Welcoming A Sacred Life in a way that is as unique as your child

Congratulations on your new child!

The arrival of a new baby or child changes things forever.  Such a miraculous event deserves to be acknowledged by something more than just a family party. However, the fact is that most babies enter the world without any event other than the legal requirement to register the birth.
Why is this?

Perhaps some of these situations apply to you.

You are not a regular church attender so a traditional christening would feel hypocritical.

You feel uncomfortable with religious language but you would nevertheless like to have God’s blessing on your child in keeping with your own spiritual beliefs.

Being obliged to bring up your child within a particular religious tradition does not feel right. You feel strongly they should be free to make up their own mind about what they believe when the time is right for them.

Having a set form of words feels restrictive and over-formal and you’re not sure that someone else’s words would express what you and your family really want to say.

You have wondered about having a Humanist ceremony but not having any spiritual element would feel like something important is missing.

You may be excluded from having a ceremony in some places of worship because you are not married or you are a same-sex couple.

Your family embraces more than one faith tradition and you don’t want to offend.

You have no particular religious beliefs but you do see the arrival of a new soul as a sacred moment that deserves to be marked in a special way but are not sure how to do this.

Your child is adopted or is no longer a baby. You fear it might be too late but you would still like to mark their arrival in a special way.

A More Inclusive Approach

An Interfaith Baby Naming and Blessing is an increasingly popular ceremony to mark the birth of a child and a special time to bring together family and friends. Our ceremonies are highly effective because we work alongside you to co-create an event that will not only take account of the needs and personality of your child but also the values and beliefs of your family.

Our ceremonies work on many levels. They:

• Support parents consciously to step into the sacred privilege of parenthood, with love and clarity.
• Formally acknowledge the sacred role of significant others in the life of your child eg grandparents, friends and other siblings.
• Offer the opportunity for all those close to express their love, commitment and wisdom to this new generation.
• Encourage other siblings and family members to take an active role of welcome and support.
• Acknowledge and honour the interconnectedness of your family to your larger community.
• Deeply respect the innate wisdom and perfection of the soul that is incarnated in your child.
• Create precious memories of celebration, gratitude and joy.

How It Works

When you contact us, a meeting will be arrranged where we would discuss your intentions and vision for how you want to raise your child and how you would like to be supported by your wider community of family and friends.

We would reflect together on your spiritual and religious upbringing, your current beliefs and how they effect your life. You can choose whether you would like any traditionally religious elements to be included eg baptism.

We would also discuss your ideas for the part that grandparents, family, friends and other siblings might play in the ceremony.  We would support you to write and read your own promises of commitment to your child.

As well as your choice of favourite music, readings and poems, we have a huge range of inspiring resources to choose from. These can include naming and blessing rituals from different religious and spiritual traditions which you might like to use or adapt.

For parents belonging to traditional religions, material from your own faith can be integrated to create a ceremony that still respects the integrity of all concerned.

As a Naming and Blessing is not a legal ceremony, it can take place in any location that is special to you, such as a hotel, a beautiful garden or your own home.
NB a Baby Naming Ceremony does not replace the legal requirement to register your baby’s birth which must be done within 42 days in Engalnd and Wales and within 21 days in Scotland.

After our meeting I will send you a draft outline for your review and approval. As well as crafting a beautiful, appropriate and intimate celebration, I will hold sacred space on the day in a way that helps everyone to relax and join together with love, joy and gratitude.

A Unique Welcome for a Unique Soul

Naming ceremonies cross and include all cultural and religious boundaries.  The tradition of welcoming a new life to the community has continued since ancient times.

Introducing your child formally to family, friends and your community recognises them as a person of inestimable value, dignity and uniqueness and welcomes them into our larger human family.

As an Interfaith Minister, I will help you create a ceremony that works for you, your child and your family. I can also help you create a Ceremony of Adoption for older children or services of Adult Baptism/Dedication where you would be encouraged to take an active part in the design at every stage of the process.

For a Baby Naming and Blessing that reflects the true essence of your child and the depth of your love and commitment contact me