Sunday, September 19, 2004
 #
 
Today at church we had the thanksgiving for the birth of Sawyer Cole. Language is often so inadequate in expressing our joy and thanks for such blessings, but the Book of Common Prayer does a pretty good job:


O God, you have taught us through your blessed Son that
whoever receives a little child in the name of Christ receives
Christ himself: We give thanks for the blessing you have
bestowed upon this family in giving them a child. Confirm
their joy by a lively sense of your presence with them, and
give them calm strength and patient wisdom as they seek to
bring this child to love all that is true and noble, just and
pure, lovable and gracious, excellent and admirable,
following the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

O gracious God, we give you humble and hearty thanks that
you have preserved through the pain and anxiety of child-
birth your servant (Elizabeth), who desires now to offer you her praises
and thanksgivings. Grant, most merciful Father, that by your
help she may live faithfully according to your will in this life,
and finally partake of everlasting glory in the life to come;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, giver of life and love, bless (Kenny and Liz). Grant
them wisdom and devotion in the ordering of their common
life, that each may be to the other a strength in need, a
counselor in perplexity, a comfort in sorrow, and a companion
in joy. And so knit their wills together in your will and their
spirits in your Spirit, that they may live together in love and
peace all the days of their life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

O eternal God, you have promised to be a father to a
thousand generations of those who love and fear you: Bless
this child and preserve his life; receive him and enable him to
receive you, that through the Sacrament of Baptism he may
become the child of God; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

...

May God the Father, who by Baptism adopts us as his
children, grant you grace. Amen.

May God the Son, who sanctified a home at Nazareth, fill
you with love. Amen.

May God the Holy Spirit, who has made the Church one
family, keep you in peace. Amen.


(BCP pp. 439-445)
Monday, September 20, 2004 12:36:33 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
Monday, September 20, 2004 1:54:03 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
Wow! What incredible words...And how blessed we all felt this morning when they were read.
Nana
Monday, September 20, 2004 4:25:57 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
So beautiful... I just read that to Will here in my lap, too. What a blessing!
Sues
Tuesday, September 21, 2004 5:07:23 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
loving every minute of your blog!!! i love the Thanksgiving for Sawyer. such a blessing! i love that things are going so well for you. great news all around!!
Holly
Wednesday, September 22, 2004 1:12:27 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
Thanks for sharing the beauty of God's word. It brought tears to my eyes as I remembered the baptism of my son Jason. Keep those posts and pictures coming. Love the "family of four" pics. Congratulations again! As we say in the Russian Orthodox faith, "God grant you many years!"
Bonnie
Name
E-mail
Home page

(some HTML allowed)  

Enter the code shown (prevents robots):

recently...
hangouts...
bloggin' friends...
archives
rss feed
Feed your aggregator (RSS 2.0)
Categories
contact me
Send mail to the author(s) E-mail
search


www.flickr.com
This is a Flickr badge showing public photos from elizannesmith. Make your own badge here.