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SIMPLE NAMING CEREMONY. Basic naming ceremony for a young child. Family members, specially proud grandparents or siblings, are frequenly included in the ceremony. The same comments as those for simple marriage ceremony applies.
NAMING AND WELCOME
CEREMONY AND CELEBRATION
FOR
Maria Calder Malone
(Born: 11th June 2012)
Sunday 12th August 2012 at Old Course Hotel, Stirling, Scotland
“Sometimes looking deep into the eyes of a child, you are conscious of meeting a glance full of wisdom. The child has known
nothing yet but love and beauty. All this piled-up world knowledge you have acquired is unguessed at by her.
And yet you meet this wonderful look that tells you in a moment more than all the years of experience have seemed to teach.”
Hildegarde Hawthorne
Conducted by Ann McCrindle, Ceremonies Officer, Scottish Humanists
Opening Music :
Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to everyone. My name is Ann McCrindle and I have been invited here today as a Ceremonies Officer from the Scottish Humanists. On behalf of Robert, Carol and Mark, I would like to thank you all for coming today; your being with them on this special occasion means a lot.
Some of you may be wondering why Carol and Robert have chosen a Humanist ceremony; for them Humanism reflects most closely the beliefs and values which they themselves hold. Humanism is not religious but rather an approach to life. It is based on the belief that this world and this life is all that we have and that our destiny lies solely within our own hands. It encourages the pursuit of truth, knowledge, self-responsibility, tolerance and compassion towards others.
That people should show respect to one another irrespective of class, creed or race, is fundamental to a secular humanist attitude to life. These values and attitudes are very important to Carol and Robert. They believe that each of us has something to offer which makes the world a better place and I know that each one of us here would share in their hopes for a more peaceful and tolerant world. All being well, Carol and Robert feel that this approach will allow their children to grow into freethinking, independent and happy adults.
A second very important element in this ceremony is the consideration of our responsibilities towards the children amongst us. Maria is the central figure today, but she remind us of our own children, our nephews and nieces, our grandchildren and great grandchildren and the wider circle of our friends and all other children in the world. This is the next generation who carry the flame of love and compassion into the future so it can be passed on to the next generation as it was passed on to us. All children, the world over, should be nourished and cared for.
Carol and Robert wanted to celebrate the arrival of Maria with something more formal than a simple party. Throughout the world and throughout the history of humankind formal ceremony is used to mark and make explicit the rites of passage, which all human beings experience in common. For Carol and Robert this is a meaningful way to celebrate Maria’s life and to express their love and aspirations for her, for her place in the world and for her future. Carol and Robert hope whatever your beliefs you will very much feel a part of and enjoy this celebration.
Maria, as part of the next generation of your family, has been a very special arrival. Her deceptively small appearance, as she was curled tightly and warmly in the womb, belied the appearance of this beautiful baby girl who emerged into this world on 11th of June this year.
Maria has already begun her own unique journey through life as she spreads her wings and broadens her horizons with each passing moment, she is clearly surrounded by huge amounts of love. As she grows, all of you here are the ones Maria will look to for companionship, leadership and support. By watching and listening to you she will learn about how people will treat each other and create relationships. Lead well by example, for you are the community of this child.
To this end I would now like to invite Carol and Robert and Mark to come before all of you here today, the most important and central people in their lives, and ask you to witness the commitments that they wish to make to Maria.
Carol and Robert
Maria,
We feel truly privileged to be your mum and dad.
We will strive to provide you with
· a life full of love, happiness and security
· a life where you will be free to develop your own opinions, beliefs and values
· a life with a strong sense of self worth and respect for other human beings and animals
· a life full of encouragement whether your ambitions may be academic or sporting or both
We hope that as you grow you will love us as much as we love you
ANN
Carol and Robert have asked their friends Sally and her husband Scott to be mentors to Maria. As the name implies, a mentor is someone who is trusted to guard Maria’s interest by providing wise and continuous advice.
Someone whose words, love and counsel will aid the balance of her mind and her emotions.
Someone who will endeavour to help her recognise her strengths and opportunities.
Someone who will be there to ensure her care and guidance.
Someone who will always be her friend.
I would now like to invite Sally and Scott to come forward to confirm before us all the part that they will play in Maria’s life.
Sally and Scott, do you undertake to be mentors to Maria, to honour and uphold the beliefs of her parents and to share with her your love, counsel and wisdom with patience and compassion?
SALLY AND SSCOTT
(Response together) Yes, we do.
ANN
Natalie and Stephen I would now like to share with you a few words they have chosen, adapted from Dorothy Law Nolte, which are very much a favourite of mine, they say very succinctly what we all know so well to be true: it emphasises that each of us shares a responsibility to provide the calm, caring and loving atmosphere in which all children can develop into caring and loving adults. It’s called ‘ Children learn What They Live’.
SCOTT
If a child lives with criticism
She learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility
She learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule
She learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame
She learns to feel guilt.
SALLY
If a child lives with tolerance
She learns to be patient
If a child lives with encouragement
She learns confidence
If a child lives with praise
She learns to appreciate
If a child lives with fairness
She learns judgement
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship
She learns to give love to the world
ANN
And now we come to the most important part of today’s ceremony… The Naming.
A name is a very special thing for once given it is with us for life. It defines who we are as much as our face, our laugh or the way we walk. It will be spoken, whispered, shouted, cried, sung and written countless times by many of you here today. It now gives me great pleasure to formally name this beautiful child:
MARIA CALDER MALONE
Maria, we wish you health, happiness, well-being and fulfilment in your life and we confer the Celtic blessing on you;
The peace of the running water to you,
The peace of the flowing air to you,
The peace of the quiet earth to you,
The peace of the shining stars to you,
And the love and the care of all of us to you.
Ladies and gentlemen, would you all please raise your glasses and formally welcome to the world:
Maria Calder Malone
(Response and toast – ‘Maria’)
Finally, there is a special commemorative book which will be passed around, that Carol and Robert have provided for you to sign and express your good wishes and thoughts for Maria Thank you all, once again, for being here and for your witness, and for sharing in this special time together. Now we conclude our simple and loving ceremony by asking Mark, Maria's big brother, to cut Maria’s naming cake on her behalf.
Closing Music : 'Maria' from West Side Story
