Liturgy of Blessing for Sage Eleanor

When my son was born my husband and I wrote a liturgy capturing things we hoped and prayed for him. It was our way of blessing him and claiming certain qualities that we wanted for his life. We have prayed it with him on each of his birthdays, each time making minor adjustments to it to capture our prayers for that current year. It has been a really beautiful and powerful experience. As soon as I found out I was pregnant with Sage I knew I wanted to do the same for her. So, we started talking, praying, dreaming and, of course, writing. And we again ended up with a liturgy of blessing that captures so much of our heart for this child. Last weekend we prayed through this liturgy with a small group of people and today I wanted to share it with all of you.

Blessing for Sage Eleanor Stedman

Celebrant: “The blessing of Christ comes to you in this child. His blessing is mercy and kindness and joy. Blessing comes to home and to family.”

Celebrants together: Joy come to you through this child.

Mother and father together: Joy come to all through this gift.

Mother: Begotten through love she is birthed into loving arms. Shaped in darkness she comes forth in light. Formed in secret she is fully known.

Celebrant: May She smile with the light of the sun.

Celebrant: May She dance to the song of the stars.

Celebrant: May She move with the grace of the moon.

Father: She is light, joy, and wisdom.

Celebrant: Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Psalm 97:11

Grandmother: God's light shine on you, child.

Father and Mother: We bless you, sweet daughter.

Father: I bless you, my daughter, may you laugh joyfully with the sun. As the warmth of the sun Brings health, growth, energy, and delight to all those who bath in it's rays, may you bring healing to the hurting, inspire growth in the floundering, lend energy to the weak, and bring delight to all those who meet you.

Mother: May your judgement be unclouded, your intuition vivid, your contemplations enlightened.

Celebrant: Joy of salvation be upon you.

Celebrant: With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Isaiah 12:3

Father and mother: We bless you, loved child.

Mother: I bless you, my daughter, May you dance lightly with the stars. As a stars light only reaches it's full potential when combined with the light of others, may you always surround yourself with others who shine of light and love and equality.

Father: May you be open and inviting towards all you meet, welcoming all into your heart with a gentle and contagious joy.

Celebrant: The light of Gods presence be upon you.

Celebrant: Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, LORD. They rejoice in your name all day long; they celebrate your righteousness. Psalm 89:15-16

Father and mother: We bless you, precious gift.

Father: I bless you, my daughter, may you sing wisely with the moon. As the light of the full moon is luminous, reflective, and far seeing, may you be luminous with a subtle yet radiant beauty, insightful and keen to pick up on things that are missed by others, and far seeing in your ability to comprehend and understand that which is beyond comprehension.

Mother: May you be wise beyond your years and joyful beyond your circumstances.

Celebrant: Wisdom of heaven be upon you.

Celebrant: The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. Psalm 19:7-8

Father and mother: We ask that Gods blessing be upon this child and His loving arms always around her.

Grandfather: How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart. May the foot of the proud not come against [this little one], nor the hand of the wicked drive [her] away. Psalm 36:7-11

Father and Mother together: We lift up this child to you, Lord. We recognize that she is your gift to us and that we are only stewards of her.

Grandparents: “The blessing of Christ comes to you in this child. His blessing is mercy and kindness and joy. Blessing comes to home and to family.”

Father and mother: We lift up this child to you, Lord. And give her the name Sage Eleanor Stedman And pray that she would live up to the meanings and significances of her name.

Father: Sage means wise, prophet, and aromatic herb. We ask that God fill this child with wisdom. That she would be prophetic, and insightful. We also ask that she would be a sweet fragrance going up to the throne of grace. That she would be an aromatic blessing of joy and comfort for all who come in contact with her.

Mother: Eleanor means light, or one who is bright, or God is my light. We ask That Gods light would fill and radiate out of this beautiful little girl. May she be a shining beacon of light amidst a world that can at times seem dark and disheartening. Eleanor also has another meaning. In Greek it can mean pity. You are not a pity, my daughter, and it is not a pity that you have entered our family. But, we do claim this as part of your name in a very specific manor. We pray that you would take pity, compassion, on all those who live in the darkness of hurt, anger, and discouragement, and that you would bring light and joy into their pain.

Celebrants together: Welcome, Sage Eleanor Stedman, child of love. We welcome you with open arms and hearts of love.

(Open prayers for baby - whoever wants to can pray as they feel led)

Father: Gods favor be upon you, daughter.

Celebrants together: Gods favor be upon us all. Amen.

Rejoicing in the journey - Bethany Stedman