NAMEGIVING CEREMONIES
WELCOME RILEY JACK McPHERSON
INTRODUCTION
A namegiving ceremony is not a baptism or a christening, as such, it does not have the religious significance of making a baby (or person) a Christian belonging in a particular religious denomination. This can be done at a later stage in the child's life when they are older and able to understand the significance of such a ceremony.
The namegiving ceremony, officiated by a civil celebrant, is an occasion when a birth is celebrated to welcome a baby with joy, hope and acceptance into the world and the community of family and friends.
Namegivings encourage family and friends to share not only in the parents joy but their awesome responsibility in raising a child. The more people to whom a child relates the more balanced and rich their growth will be.
An important tradition in our culture is to appoint godparents (or mentors/guardians) at the namegiving ceremony to undertake a special interest in the welfare of their godchild spaning their lifetime. A candle may be lit to signify that the godparents accept the responsibilities associated with mentoring. The light represents a beacon to guide and protect the childs path of tears, laughter, joy, sorrow, happiness, sadness and great love through the years reaching into adulthood. This ritual may be re-inacted on the child's birthday each year by relighting the candle. It is symbolic of cultural and social values.
Music and literature play an important cultural expression on these occasions and some examples of Readings for the ceremony are as follows:
READING N1
A CHILD LEARNS WHAT SHE 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.
Traditional
READING N2
From THE PROPHET
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 can not 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 the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
Kahlil Gibran
