Thanksgiving for the Birth or Adoption of a Child Prayers for the Mother & Child.

Bishop Eric Menees

As we continue our examination of the 2019 BCP Pastoral Rites we examine the Rite for the Thanksgiving for the Birth or Adoption of a Child. This is a unique rite as it is intended to be held either in a private setting like a hospital or home or in the middle of the Sunday Service.   Today we see that accommodation where the Kyrie and the Lord’s Prayer are not used if in the middle of Sunday worship but included if in a private setting.

The Kyrie and the Lord’s Prayer follow, unless this rite is used within public worship.  Officiant    The Lord be with you.  People        And with your spirit.  Officiant    Let us pray.  Lord, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy.  Christ, have mercy upon us. or Christ, have mercy.  Lord, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy. Officiant and People say together Our Father, who are in heaven.     Hallowed be thy Name.     Thy kingdom come,     Thy will be done.     On earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,     as we forgive those who trespass against us.  And lead us not into temptation,    But deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom,     and the power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

If the occasion is the birth of a child, the Officiant may address the mother as follows. Otherwise, the liturgy continues with the Prayer for the Child.  N., as it has pleased Almighty God, of his goodness, to give you a safe delivery, and to preserve you in the trials of childbirth, let us give thanks to God:  Officiant  O Lord, you have saved this woman, your servant,  People Who put her trust in you.  Officiant Be to her a strong tower,  People Against the face of the enemy.  Officiant O Lord, hear our prayer;  People And let our cry come to you.  Officiant Let us pray.  Almighty God, we give you humble thanks for graciously preserving, through the pain and peril of childbirth, your servant N., who now desires to offer her praises and thanksgivings to you. Grant, we ask you, most merciful Father, that she, with your help, may faithfully live according to your will in this life, and may also partake in the everlasting glory of the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I pray you all a blessed week.