Rites of Passage - Baby Naming
Gathering: Please gather around, and silence cell phones
Ringing in Past, Present, Future (wedding bowl)
14 months ago, this bowl was rung on the glorious occasion of Jason and Robbie’s wedding, under blue skies, in the company of family, friends, and many strangers! Today, it is rung to bring our attention to: the presence of the past, in the present.
And, to bring our highest intentions to the future – which await this beautiful child!
(ring bowl 3x)
Opening Words (Robbie reads: P.60, by Fred Small)
Welcome
Welcome, family and friends, to this celebration of new life among us! Today we come together, to formally, joyfully introduce Sophie Rose Laufer-Robertson to this circle of Love; to express our highest hopes for, and commitments to her, on her unique life journey.
Today Sophie turns one! And while the birth of every child is a miracle, Sophie’s existence on this earth, in this extended family, is even more-so!
It required, first of all, that Jason and Robbie find each other, and give themselves over, in love and trust, to one another. It required that they discover their shared dreams, and truly celebrate the differences destined to become their strengths, as a family. That they commit to one another. And, that they dance the Hora to the sound of bagpipes!
Sophie’s appearance, required great “creativity” and patience, the caring involvement of many people – including those (myself included) who anxiously awaited news of her arrival, via FB, as Jason and Robbie flew halfway around the world to greet her!
As she took her first breath, many of us held our own – as if to make space for her. Into this very space she came, renewing hope and faith, bringing joy and a great sense of possibilities!
The name Sophie means “wisdom”. In bestowing on this child the name Sophie, her parents affirm the wisdom of their own choice, to open their hearts to one another, and to parenthood! They affirm the wisdom of honoring family, of facing life with courage and dignity. They wish for Sophie the wisdom to do likewise, and that she will always honor the wisdom that will grow within her, as she embraces life.
Sophie’s middle name is Rose. That name unites her in spirit with Jason’s grandmother Rose, to whom he was very close. Jason remembers Rose as a woman with “tremendous strength of character, who overcame incredibly difficult circumstances in WW2. She lived in 5 countries (4 continents) during her life (Czech, Italy, Brazil, Israel and Aus), and was a single parent raising Henry, who was born in 1945: the beginning of a new era.
In bestowing on this child the middle name Rose, her parents express their wish, for her to know and honor the family into which she has been born, to face life courageously, lovingly. And, thereby, to blossom like a rose!
She has loving grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and even a “Gruntie and Gruncle”. As well as a plethora of family friends, just aching to be in her presence and celebrate all the milestones to come. Sophie Rose is guaranteed never to be lonely!
Parents’ Commitments
Jason and Robbie would now like to express to Sophie their commitments, to be witnessed by this Circle of Love. In this, all here present are asked to help them be the best parents they can be: to encourage and support them, and make sure they never take this family for granted!
(Jason & Robbie say their words to Sophie: to love, guide, support and unconditionally accept her for who she is, and the directions that she decides to take.)
God Parents
Recognizing that it does “take a village” to raise a healthy, happy, responsible, and caring adult, ready to take her place as a “citizen of the world”, to tread lightly on this earth, to create beauty and joy, to give of herself with generosity, Jason and Robbie now call forth those they named as God Parents: Sara, Bridgett & Alex.
Blessings
Sophie Rose Laufer Robertson: welcome!
(Pour rose water into singing bowl. Godparents dip in, touching rose water to each part as these words are spoken…)
I now offer my own blessing to this child, by anointing her eyes, ears, nose, lips, heart, hands and feet with rose water.
Sophie Rose Laufer Robertson: May your life be long, healthy, a blessing to this world!
· Eyes: As clouds pass through your life, may you see the light behind them and within the shadows cast
· Ears: May you listen deeply to the music of life, with an ear for the unspoken, the unsung
· Nose: May the breath you draw in be full and sweet, cleansing, purifying and strengthening
· Lips: May your lips speak truth with kindness, singing joy into the world
· Heart: May your heart beat always with compassion and courage
· Hands: May your hands reach out in curiosity, in service, in tenderness, and tenacity – creating beauty and justice
· Feet: May your feet walk gently on this earth, rooted to the ground of family; may bliss bring you to dance; and vision guide you to forge trails of honor
Community Blessings
To those here gathered, behold this child! And look around you at this Circle of Love!
You are the ones who will, together, through the integrity of your own lives, teach her about Love, honesty, respect, joy, authenticity, courage and generosity!
In affirmation of this, and of any other blessings and or visions you may have for her, after our closing words you may come forward to tie a ribbon to this hoop – representing this Circle of Love! Take hold of a ribbon, hold it in your hand, and allow that vision, wish, commitment or promise - to flow through you, into it!
Then, in the course of the afternoon, come forward to attach it to the hoop, which will forever be a reminder to Sophie of the Circle of Love in which she is held. May it, over the years, grow ever more colorful, wild and wolly.
Closing Words (read by Jason & Robbie together)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ringing in Past, Present, Future (wedding bowl)
14 months ago, this bowl was rung on the glorious occasion of Jason and Robbie’s wedding, under blue skies, in the company of family, friends, and many strangers! Today, it is rung to bring our attention to: the presence of the past, in the present.
And, to bring our highest intentions to the future – which await this beautiful child!
(ring bowl 3x)
Opening Words (Robbie reads: P.60, by Fred Small)
Welcome
Welcome, family and friends, to this celebration of new life among us! Today we come together, to formally, joyfully introduce Sophie Rose Laufer-Robertson to this circle of Love; to express our highest hopes for, and commitments to her, on her unique life journey.
Today Sophie turns one! And while the birth of every child is a miracle, Sophie’s existence on this earth, in this extended family, is even more-so!
It required, first of all, that Jason and Robbie find each other, and give themselves over, in love and trust, to one another. It required that they discover their shared dreams, and truly celebrate the differences destined to become their strengths, as a family. That they commit to one another. And, that they dance the Hora to the sound of bagpipes!
Sophie’s appearance, required great “creativity” and patience, the caring involvement of many people – including those (myself included) who anxiously awaited news of her arrival, via FB, as Jason and Robbie flew halfway around the world to greet her!
As she took her first breath, many of us held our own – as if to make space for her. Into this very space she came, renewing hope and faith, bringing joy and a great sense of possibilities!
The name Sophie means “wisdom”. In bestowing on this child the name Sophie, her parents affirm the wisdom of their own choice, to open their hearts to one another, and to parenthood! They affirm the wisdom of honoring family, of facing life with courage and dignity. They wish for Sophie the wisdom to do likewise, and that she will always honor the wisdom that will grow within her, as she embraces life.
Sophie’s middle name is Rose. That name unites her in spirit with Jason’s grandmother Rose, to whom he was very close. Jason remembers Rose as a woman with “tremendous strength of character, who overcame incredibly difficult circumstances in WW2. She lived in 5 countries (4 continents) during her life (Czech, Italy, Brazil, Israel and Aus), and was a single parent raising Henry, who was born in 1945: the beginning of a new era.
In bestowing on this child the middle name Rose, her parents express their wish, for her to know and honor the family into which she has been born, to face life courageously, lovingly. And, thereby, to blossom like a rose!
She has loving grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and even a “Gruntie and Gruncle”. As well as a plethora of family friends, just aching to be in her presence and celebrate all the milestones to come. Sophie Rose is guaranteed never to be lonely!
Parents’ Commitments
Jason and Robbie would now like to express to Sophie their commitments, to be witnessed by this Circle of Love. In this, all here present are asked to help them be the best parents they can be: to encourage and support them, and make sure they never take this family for granted!
(Jason & Robbie say their words to Sophie: to love, guide, support and unconditionally accept her for who she is, and the directions that she decides to take.)
God Parents
Recognizing that it does “take a village” to raise a healthy, happy, responsible, and caring adult, ready to take her place as a “citizen of the world”, to tread lightly on this earth, to create beauty and joy, to give of herself with generosity, Jason and Robbie now call forth those they named as God Parents: Sara, Bridgett & Alex.
Blessings
Sophie Rose Laufer Robertson: welcome!
(Pour rose water into singing bowl. Godparents dip in, touching rose water to each part as these words are spoken…)
I now offer my own blessing to this child, by anointing her eyes, ears, nose, lips, heart, hands and feet with rose water.
Sophie Rose Laufer Robertson: May your life be long, healthy, a blessing to this world!
· Eyes: As clouds pass through your life, may you see the light behind them and within the shadows cast
· Ears: May you listen deeply to the music of life, with an ear for the unspoken, the unsung
· Nose: May the breath you draw in be full and sweet, cleansing, purifying and strengthening
· Lips: May your lips speak truth with kindness, singing joy into the world
· Heart: May your heart beat always with compassion and courage
· Hands: May your hands reach out in curiosity, in service, in tenderness, and tenacity – creating beauty and justice
· Feet: May your feet walk gently on this earth, rooted to the ground of family; may bliss bring you to dance; and vision guide you to forge trails of honor
Community Blessings
To those here gathered, behold this child! And look around you at this Circle of Love!
You are the ones who will, together, through the integrity of your own lives, teach her about Love, honesty, respect, joy, authenticity, courage and generosity!
In affirmation of this, and of any other blessings and or visions you may have for her, after our closing words you may come forward to tie a ribbon to this hoop – representing this Circle of Love! Take hold of a ribbon, hold it in your hand, and allow that vision, wish, commitment or promise - to flow through you, into it!
Then, in the course of the afternoon, come forward to attach it to the hoop, which will forever be a reminder to Sophie of the Circle of Love in which she is held. May it, over the years, grow ever more colorful, wild and wolly.
Closing Words (read by Jason & Robbie together)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *