New Life Celebrations

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Special Ceremonies

1. Flower/Water Ceremony Combined   To dedicate this children we make use of two elements: a budding flower, symbol of the unfolding life before us, in all its strength, its grace, its possibility; and water, symbol of purity and freshness, the source from which all life springs, reminding us that while we today embrace this child within our community they are already part of the wholeness of the world.And now, (parents), may I hold _____________(child), with a flower and water, ancient symbols of purity and beauty, I touch your brow, your lips and your hands, to dedicate your thoughts, your speech and your deeds to that which is noble and beautiful and true. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  May your heart always know love, your mind search for Truth and Beauty, your eyes always seek justice; May your hands find labor which fulfills you, your body carry you far, and your spirit forever seek the mountain top.

2. Presentation of the Flower  The gardens of the world are full of many flowers, each different, each beautiful, each unique. With this flower.. We touch your feet and promise to teach you that you should stand against injustice.We touch your hands and promise to help you reach and grasp great wisdom.We touch you ears and hope that you might hear music even in the sacred silence. We touch your eyes opening them that you can see beauty in every living thing. We touch your lips that you may speak the truth Most importantly we touch your heart that you might know love and give love: abundantly, openly and courageously. May this flower remind us all that our children are like these flowers. Each is different, each is beautiful, each is unique. Flower is presented to the parents. 

Readings

1. "A Wish for You, My Children"If there could be only one thing in life for me to teach you, I would teach you to love. To respect others so that you may find respect in yourself. To learn the value of giving, so that if ever there comes a time in your life that someone really needs, you will give. To act in a manner that you would wish to be treated, to be proud of yourself. To laugh and smile as much as you can, in order to help bring joy back to the world. To have faith in others, to be understanding. To stand tall in this world and to learn to depend on yourself.To only take from this earth those things which you really need, so there will be enough for others. To not depend on money or material things for your happiness, but to learn to appreciate the people who love you, the simple beauty that God gave you and to find peace and security within yourself. To you, my son, I hope I have taught all of these things, for they are love.

2. Sent straight from heaven up above Came an angel for me to love To hold and rock and kiss good night To wrap my arms around real tight To cuddle & nurture and watch him play To kiss his boo-boo's all away To keep him safe and warm & count all his toes To hold the tissue for him when he blows his little nose To laugh at his jokes, to clap as he sings To tell him all the joy in my life that he brings To clean up his play dough, to pull his Legos apart To pin up his drawings and tell him it's art To watch his first day of school on the bus all alone To fight back the tears as I make my way back home To applaud real loud when he's in his first play To help him with his homework at the end of his day To adore & cherish and watch him grow To guide and teach him all that I know To see him through good times & help him through bad To share in his happiness and cry when he's sad To hold him close and be by his side To watch him through life as my heart fills with pride To help him with decisions, the best that I can To know that someday he'll be a fine young man

3. For the gift of childhood, whose innocence and laughter keep the world young, we all rejoice and give thanks. May this precious life, which we have accepted into our community of ideals and friendship, receive abundantly the blessings of health, love, knowledge, and wisdom, and in its turn give back richly to the common heritage that endures from generation to generation.

4. A Message for My Child 
   I wish that I could show you all the things that I have seen.
   I wish that I could take you everywhere that I have been.
   I wish that I could indicate the places where I fell,
   And keep you, thus, from tripping on those “rougher” spots as well.
   I wish that I could do all this and save you from the strife.
   But I know that I’d be sparing you the lessons of your life.
   And you must learn those lessons as hard as that may be,
   Just know that you will always have a helping hand from me.

5. On the Night You Were Born By Nancy Tillman  On the night you were born, The moon smiled with such wonder That the stars peeked in to see you And the night wind whispered, “Life will never be the same.” Because there had never been anyone like you…ever in the world. So enchanted with you were the wind and the rain That they whispered the sound of your wonderful name. It sailed through the farmland High on the breeze…Over the ocean…And through the trees…Until everyone heard it And everyone knew Of the one and only ever you. Not once had there been such eyes, Such a nose, Such silly, wiggly, wonderful toes! When the polar bears heard, They danced until dawn. From faraway places, the geese flew home. The moon stayed up until morning next day. And none of the ladybugs flew away. So whenever you doubt just how special you are And you wonder who loves you, how much and how far, Listen for geese honking high in the sky. (They’re singing a song to remember you by.) Or notice the bears asleep at the zoo. (It’s because they’ve been dancing all night for you!) Or drift off to sleep to the sound of the wind. (Listen closely…it’s whispering your name again!) If the moon stays up until morning one day, Or a ladybug lands and decides to stay, Or a little bird sits at your window awhile, It’s because they’re all hoping to see you smile…For never before in story or rhyme (not even once upon a time) has the world ever known a you, my friend, and it never will, not ever again. Heaven blew every trumpet And played every horn On the wonderful, marvellous Night you were born.

6. The Little Children and Jesus Bible (Mark 10:13-16)  People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

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