Hudson Valley Ceremonies
Naming Ceremony #5

Welcome:

I want to welcome you to the naming ceremony of the
[son/daughter] of
[parent's names]. We gather here today to witness their
commitment to
parenthood and to officially welcome a new member into our
community.
We are here because of our relationship with them, for we are
their
community—their circle of people. We are the community with
whom they
celebrate life's special moments, and to whom they will turn in
times
of need. We are their extended 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. In everyday behavior, it is
more difficult to experience this specialness, so let this ceremony
be a time when we commit to being more caring toward one
another. As
this child we name today is a newcomer, we all have at one time
been
newcomers. Like all of us, [she/he] needs us to open our circle and
support to [him/her].

To be a parent forces you to recognize that you are no longer a
child. Claiming adulthood, we look at our children and see
ourselves.
We feel the temptation to help them succeed where we have
failed. But
as much as we seek to make them like us, we cannot. What we
can do is
see that they do their best. And as they grow, they will in turn be
pushing us to grow with them. This we can do, if we love them not
for
who they may become, but for who they are—unique and special.

Parenthood is the ultimate expression and the severest test of a
marriage. The greatest act of love parents have to give their
children is the love they express for one another. The interactions
between a mother and father, husband and wife, form the web of
the
relationship that serves as the child's nest. Children learn about
men and women, communication, caring, respect, feelings,
conflict,
and love by watching their parents.

Recognizing this, you stand before us now to reaffirm your
commitment
to each other and to your [daughter/son].

Minister to Father:

Do you [name of parent] commit yourself to [name of parent] as
her
partner, promising to support her as a mother]? [Answer: I do.]
Do
you give yourself to your [son/daughter] as [his/her] father,
promising to act out of your love for him/her, respecting and
supporting [his/her] uniqueness, and eliciting the best from
[him/her]?

Minister to Mother:

Do you [name of parent] commit yourself to [name of parent] as
his
partner, promising to support him as a father]? [Answer: I do.] Do
you give yourself to your [son/daughter] as [his/her] mother,
promising to act out of your love for him/her, respecting and
supporting [his/her] uniqueness, and eliciting the best from
[him/her]?

Minister to Godparents:

Do you [name of godparents] commit yourself to [name of
parents] as
their partners, promising to support them as godparents]?
[Answer: I
do.] Do you give yourself to your [godchild] as [his/her]
godparents,
promising to act out of your love for him/her, respecting and
supporting [his/her] uniqueness, and eliciting the best from
[him/her]?

Minister to Community:

This community gathered here will be especially important to this
child. We are [his/her] people. As [he/she] comes of age, we will
appear to [him/her] as part of his world. [He/she] will look among
us
for companionship and leadership and to all of us for support. By
watching us, [he/she] will learn how life works. [He/she] will know
the way human society works by how we create our relationships
here.
Do you pledge to support this child, to respect [his/her]
uniqueness,
and to elicit the best from [him/her] and this family? [Answer: I
do]

How shall this child be called and how did you choose this name?

On behalf of all who shall know [him/her], with the hope that
[he/she] finds among us all the nourishment [he/she] needs, I
welcome
[name of child] to our community.