility before those of us gathered here this day?  "We do"

 

The Baptism

Father, we ask that you pour your blessings into this water, and sanctify it for our use today. What name have you given your child?

 

Beatrice Marie

I baptize you in the name of the Father (cross),

and of the Son (cross), and of the Holy Spirit (cross) Amen.

 

Prayer  Let us join our hearts in prayer for this family.

Heavenly Father, we praise you for this child’s birth – surround her with your blessings that she may know your love 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, family and friends, and give them grace to love and care for Beatrice. May God give them wisdom, patience and faith, and help them to provide for this beloved child’s needs. Heavenly Father, bless the home of this child.  May it provide shelter warmth and security to the family

and to all those who visit.

 

Presentation

It is with great honor and pleasure that I present to you to Beatrice Marie.

 

 

 

 

 

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