Thanksgiving for a Child

Private Celebration

  	The Greeting 	 			
 	 	 			
 	 	The minister may say 			
 	 	 			
 	 	The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
		the love of God			
		and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit 
		be with you all			
All	and also with you.				 	 

		From Easter Day to Pentecost this acclamation follows

		Alleluia. Christ is risen.
All 	He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

 	 	A hymn or song may be sung. 

		Introduction

 	 	The service may be introduced in these or similar words
 	 	 
 	 	We are here today to give thanks for these children, with their 		family and friends, and to support their parents in their
		responsibilities with prayer and love. God became one of us in 		Jesus, and understands all that surrounds the arrival and
 		upbringing of children. It is God’s purpose that children should 		know love within the stability of their home, grow in faith, and 		come at last to the eternal city where his love reigns supreme.

 	 	The following may be used
 	 	 
 	 	The works of the Lord are great:
All	his mercy endures for ever.
 	 	 
 	 	Mary gave birth to a child and called him Jesus:
All	he will save his people from their sins.
 	 	 
 	 	He will be called the Prince of Peace:
All	his kingdom will last for ever.

 	 	The minister says
 	 	 
 	 	Loving God,
 	 	you hold all things in life
 	 	and call us into your kingdom of peace;
 	 	help us to walk the path of your truth
 	 	and fill our lives with gratitude and faith,
 	 	through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All	Amen.

 	 	 
 	 	Reading(s) and Sermon	 
 	 	 
 	 	A suitable passage from the Bible is read (see page 23)
 	 	 
 	 	A sermon may be preached.
 	 	 
 	 	A hymn may be sung.

 	 	Thanksgiving and Blessing	 
 	 	 
 	 	Where parents wish to recognize the role of supporting friends it 		may be appropriate for them to stand with the parents at the 		thanksgiving. One of them may present the children to the 			minister, and informal words may be said.
 	 	 
 	 	The minister says
 	 	 
 	 	Do you receive these children as a gift from God?
 	 	We do.
 	 	 
 	 	Do you wish to give thanks to God and seek his blessing?
 	 	We do.
 	 	 
 	 	The minister says
 	 	
 	 	God our creator,
 	 	we thank you for the wonder of new life
 	 	and for the mystery of human love.
 	 	We thank you for all whose support and skill
 	 	surround and sustain the beginning of life.
 	 	We thank you that we are known to you by name
 	 	and loved by you from all eternity.
 	 	We thank you for Jesus Christ,
 	 	who has opened to us the way of love.
 	 	We praise you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
All	Blessed be God for ever.
 	 	 
 	 	The minister may say for each child
 	 	 
 	 	What name have you given this child?
 	 	 
 	 	A parent or supporting friend replies
 	 	 
 	 	His/her name is N.

 	 	The minister may take the child.
 	 	 
 	 	The minister says
 	 	 
 	 	As Jesus took children in his arms and blessed them,
 	 	so now we ask God’s blessing on N. 
 	 	 
 	 	Heavenly Father, we praise you for his/her birth;
 	 	surround him/her with your blessing
 	 	that he/she may know your love,
 	 	be protected from evil,
 	 	and know your goodness all his/her days.
 	 	 
 	 	When all the children have been prayed for
 	 	 
All	May they learn to love all that is true,
 	 	grow in wisdom and strength
 	 	and, in due time, come through faith and baptism
 	 	to the fullness of your grace;
 	 	through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
 	 	Amen.
 	 	 
 	 	The minister prays for the parents
 	 	 
 	 	May God the Father of all bless these parents
 	 	and give them grace to love and care for their children.
 	 	May God give them wisdom, patience and faith,
 	 	help them to provide for the children’s needs
 	 	and, by their example,
 	 	reveal the love and truth that are in Jesus Christ. 
All	Amen.

 	 	Giving of the Gospel	 
 	 	 
 	 	A copy of a Gospel is presented, with these words
 	 	 
 	 	Receive this book.
 	 	It is the good news of God’s love.
 	 	Take it as your guide.
 	 	 
 	 	The minister may address the 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.
 	 	 
 	 	The minister may address the wider family and friends and say
 	 	 
 	 	Will you do all that you can to help and support this family?
 	 	With the help of God, we will.
 	 	 
 	 	Prayers	 
 	 	 
 	 	This prayer may be said by the parents 
		or by the whole congregation
 	 	 
 	 	God our creator,
 	 	we thank you for the gift of these children,
 	 	entrusted to our care.
 	 	May we be patient and understanding,
 	 	ready to guide and to forgive,
 	 	so that through our love
 	 	they may come to know your love;
 	 	through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 	 	Amen.
 	 	 
 	 	The minister may say additional prayers (page 8),
		 ending with the Lord’s Prayer. 

		The Lord's Prayer

 	 	Jesus taught us to call God our Father,
 	 	and so we have the courage to say
 	 	 
All	Our Father, who art in heaven,
 	 	hallowed be thy name;
 	 	thy kingdom come;
 	 	thy will be done;
 	 	on earth as it is in heaven.
 	 	Give us this day our daily bread.
 	 	And forgive us our trespasses,
 	 	as we forgive those who trespass against us.
 	 	And lead us not into temptation;
 	 	but deliver us from evil.
 	 	For thine is the kingdom,
 	 	the power and the glory,
 	 	for ever and ever. 
 	 	Amen.
 	 	 
 	 	Ending	 
 	 	 
 	 	The minister says this or another suitable blessing
 	 	 
 	 	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. 
All	Amen.

Supplementary Texts

 	 	Suitable Bible Readings	 
 	 	 
		If the readings for the day are not used.
 	 	 
 	 	Exodus 20.12
 	 	Isaiah 9.2,6-7
 	 	Psalm 20
 	 	Psalm 128
 	 	Psalm 139.7-18
 	 	Matthew 1.18-25
 	 	Matthew 7.24-27
 	 	Matthew 18.1-5
 	 	Matthew 18.10-14
 	 	Mark 10.13-16
 	 	Luke 1.39-45
 	 	Luke 2.22-24
 	 	Luke 2.33-40
 	 	John 1.9-14
 	 	Ephesians 3.14-21
 	 	Ephesians 6.1-4
 	 	1 John 2.12-14

Additional Prayers
 	 	 
  1	For the child/children
	 	God our Father,
		we pray for this child
		that in due time
		he/she may be received by baptism
		into the family of your Church,
		and become an inheritor of your kingdom;
		through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All	Amen.
	 	 
	 	For the home and family
	 	 
2	Heavenly Father,
	 	whose blessed Son shared at Nazareth 
		the life of an earthly home:
		bless the home of this child,
		and help all the family to live together in your love.
		Teach them to serve you and each other,
		and make them always ready to show your love 
 		to those in need;
		for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
All	Amen.
	 	 
  3	Father in heaven, bless these parents,
	 	that they may cherish their child;
		make them wise and understanding,
		to help him/her as he/she grows,
		and surround this family
		with the light of your truth
		and the warmth of your love;
		through Jesus Christ our Lord 
All	Amen. 
  
4	God our Father, we pray to you 
		for all who have the care of this child.
	 	Guide them with your Holy Spirit,
		that they may bring him/her up
		in the ways of truth and love.
		Through their care enable him/her to grow in grace
		and become daily more like your Son,
		our Saviour Jesus Christ  
All	Amen.
	 	 
  5	For the father
	 	Heavenly Father,
		you entrusted your Son Jesus,
		the child of Mary,
		to the care of Joseph, an earthly father.
		Bless N [this man]
		as he cares for his family.
		Give him strength and wisdom, 
		tenderness and patience;
		support him in the work he has to do,
		protecting those who look to him,
		as we look to you for love and salvation,
		through Jesus Christ our rock and defender 
All	Amen.
	 	 
  6	For grandparents and other relatives
	 	Father God, from whom every family 
		in earth and heaven is named,
		we thank you for the rich variety       
		of the families you have created for us,
		and for the relationships 
		which we see and enjoy within them.
		Help us to respect and learn from each other,
		that we may come to maturity 
		in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
All	Amen.
7	For brothers and sisters
	 	Living God,
		we pray for N’s brothers and sisters
		and for all whose lives will be changed by his/her arrival;
		grant them friendship and love
		that their home may be an image of your kingdom;
		through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All	Amen.
	 	 
8	After a difficult birth
	 	Loving Father,
		you have turned pain into joy
		by the birth of N [this child].
		May N [this mother],
		remembering no longer her anguish,
		trust you in all things.
		As she asks for all she would receive,
		may she discover that in you her joy is complete;
		through Jesus your Son. 
All	Amen. 
	 	 
9	For health workers
	 	Father almighty, we give you thanks
		for all concerned with the care of N [this mother]
		and the safe birth of N [her child].
		We pray for the doctors and nurses, 
		midwives and health visitors,
		and all who will support the health and welfare of this family       
		in the coming years.
		May they be filled with your love,
		moved by your compassion
		and supported by your presence.
		We ask this in Jesus’ name. 
All	Amen.

10	When a child is adopted
	 	O God of love,
		you have made us your children by adoption and grace;
		as N becomes a member of this family
		bind them together by your grace,
		and give them wisdom, joy and faith,
		that together they may grow into your love
		and serve your purposes of peace;
		through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All	Amen.
	 	 
11	For the birth parents of an adopted child
	 	Heavenly Father, rich in goodness and mercy,
		look with your love on N’s natural father and mother.
		Keep them in your good care
		and grant them peace;
		through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All	Amen.
	 	 
12	When a child has special needs
 	 	Living God, creator of us all,
		we thank you for entrusting N
		into the special care of N and N.
		Give them and all who surround them
		wisdom and understanding, courage and patience;
		give them grace to put aside fear and anxiety
		and to fulfill your purposes;
		fill their hearts with your unfailing love,
		that N may grow up secure in giving and receiving love
		and in the enjoyment of your presence,
		to enrich our lives and the lives of others
		in ways beyond our imagining,
		in Jesus Christ our Lord. 
All	Amen.

	 	 
Pastoral Notes

The birth or adoption of a child is a cause for celebration. Many people are overcome by a sense of awe at the creation of new life and want to express their thanks to God. This service provides an opportunity for parents and families to give thanks for the birth or adoption of a child and to pray for family life. It may be a private celebration at home or in hospital, or it may be a public celebration in church, sometimes with a number of children.
 
This service is not the same as Baptism (sometimes called Christening), which is the sacrament of initiation into membership of the Church, the Body of Christ. If you are interested in exploring the Christian faith, or finding out more about preparation for Baptism, ask the minister taking this service.

	This service is provided for a number of different occasions:
 
 		the private celebration of a birth or adoption, 
		at home or in church with only family
		and close friends present;
 	 	 	 
 		the public celebration of the birth or adoption 
		of a number of children, 
		perhaps in church on a Sunday afternoon;
 	 	 	 
	 	the public celebration of the birth or adoption of a number 		of children as part of a main Sunday act of worship.
 	 	 
	It is designed to meet the needs of:
 	 	 	 
	 	parents who see this as a preliminary to Baptism;
 	 	 	 
 		parents who do not wish their children 
		to be baptized immediately;
 	 	 	 
 		others, who do not ask for Baptism, 
		but who recognize that something has happened 
		for which they wish to give thanks to God.