Text of Colin's child dedication service.

[rivka]

Under the cut, the full text of the dedication ceremony Colin had at church on Sunday.

Opening Words (minister): Today we dedicate ourselves to the life of Colin Nutt. May he hear in this house words of encouragement. May he feel in this house constant welcome. May he find in this house companions. May he know in this house security and peace.

Colin, your life is such a welcome blessing in the ongoing life of your family. May those of us who are your extended family also be a blessing and support to your family, and to you.

Reading (Religious Education director): From the beginning of time, parents have brought their children to houses of worship for dedication. In the presence of the congregation, the child is given a name and the parents declare their responsibility for their child.

By presenting a child to the congregation, the parents acknowledge that the child is more than a private possession, and is a new being in whom we all have a responsibility, and whom we all welcome to the community.

Charge to Parents (minister): Rebecca and Michael, in bringing your child to be recognized in this ceremony before our community, you acknowledge how much children are gifts entrusted to our love and nurture, and you declare your desire and purpose to bring your child up according to your best endeavor.

To this end, will you guide your child by precept and example in the way of courage, fidelity, good will, and reverence, exemplified for us by the exemplars who have served humanity throughout history?

Parents: We will.

Charge to sister (minister): Alex, you are older than your brother, and you know things he hasn't learned yet. You can do things he can’t manage yet.

Will you promise to be patient with him, protect him from harm, include him in your play, and hug him every night?

Alex: I will.

Minister: Alex, if you can do this, I’m sure that Colin will be your friend all your life.

Charge to the Children of the Congregation (RE director):

Will the children of the congregation please rise, in body or spirit?

Though he looks just tiny now, Colin will be growing up here in this church, just like you, and will need your help and friendship. Please repeat after me:

Little baby Colin,
welcome to our church.
We will be your friends
and help you find your way here
as you grow.

Charge to Congregation (minister):

Will you who are gathered here today please rise, in body or spirit, and join me in the statement of promise printed in your bulletin:

Congregation: We who are members of this child's greater family rejoice with these parents in the promise their child bears. We take upon ourselves the privilege and responsibility of helping the family nurture the character and spirit of this child. We pledge them our love and care.

Dedication and Naming (minister): The water which we use in this dedication is an ancient symbol, a sign of our connection to the material universe. Life sprang from the seas, and all that lives depends on water. Water symbolizes the endless cycle of generations and the mystery of birth.

The flower which we use in this dedication expresses our hope that out of the earthiness of your life, reaching toward the fire of the sun, your life might touch the air with fragrance.
We hope that your living will bring beauty to the earth. We expect that the divine spark in you will blossom in a life which reveals the holy. And we hope that you will prosper in the garden of our community.

The power to grant a name is one of the greatest moments of human life. By granting a name, we bestow identity. We confirm the uniqueness of each person. What do you name this child?

(Parents: Colin Randolph Nutt)

[dip the flower in the water, and touch the child's forehead, heart and hands with the flower] Colin Randolph Nutt, we dedicate ourselves to you in the name of truth, in the promise of love, and in the fellowship of life.

But not only to you, but to all the children of this church and all the children of the human family. May we who have the capacity to nurture and sustain live lives which will make this world a better place for our children and their children.

Blessing (RE director): Colin, may you find joy in your life with us; joy in hearing and joy in seeing; joy in thinking and joy in learning.

Blessing (minister): May your life be forever full in play and in work, in community and on your own, in friendship and in love.

Then the congregation sang "Sleep my child, let peace attend thee" while Colin was paraded up and down the aisle and Michael and I trailed behind choking back tears.

It was a great service. I particularly loved the way that Alex was included. Those promises were very meaningful to her - she wanted to discuss them throughout the afternoon.

Comments

[ailbhe]

That's lovely.

[jenett]

Oh, that's lovely. (I particularly like the charge to Alex, and to the other children.)

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

Me too!

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Yeah, both of those were pitched just perfectly.

[aloha-moira.livejournal.com]

That sounds incredibly lovely. :)

[cynthia1960.livejournal.com]

Congratulations to all of you.

[pameladean]

That's beautiful. Including Alex particularly made me choke up.

P.

[ckd]

Thank you for sharing this with us. I'm tearing up from the love and beauty of it just in the reading; I imagine the service itself was far more powerful.

[tassie-gal.livejournal.com]

Simple yet meaningful, its lovely.

[geminigirl]

I'm choking back tears while I read this. How beautiful.

[jinian.livejournal.com]

That's enough to make a person want to go to church sometime.

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

That was a lovely ceremony.

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

Oh, beautiful.

[baratron.livejournal.com]

Wow - it certainly made me cry, and I wasn't even there. That's beautiful.

[odanu.livejournal.com]

This is an absolutely gorgeous dedication. I'm not in the market for one myself these days, but I'm favoriting, in case I run across someone who is, so they can be inspired.