Christening prayer

• Dedicate (a vessel, building, etc.) ceremonially
• Give to (someone or something) a name that reflects a notable quality or characteristic
• The Christian sacrament at which someone, usually a child, is baptized and given a Christian name; Any instance of someone’s or something’s being christened
• The term used in the Anglican church for the ceremony of baptizing and naming a child.
• Give (a baby) a Christian name at baptism as a sign of admission to a Christian Church
• giving a Christian name at baptism

• A solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship
• the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving); “the priest sank to his knees in prayer”
• reverent petition to a deity
• A religious service, esp. a regular one, at which people gather in order to pray together
• entreaty: earnest or urgent request; “an entreaty to stop the fighting”; “an appeal for help”; “an appeal to the public to keep calm”
• An earnest hope or wish

• The youngest member of a family or group
• pamper: treat with excessive indulgence; “grandparents often pamper the children”; “Let’s not mollycoddle our students!”
• A very young child, esp. one newly or recently born
• the youngest member of a group (not necessarily young); “the baby of the family”; “the baby of the Supreme Court”
• A young or newly born animal
• a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk; “the baby began to cry again”; “she held the baby in her arms”; “it sounds simple, but when you have your own baby it is all so different”

85. Kaori’s Dad’s Kimono

Today I woke up thinking about Japan. I’ll start by telling you about my penpal Kaori who lives in Chiba, Japan. She and I became friends online and know each other very well. Several years ago her father was diagnosed with cancer, and Kaori told me she was folding senba zuru (1,000 cranes) for him. This is a Japanese tradition done either by or for a very sick person. After folding 1,000 origami cranes, you are supposed to be granted a wish, and that wish is for returned good health.

I asked Kaori if it was OK if I helped her fold cranes. I was so far away, but I wanted to do something to show my support. She said there was nothing in the tradition that said I couldn’t and was pleased for the help. I learned how to make cranes and folded 500 for her father. (I wore holes through my thumbnails — that is a LOT of folding!)

This is a truly beautiful tradition. With each fold, you are thinking of the person who is sick and wishing them well. The cranes are then sewn onto long strings and hung in the room where the sick person can see them. They’re made with beautiful, brightly colored papers and the end result is almost like a party favor. They are cheerful and happy, and proof that someone was thinking about you an awful lot. To me the most beautiful thing about them is that they are visible prayers. Of all the traditions I’ve learned of all around this world, this is by far my favorite.

But I didn’t think at all about how this would affect Kaori’s Dad. I wanted him to be well because I love Kaori and wanted her to be happy. I felt kindness toward him because he was the father of my friend. I didn’t think at all that he had fought in a war against my country, or how he might feel about Americans because of what he’d lived through and what his family had lost. None of that ever entered my mind, because my thoughts of Japan were all happy ones.

Kaori’s father was stunned that an American woman he’d never met would go to such trouble for him. It might have even taken him a while to wrap his mind around it.

He began to ask about me when he talked to Kaori. He and Kaori’s Mom would ask that she pass on their greetings to me. They even learned a little English so they could write me a card. I was touched beyond words. It was a simple thing, but after realizing how he might have felt about America, seeing his handwriting in my own language was quite a gift indeed.

And then later Kaori asked her Mom to send her an old kimono she had stored at home. Her Mom said she’d dig it out, but why did she want it? Kaori said she’d like to send it to Sarah, that it would be something really special. Kaori’s parents found the kimono she asked for, and her Mom wanted to give me the kimono she sewed to wear to her sister’s wedding. Then her Dad asked what the kimonos were for, and when he heard they were for me, he asked her to send his baby kimono to me as well.

Her Dad’s kimono was the one he wore to be dedicated at the shrine, and is similar to a christening gown for Americans. It is a family heirloom, a treasure to be passed down from one generation to the next. Kaori’s Dad’s family had a lot of money before the war took it away, and his kimono is a splendid one. It would probably be quite a prize to a collector, but to me it is so much more. A man whose heart had frozen in one spot was melted almost accidentally by someone on the other side of the world, and I am now his family.

Real life stories don’t have neat, perfect endings. Kaori’s Dad is healthy once again. Kaori’s daughter Anna came to live with us for a couple months one summer, making me feel even more that part of my family lives in Japan. Kaori and I went on to fold senba zuru for two other cancer patients, once for little girl we didn’t know and once for my friend Tami. Both of them are healthy again.

If I were trying to teach anything here, it would probably be that sometimes, without even trying, we take care of each other in ways we aren’t even aware of.

It’s a beautiful world.

Of Men and Seals. A legend of sex, sin and redemption

The legend of Selkolla (Steingrimsfjordur)
Eight centuries ago a child was born in the northern half of the western fjords parish. A laborer and a maid-servant were sent to the priest’s residence in Steingrimsfjordur to have the child christened. On the way the pair realized that this was the best chance of fulfilling a mutual call of the flesh. So when reaching this great boulder they laid the baby down on one side and had their fun on the other side. Having satisfied their lust they walked around the boulder to pick up the baby. But it showed no signs of life and was so evil-looking that they didn’t dare to touch it. Instead they ran in panic down the hill to the nearest farm. Their story wasn’t believed at first and men were sent to find the child, but all their efforts were in vain. The baby had disappeared. Soon afterwards a large female was repeatedly seen in the vicinity of the boulder and people believed that she was a malevolent spirit that had entered the baby. Her head resembled a seal’s and she became known as Selkolla (in Icelandic Seal’s Head). Selkolla stole sheeps and eventually terrorized the whole region until finally the famous bishop Gudmundur the Good fought her with prayers and psalms. In the end Selkolla sank down into the earth and hasn’t been seen ever since.

babychristeningprayertobf.wordpress.com

Having a baptism for your baby is a great way to ensure that Christ will look over and protect his/her innocent soul. There are many prayers you can recite during this time. Here is a look at a dozen best baptism prayers for babies to say before, during, or after the service.

Prayer #1

Heavenly Father,
In your love you have called us to know you, led us to trust you, and bound our life with yours.
Surround this child with your love, protect it from evil.
Fill it with the holy spirit and receive it into the family of your church, that it may walk with us in the way of Christ, and grow in the knowledge of your love.

Prayer #2

You’re taking this step of faith. In obedience to the Lord To be baptized in His precious name, And heed the Master’s call
To rise up with faith in God. And go where He may leadTo share God’s love to everyone, And touch them in their need
May God pour out His blessings. Upon your life todaySo you may walk in His abundance, As you commit to Him your way
Keep on trusting in the Lord. No matter what you face And keep your eyes on Jesus Christ, And live in His sweet grace.

Prayer #3

Welcome, precious little child. So divine from God above. Christened today in Jesus’ name, Held in His arms of love. May angels guide your tiny feet and bring you smiles to wear and may our Heavenly Father always keep you in His care.

Prayer #4

May angels guide you on your journey in life, and sprinkle you with their love and light. May you have the gifts of laughter and song, and be filled with dreams that last all the days long. May you live and care with kindness and grace, and know within your soul, courage and faith. You will be wrapped in the warmth of your family and friends, and rays of love will shine on you without end.

Prayer #5

Faithful and loving God,
bless those who care for these children
and grant them your gifts of love, wisdom and faith.
Pour upon them your healing and reconciling love,
and protect their home from all evil.
Fill them with the light of your presence
and establish them in the joy of your kingdom,
through Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen.

Prayer #6

We thank almighty God for the gift of new life.
May God the Father, who has received you by baptism into his Church,
pour upon you the riches of his grace,
that within the company of Christ’s pilgrim people
you may daily be renewed by his anointing Spirit,
and come to the inheritance of the saints in glory.
Amen.

Prayer #7

Dear God,
Be with my friends tomorrow – may they know joy.
Be with my family tomorrow – may they know love.
Be with me tomorrow – may I know peace.
Be with my child – may s/he know your light
As s/he begins his/her amazing journey of faith.
Lead him/her in the right path,
Keep him/her safe
And help us all to know you are with us,
Now and always.
Amen

Prayer #8

Dear God,
Thank you for your wonderful world.
Be close to all the people who need help.
Thank you for my lovely friends and family
Help us to be kind to each other all the time.
Thank you for me.
Keep me safe, and let me grow well in every way.
Thank you for Jesus.
Be very close to me always.

Prayer #9

Loving God,
We pray for all children.
We pray that they know and feel the security that is their right.
We pray that they know and feel the love that is theirs through you.
Guide all who are a voice for children and young people to speak loudly and clearly
so that security and safety, love and hope might be the experience of all your children.

Prayer #10

The Lord will always walk with you, along life’s blessed beach. His footprints there beside your own, always within reach. Two sets of footprints, side by side, from dawn to setting sun. Yet there may come a day my child, when you’ll see only one. But do not think the Lord has left you, nothing could be more wrong. It’s just that He has picked you up, to carry you along.

Prayer #11

Angel of the Heart. You are the strength of the future and the Beauty of past Memories. You are Love and Light and Hope. You are Life’s Sweetest Giftan unbelievable and precious Miracle.

Prayer #12

You’ve been a special blessing since the day that you arrived, Bringing so much happiness and filling hearts with pride… And now that it’s your Baptism/Christening Day, this brings a special prayer That God will always keep you in the shelter of His care.

Here is one example of a baptism being performed with the prayers recited for the baby.

About the Author of this Blog Post Crystal Ayres has served as our editor-in-chief for the last five years. She is a proud veteran, wife and mother. The goal of ConnectUs is to publish compelling content that addresses some of the biggest issues the world faces. If you would like to reach out to contact Crystal, then go here to

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A christening or baptism service is where children, often newborn babies, are given to God as a sign of faith by their parents. The parents vow to raise their child in a christian home. During the christening service a parent or godparent may choose to read a poem or verse as a great way to celebrate the arrival of a newborn baby.

Irish Blessing

May the strength of the wind and the light of the sun,
The softness of the rain and the mystery of the moon
Reach you and fill you.
May beauty delight you and happiness uplift you,
May wonder fulfil you and love surround you.
May your step be steady and your arm be strong,
May your heart be peaceful and your word be true.
May you seek to learn, may you learn to live,
May you live to love, and may you love, always.

Princess Charlotte’s Christening

Check out these lovely family photos from E News! Princess Charlotte’s christening on July 5, 2015 at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene.

Parents, family and guests attending the christening service may want to give a gift or card to the baby to mark their introduction into the Christian faith. There are many companies that can inscribe a short christening poem or verse on your gift that will give it a more personal touch.

Christening poems and verses can be embroidered on christening shawls, pillows and blankets, or engraved on a baby’s photo album.

Here are a few poems you can use, or you can use these as inspiration to write your own christening poem.

Bless this child you’ve given me
Keep her safe secure and free
Help me guide her as she grows
Light the pathway where she goes.

A child to enjoy
As a gift from above
To be Christened with water
And brought up with love

May angels guide your tiny feet
And bring you smiles to wear
And may our heavenly Father
Always keep you in His care

Precious one,
So small, so sweet
Dancing in on angel feet
Straight from Heaven’s brightest star
What a miracle you are!

With every
Little baby’s birth
God sends
His love and joy to earth

May God protect you little one
And bless you from above
With everlasting happiness
And brought up with love

One tiny hand to guide and hold,
One tiny life to shape and mold,
each child, a gift from God above
a symbol of his strength and love

God created everything,
Butterflies and birds that sing.
The sun and stars and skies of blue
But best of all created you!

We’ll say a prayer for this young
life, so innocent and new
that God will bless this little boy/girl
who means the world to you

Christening Poems for Baby

Sing-Song

Love me, – I love you,
Love me, my baby;
Sing it high, sing it low,
Sing it as may be.

Mother’s arms under you,
Her eyes above you;
Sing it high, sing it low,
Love me – I love you.
~ Christina Rossetti

Visit Special Moments for ideas on christening speeches.

Please God…
Grant this little child Your love
As each new day appears,
Grant the parents guidance
And wisdom throughout the years
Smile down upon this christening
And in Your loving way
Let Your presence gently bless
This little one today.

Baptism or Christening Poem

Blessings on the little children,
Sweet and fresh from Heaven above,
May their days be filled with beauty,
May they grow in truth and love.
Lord, bless this tiny infant
Who will make the world so fair
Keep this precious little life
Forever in Your care.

The Greatest Gift of All

We give you the greatest gift of all,
a headstart that will last throughout your life

We shall do our best to teach you,

but it will be up to you to learn.

We shall try to guide you in the right directions,

but it will be up to you to make the right decisions.

We shall also encourage you to seek your own independence,

but it will be up to you to be responsible.

We shall tell you about ‘drink and drugs’,

but it will be up to you to say ‘no’

We shall teach you about respect,

but you will choose whether to appreciate it’s value.

We shall encourage you to try,

but you should want to succeed for yourself.

We shall teach you kindness,

but it will be up to you to be good-natured.

We shall teach you to share,

but it will be up to you to be unselfish.

We shall model values for you.

but you have to develop your own morals.

We give you this knowledge as a gift with all our love.

Wishes for a Child

May you know the gift of friendship
Feel the sun upon your face
May you win displaying dignity
And accept defeat with grace
May you marvel at the wonders
Of nature and the earth
May you value education
And know your own true worth
May you live and love with honesty
And do the thing that’s right
May you stand up for the helpless
And sleep in peace at night
May you thrive upon a challenge
And sing and dance and laugh
May you know the joy of parenthood
And follow your own path.

Christening Poem:
Sweet and Low

Sweet and low, sweet and low,
Wind of the western sea,
Low, low, breathe and blow,
Wind of the western sea!
Over the rolling waters go,
Come from the dying moon, and blow,
Blow him again to me;
While my little one, while my pretty one, sleeps.
Sleep and rest, sleep and rest,
Father will come to thee soon;
Rest, rest, on mother’s breast,
Father will come to thee soon;
Father will come to his babe in the best,
Silver sails all out of the west,
Under the silver moon:
Sleep, my little one, sleep, my pretty one, sleep.

~ Alfred Lord Tennyson

Baby Christening Poem

Welcome, precious little child
So divine from God above
Christened today in Jesus’ name,
Held in His arms of love.
May angels guide your tiny feet
And bring you smiles to wear,
And may our Heavenly Father
Always keep you in His care.

A Baby’s Feet

A baby’s feet, like sea shells pink,
Might tempt, should heaven see meet
An angel’s lips to kiss, we think,
A baby’s feet.

Like rose-hued sea flowers toward the heat

They stretch and spread and wink
Their ten soft buds that part and meet.

No flower bells that expand and shrink

Gleam half so heavenly sweet,
As shine on life’s untrodden brink
A baby’s feet.
~ Algernon Charles Swinburne

Christening Prayer
Lyrics of a Bob Dylan Song

May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
My you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young

May you grow up to be righteous,

May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young

May your hands always be busy,

May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young

~ Bob Dylan

Christening Poem: A Step of Faith

A bit of faith, a heart so true,
You took that step, now born anew.
For you He suffered and He died,
Now and forever at your side.
You heard the truth, chose to believe,
His Holy Spirit you’ll receive.
Always let your faith abide,
And forever He will be your guide.
Call on His name in prayer each day,
For Jesus said…
“I Am The Way.”

Baptism Poem

Welcome, precious little child,
So fresh from God above,
Baptised today in Jesus’ name,
Held in His arms of love.
May angels guide your tiny feet
And bring you smiles to wear
And may our Heavenly Father
Always keep you in His care.

Special Blessing

You’ve been a special blessing,
Since the day that you arrived.
Bringing so much happiness,
And filling hearts with pride…
And now that it’s your Baptism Day,
This brings a special prayer.
That God will keep you,
In the shelter of His care.

A Baptism Prayer

This day that the Lord has made
A sunny tapestry of lacy leaf, red bud
And springing green in hill and glade,
We rejoice and let gladness flood
Our hearts, as the psalmist bade.

This day we dedicate this sweet bird,

Nesting in her parents’ loving arms,
To live her life according to God’s Word.
We ask the Lord to keep her from all harms.

Hover, O Holy Spirit, ever near

Bless her and all who hold her dear.
Teach her to grow with grace
And help her both joy and sorrow face.
Let this day’s clear blue skies a token be
That she will soar, from here to eternity.

Irish Christening Blessing

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun.
And find your shoulder to light on
To bring you luck, happiness and riches.
Today, tomorrow and beyond.

Irish Baby Blessing

May all the blessings of our Lord touch your life today.
May He send His little angels to protect you on your way.
Such a miraculous gift, sent from above.
Someone so precious to cherish and love.
May sunshine and moonbeams dance over your head.
As you quietly slumber in your bed.
May good luck be with you wherever you go.
And your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow.

May God Grant You Always

May God grant you always,
A sunbeam to warm you.
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering angel,
So nothing can harm you.
Laughter to cheer you,
Faithful friends near you.
And whenever you pray,
Heaven can hear you.

New Baby Poem

The day has finally come, the pain begins to reel
You never could imagine, just how this would feel!
Then when it’s all over, and there’s finally peace
There’s this incessant crying, that doesn’t seem to cease!
In between the whining, you try to catch a wink
But once again the wailing starts, so loud you cannot think!
Here’s this precious bundle, that fills your heart with joy
Lying there so tranquilly, watch out he’s being coy!
As soon as you sit down to eat, it’s hungry he will be
And while your food grows cold and hard, he’ll be spitting peas!
Now the day’s so beautiful, you put him in his buggy
Suddenly you smell that smell, you best take stock in Huggies!
All of this is normal, but watch for what’s ahead
‘Cause it’s when he gets older, that you should fear and dread!

Christening Prayer Suitable for a Boy or Girl

Children are so precious
they are gifts sent from above
they fill your lives with happiness
and fill your hearts with love.
And on this very special day
may you feel a sense of pride
as your son/daughter is being Christened
with family and friends all by your side.
We’ll say a prayer for this young life
so innocent and new
that God will bless this little boy/girl
who means the world to you.
Today is the beginning
of a future warm and bright
filled with love and joy
and many years of pure delight.

Christening Poems for Boys

Lord bless this child
with gifts galore
From heaven up above
Give him faith
and understanding
Fill his little heart with love
Give him patience
give him wisdom
Let laughter fill his days
Give an angels song
to light his nights
And guidance on his way
Give him hope
when things seem hopeless
Give him trust when all else fails
Give him strength
to know the difference
So that right always prevails…
Lord bless this child
with all the gifts
A little one may need
So he might grow up
strong in faith
For then he will succeed!!!

~ Tammy Fox

Why God Made Little Boys

God made the world out of His dreams,
Of magic mountains, oceans and streams,
Prairies and plains and wooded land.
Then paused and thought,
“I need someone to stand,
On top of mountains, to conquer the seas,
Explore the plains and climb the trees.
Someone to start out small and to grow,
Sturdy, strong as a tree…” And so,
He created boys, full of spirit and fun,
To explore and conquer, to romp and run.
With dirty faces and banged up chins,
With courageous hearts and boyish grins.
When He had completed the task He’d begun,
He surely said “A job well done”.

Naming Poem for Boys

Your Name

You got it from your Father

It was all he had to give
So it’s yours to cherish
As long as you may live
If you lose the watch he gave you
It can always be replaced
But a tarnish on your name, Son
Can never be erased.
It was clean the day you took it
And a worthy name to bear
When he got it from his father
There was no dishonour there
So make sure you guard it wisely
After all is said and done
You’ll be glad the name is spotless
When you give it to your Son.

A Natural High

What else could bring you so much joy,
As the arrival of your baby boy!
His snuggly charms now capture you;
He’s in your thoughts in all you do.
Nothing can fill you so full of glee,
As bouncing your little boy on your knee.
His precious antics please mum and dad;
He’s a bundle of blessings, this little lad!
His boyish grin enchants everyone;
He’s just what you wanted – your boy, your son.
A baby boy is a natural high,
So have lots of fun with your little guy.

Christening Poems for Girls

Why God Made Little Girls

God made the world with its towering trees,
Majestic mountains and restless seas.
Then paused and said, “It needs one more thing;
Someone to laugh and dance and sing,
To walk in the woods and gather flowers,
To commune with nature in quiet hours.”
So God made little girls,
With laughing eyes and bouncing curls.
With joyful hearts and infectious smiles,
Enchanting ways and feminine wiles.
And when He completed the task He’d begun,
He was pleased and proud of the job He’d done.
For the world, when seen through a little girl’s eyes,
Greatly resembles Paradise.

What Is A Girl

She’s a bundle of happiness wrapped up in pink,
Who’ll take over your heart just as quick as a wink.
She’s a lover of perfume, of satin and lace,
And it pleases her so, just to powder her face.
She’s an angel who’s learned when to turn on the tears…
For she’s blessed with a wisdom beyond her short years.
She’s an elf bubbling over with laughter and fun,
Who will “mother” most anything under the sun.
She’s the hope of tomorrow topped off with a curl…
A dreamer, a darling, all this is a girl.

Why God Made Baby Girls

God created little girls to cuddle in your arms.
He made them warm and very soft with sweet and special charms….
They sometimes keep you at night but brighten every day.
With sunny smiles and laughing eyes that steal your heart away…

Christening Poems for Twins

One tiny hand to guide and hold,
One tiny life to shape and mold;
each child, a gift from God above,
a symbol of His strength and love.

Twins

So many good things come in pairs,
Like ears and socks and panda bears,
But best of all are sets of twins
With extra laughter, double grins.

There’s so much fun in having two

With twice as many points of view,
So much alike, forever linked,
And yet they’re also quite distinct.

They share a birthday and a name,

But moods and tempers aren’t the same,
Although at times they may dispute,
Their loyalty is absolute.

From days of youth ’til life is done,

It’s one for both and both for one,
We’re all quite novel and precise,
But special folks …
God made them twice.

And here is a suitable Christening Poem for an Adopted Child

A Chosen Child

You’re a chosen child
You’re ours, but not by birth
But just the same, we feel
You’re the greatest child on earth

You’re a chosen child

Sent down from God above
Chosen to fill our home
With laughter and with love

You’re a chosen child

You’ve given us so much pleasure
Chosen above the rest
A precious, priceless treasure

A Child’s Blessing

may your life be blessed
with joy and love

may angels guide you

from above

may your heart be kind

your spirit strong

to see the good

and right some wrong

may the world

be a better place

because you came

and shared some space

OR you might like to close the service with this Christening blessing

And to you, (Child’s name),
May the blessing of light be with you always,
Light without and light within.
May the sun shine upon you and warm your heart
Until it grows like a great fire,
So that others may feel the warmth of it.
And may the light of your eyes shine like two candle lights
In a window at night bidding the wanderer
To come in out of the dark and cold.
And may the blessing of the rain be upon you.
The sweet and tender rain, may it fall upon your spirit,
As when flowers spring up and fragrance fills the air.
And may the blessings of the great rain wash you clean and fair,
And may the storms always leave you stronger and more beautiful.
And when the rains are over may there be clear pools of water
Made beautiful by the radiance of your light,
As when a star shines beautiful in the night,
Pointing the way for all of us.
Be fearless and pure; never waver in your determination
or your dedication to the spiritual life.
Give freely, be peaceful, sincere, truthful, loving and live life with an open heart.
Be compassionate and gentle, show good will to all. God bless you _____ and welcome to the world.

Christening Poem for Parents

Ode on the Whole Duty of Parents

The spirits of children are remote and wise,
They must go free
Like fishes in the sea
Or starlings in the skies,
Whilst you remain
The shore where casually they come again.
But when there falls the stalking shade of fear,
You must be suddenly near,
You, the unstable, must become a tree
In whose unending heights of flowering green
Hangs every fruit that grows, with silver bells;
Where heart-distracting magic birds are seen
And all the things a fairy-story tells;
Though still you should possess
Roots that go deep in ordinary earth,
And strong consoling bark
To love and to caress.
Last, when at dark
Safe on the pillow lies an up-gazing head
And drinking holy eyes
Are fixed on you,
When, from behind them, questions come to birth
Insistently,
On all the things that you have ever said
Of suns and snakes and parallelograms and flies,
And whether these are true,
Then for a while you’ll need to be no more
That sheltering shore
Or legendary tree in safety spread,
No, then you must put on
The robes of Solomon,
Or simply be
Sir Isaac Newton sitting on the bed.

~ Frances Cornford

Christening Day Poem

Children are so precious
they are gifts sent from above
they fill your lives with happiness
and fill your hearts with love.
And on this very special day
may you feel a sense of pride
as your Son/Daughter is being Christened
with family and friends all by your side.
We’ll say a prayer for this young life
so innocent and new
that God will bless this little boy/girl
who means the world to you.
Today is the beginning
of a future warm and bright
filled with love and joy
and many years of pure delight.

Being Small

Sometimes I just hate being small,
When everybody else is tall,
I think the world is most unfair
With me down here and them up there.

It’s awful when a juicy peach

Is in a bowl far out of reach
Or parents have safely put away
The toys with which I want to play.

It’s terrible to have to stretch

For everything you want to fetch
While bigger people help themselves
To things from off the highest shelves.

Perhaps it might be less unfair

If they were kind of stuck up there
And had to wait till I came round
To give them things from off the ground;

But no, they can easily bend,

To fetch and carry, make and mend,
While if I want to reach that cup,
I have no way of bending up!

~ John Maguire

Christening Letter To A Godchild

The following letter was written in 1834, the language is quaint and
old, yet is an great basis for a christening speech or letter for today.

Letter to a Godchild (To Adam)

My Dear Godchild

I offer up the same fervent prayer for you now, as I did kneeling

before the altar, when you were baptized into Christ, and solemnly
received as a living member of His spiritual body, the Church.

Years must pass before you will be able to read with an understanding

heart what I now write; but I trust that the all-gracious God, the Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, who, by his only
begotten Son, (all mercies in one sovereign mercy!) has redeemed
you from the evil ground, and willed you to be born out of darkness,
but into light — out of death, but into life — out of sin, but into
righteousness, even into the Lord our Righteousness; I trust that He
will graciously hear the prayers of your dear parents, and be with you
as the spirit of health and growth in body and mind.

My dear Godchild! — You received from Christ’s minister at the

baptismal font, as your Christian name, the name of a most dear
friend of your father’s, and who was to me even as a son, the late
Adam Steinmetz, whose fervent aspiration and ever-paramount aim,
even from early youth, was to be a Christian in thought, word, and
deed — in will, mind, and affections.

I too, your Godfather, have known what the enjoyments and

advantages of this life are, and what the more refined pleasures which
learning and intellectual power can bestow; and with all the experience
which more than threescore years can give, I now, on the eve of my
departure, declare to you (and earnestly pray that you may hereafter
live and act on the conviction) that health is a great blessing, —
competence obtained by honorable industry a great blessing, — and
a great blessing it is to have kind, faithful, and loving friends and
relatives; but that the greatest of all blessings, as it is the most
ennobling of all privileges, is to be indeed a Christian. But I have been
likewise, through a large portion of my later life, a sufferer, sorely
afflicted with bodily pains, languors, and bodily infirmities; and, for the
last three or four years, have, with few and brief intervals, been
confined to a sick-room, and at this moment, in great weakness and
heaviness, write from a sick-bed, hopeless of a recovery, yet without
prospect of a speedy recovery; and I, thus on the very brink of the
grave, solemnly bear witness to you that the Almighty Redeemer, most
gracious in His promises to them that truly seek Him, is faithful to
perform what He hath promised, and has preserved, under all my
pains and infirmities, the inward peace that passeth all understanding,
with the supporting assurance of a reconciled God, who will not
withdraw His Spirit from me in the conflict, and in His own time will
deliver me from the Evil One!

O, my dear Godchild! eminently blessed are those who begin early to

seek, fear, and love their God, trusting wholly in the righteousness
and mediation of their Lord, Redeemer, Saviour, and everlasting High
Priest, Jesus Christ!

O, preserve this as a legacy and bequest from your unseen

Godfather and friend.

~ S.T. Coleridge, July 1834

Christening Poem for Godparents

We promise to help you
To lead you
To encourage you
To care for you
To love you
Your Godparents

Precious one
So small and sweet
Dancing in on angel feet
Brightest star
What a miracle you are

Thanks for visiting christening poems @ poem4today.

Great Christening Sites

Christian and Christening Gifts My Parent Magic – Parenting Resources
My Parent Magic is a site dedicated to keeping the magic alive with our
children, keeping them as innocent as possible for as long as
possible.  Sign up for free parenting letters you can customize for your
special child.

Swaphandmedowns
Swaphandmedowns is a family friendly site that offer free fashion swap

online, college degree guides and more!

Christening ideas – ideas for your celebration

christening poems

poem4today.com

It can be heartening and welcoming for Christian parents when their child begins to show an inclination toward. It is important, however, that such children receive instruction in exactly how and when to pray. If your child comes to regard prayer in the wrong way, then they will likely become disillusioned when the practice does not yield the expected results.

What is prayer?

As with most things, it is always best to begin from first principles when teaching a child about prayer.  Prayer is not only the act of addressing God. With practice prayer becomes a form of meditation, leading to greater self-awareness and a better understanding of others and the world around us.

Prayer comes in many forms. There are formal prayers, like the Lord’s Prayer; there are also informal prayers – private words in God’s ear which believers engage in periodically. Both require explanation.

If you take your child to church, where everyone recites the Lord’s Prayer in unison, they will become familiar with its words. But this is pointless without an appreciation of the meaning behind these words. The language of the bible is steeped in metaphor – not to mention myriad ‘thee’s and ‘thou’s – which a child will have difficulty deciphering. The Lord’s Prayer is no exception. Your child might conceivably have questions:

–          What exactly is “daily bread” and why isn’t it included in my packed lunch?

–          “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.” What will be done? What does ‘thy’ mean?

–          What does ‘Amen’ mean?

If your child is particularly young, you might not be able to explain that the word ‘will’ can be a noun. For this reason, you might wish to buy your child a book of prayer written in more contemporary language. This will be far more forgiving and more easily understood. Eden and Scripture Union have a wide choice to choose from. There might be words and ideas that you can also use at home with your children. Your church might also have special activities to help.

Informal prayer also requires a degree of instruction – though it is far more intuitive and direct. Those that pray do so according to their own ideas of what God is and how He would prefer to be addressed. You don’t need to talk in sixteenth century English – you can, if you’d like – talk in much the same way that you’d talk to a friend or family member. Indeed, God will likely understand your meaning better than you do. After all, a God that didn’t wouldn’t be much of a God.

It is not sufficient, however, to say ‘talk to God about whatever you’d like’. Children must also be taught why they should be praying – and what for.

Why should I pray?

There are three main reasons why someone might wish to pray to God.

Please

The most common use of prayer is to make requests of God. Such requests, however, come with a number of conditions. A great many misguided prayers are rooted in selfishness. This is especially true of children. Needless to say, prayer is not a route to a lottery win, a promotion or a romantic liaison; neither is it a means by which your child will procure a videogame or sway the outcome of school sports day. To regard it as such is to invite disappointment.

Children might, on learning this, come to question the efficacy of prayer. It is important to treat these doubts honestly. There have been a myriad of empirical studies into the efficacy of prayer, all of them following much the same methodology. A large number of sufferers of a potentially fatal disease are polled to find out whether they pray. Those polled are divided into two groups – those that pray, and those that do not pray – and then the mortality rates between the two groups are compared. The hypothesis beings that, if prayer were ineffective, then those that pray will be far less likely to succumb to their illness. Of course, in all of these studies, those that pray are no less likely to die than those that don’t bother.

It is crucial to be honest with your child about this. The foundation of Christianity is faith in Jesus Christ. If a belief in God were to hinge on evidence, this faith would not be required. Whatever God is, He is not a magician who will swoop to the aid of his followers at every invitation.

Christians believe that God exists and that he knows everything and sees everything. If this is true, it follows that He will hear prayers – even if you don’t pray out loud. Of course, you might wish to pray out loud anyway – and this is fine, too. God will be able to discern everything you might possible want to say before you’ve even said it.

Thank you

As human beings, we have a great deal to be thankful for. We enjoy unprecedented access to food, shelter, as well as technological wonders like smartphones and the internet. Some things, however, require a thank you which is more spiritual in nature.

If your child has a particular affection toward the music of One Direction, then there are a number of people whom they might want to thank for its existence. Your child might want to write them some fan mail. If, on the other hand, your child is struck by the majesty of mountains, forests and the night sky; for their capacity to love and joy. This is a gratitude for which there is no obvious recipient. Prayer forms a conduit for that gratitude.

Sorry

Children, like adults, may feel guilty from time to time. Prayer may represent a worthwhile avenue for their contrition – though parents should also ensure that their children feel comfortable confessing their most concrete crimes. If your child feels envious from time to time, then they might take that up with God. If your child has inadvertently fed the dog anti-freeze, you will want them to tell you about it.

When should I pray?

Once you have impressed on your child what prayer is and why it is done, there is the more practical business of finding the time and space in which to do it. There are many occasions in which your child may wish to pray. Prayer requires seclusion. As such, the best opportunities usually occur immediately before bed, or immediately upon waking. Prayer might seem most necessary during times of great stress – in children, this may be before starting at a new school, or immediately before exams, or during minor bouts of depression.

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