Hudson Valley Ceremonies
Naming Ceremony #6

Welcome:

Friends, We meet here to take part together in a simple
ceremony. We
do so for a number of reasons.

Firstly, _______ and ______ wish to express their joy to you on the

birth of their child _______. They are pleased that she/he has
arrived safely in this world. They want to welcome her/him into
their
family unit, to the wider family of their relatives, and to the
community of their friends and the world. They wish you all to
share
this joy.

It is certain that the more love this child receives the more she/he
will benefit in her/his life and the more love in turn she/he will be
able to give to others. The more people to whom this child relates
the more balanced and rich her/his growth will be. So your
presence
at this celebration today is appreciated, as will be your interest
and involvement in the years ahead.

Reading 1

The first quotation I would like to read involves us all. As a
community of friends and family we all share a responsibility to
provide the atmosphere in which young child will develop as a
person.
It is called:

A CHILD LEARNS WHAT HE LIVES
If a child lives with criticism
he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility
he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule
he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame
he learns to feel guilt.
BUT,
If a child lives with tolerance
he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement
he learns confidence.
If a child lives with fairness
he learns justice.
If a child lives with security
he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval
he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship
he learns to find love in the world.

Reading 2

This celebration also is an occasion when ______ and _____ want
to
make themselves aware of their proper role as parents. This, they
feel, is expressed well in the words of the prophet, Kahlil Gibran.

THE PROPHET

And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, speak to
us of
Children.
And he said:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters
of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you.
And though they are with you
yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love
but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts,
You may house their bodies
but not their souls
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit
not even in your dreams
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you
For life goes not backward
nor tarries with yesterday
You are simply the bows from which your children
as living arrows
are sent forth.

Grandparents

It is not always possible for grandparents to involve themselves in
the development of their grandchildren - but when they do it is a
great bonus and blessing. The important role played by
grandparents
is the passing on of cultural values to children.

They assist children find their identity and their inner security -
and to integrate themselves into society. The special relationship of

trust and mutual enjoyment which develops between child and
grandparent is something very special. Through this relationship
children learn their lineage, their history - and many values and
skills.

This cultural inheritance lays the foundation for the young person
to
construct their personality during childhood and adolescence and
adds
great meaning to their existence.

For this reason _____ and _____ wish to recognize and express
their
gratification that ______ and ______ and ______ and ______ are
here
today.

Godparents

The next special and unique step in this ceremony involves the
godparents. In this age of the nuclear family when many of us live
isolated from our family and friends godparents have perhaps a
more
important role today than they have had in the past. They
undertake a
special and lifelong interest in the welfare of their godchild and to
assume a more than ordinary responsibility in the event of the
death
or default of the parents.

So, I now ask the godparents, are you, _______ and ______,
willing to
accept this serious charge?

Godparents: We are.

Then with me, touch the child.

The Naming

I will now ask everyone to say together with me:-
We all agree to call you _______ ________.
We therefore name you _______ ________.
We wish you long life and happiness
In a loving and peaceful world.
May you bring joy to your parents,
your godparents, your grandparents
To each of us, your family and friends.

Final Declaration

This ceremony will in no way inhibit _____ from seeking the truth
during her/his life and any future religious or non religious
commitments of belief. In fact, it is our duty to present her/him in
the coming years with a broad and balanced view of life, and
encourage her/him in the virtues we all agree as good - integrity,
honesty, concern, fairness and love toward her/his fellow human
beings. _____, may life's richest joys and blessings be yours. May
you grow in health of body and mind to full adulthood and may it
be
your good fortune to play some worthy part in making life more
pleasant for those whose paths you cross.

I now present - ________ __________!