Rite for the Thanksgiving or Adoption of a Child Concluding Prayers

Bishop Eric Menees

This pastoral rite is such a beautiful expression of God’s love and grace as well as the community’s response of joy that accompany the family. You will remember that this service can take place during the principle service on Sunday, in a home following the legal procedures of an adoption, or in a hospital following the birth of a child.  Today, as we come to conclusion of this simple service we see the specific prayers for the child, siblings, parents, and when appropriate birth parents. Note that the prayers for the child anticipates that he or she will be raised in the Christian life and faith, participating in the sacraments of the church. In many ways, this is a service of dedication as may occur in non-liturgical churches. It always drives me crazy when parents drink the Kool-Aid of allowing a child to make up his or her own mind about being a Christian or not.  The prayers for the parents and siblings call upon God to bless them, but even more to enable them to be the parents and siblings that God has called them to be.  They also enable them to set an example of Christian life and ministry for the child.  I love that a prayer for the birth parents is included. I can’t imagine either the love of a parent who relinquishes a child to adoptive parents or the pain of a parent who has a child removed from them by the state, perhaps always wondering what might have been.  The service concludes with the calling forth of a blessing if the service is led by a layperson or deacon or the pronouncement of a blessing by a priest or bishop. It is a triune blessing in the fullness of God’s grace, love and mercy.  I bid you to prayerfully read these prayers and blessings, being reminded of God’s blessings upon you and your own family!

Prayer for the Child The Officiant then prays one or both of the following prayers.  Watch over your child N., O Lord, as his days increase; bless him and guide him, and keep him unspotted from the world. Strengthen him when he stands; comfort him when discouraged or sorrowful; raise him up if he falls; and in his heart may your peace which passes understanding abide all the days of his 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 your grace and the Sacrament of Baptism he may become the child of God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  The Officiant may add one or more of the following prayers.  For the Parents 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 this 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.  For a Sibling Heavenly Father, your Son our Savior took young children into his arms and blessed them: Strengthen N. to be a wholesome and godly example, a companion, and an encourager to his new brother. Keep them from strife and discord, and when they hurt one another, give them your grace readily to forgive; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  For the Birth Parents of an Adopted Child Heavenly Father, we ask you to bless each of the birth parents of this child. Reveal to them the fullness of your love for them and for the child entrusted to this family; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  The Officiant prays for the family, saying May God the Father, who through Baptism has adopted you as his children, grant you his grace. Amen.  May God the Son, who sanctified a home at Nazareth, fill you with his love. Amen.  May God the Holy Spirit, who makes the Church one family, keep you in his peace. Amen.  A Priest may then bless the family, saying  The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.  The Peace may be exchanged.