ORDER FOR NAMING & COMMENDATION OF A CHILD

We gather in the name of the God who loves us and gives us life. AMEN.

"None of us lives to him or herself, and none of us dies to him or herself. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living." Romans 14:7-9

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand." John 10:27-29

COMMENDATION (For stillbirth or death before baptism)
_____ , child of God, go forth in the name of God in whose image you were created; in the name of Jesus Christ, who redeemed you in his grace; in the name of the Holy spirit, the comforter, who was poured out upon you in love. May you rest in peace and dwell forever in the Kingdom of God. AMEN

COMMENDATION (For miscarriage)
_____ , child of God, whom we knew only in loving anticipation and joy; we commend you to the care of God in whose image you were created; in the name of Jesus Christ, who redeemed you in his grace in the name of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who was poured out upon you in love. May you rest in peace and dwell forever in the Kingdom of God. AMEN

PRAYER FOR PARENTS
Almighty God, we call upon you to be compassionate towards these parents in this time of grief. They yearned for a child who is now not to be. In their sorrow and pain, may they experience your healing presence and love, that they may grieve with hope and without shame. We know that your love never fails, and that you can turn the shadow of death into daybreak. Help us all to receive your Word with believing hearts, so that, confident in your promises, we may have hope and be lifted out of darkness into the light and peace of your presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN
THE LORD'S PRAYER

THE BENEDICTION
And now may the God of peace comfort you, and keep you until your life's end. May God walk with you in your coming in and your going out, in your laughing and your crying, in your living and your dying. The blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with you now and always. AMEN

Let us go in peace
N THE NAME OF CHRIST

A Mother's Poem

One Year After a Miscarriage
I never had a chance to hold you, oh so tight;
to see your dancing eyes in the early morning light.
I never touched your face, or heard your beating heart;
I never felt you move or grow, and now we are apart.
I hear your tender voice when the night grows cold and still;
I hear you calling "mama" when the rain falls on the sill.
I see your radiant light as the sun shines in the sky,
in body, you're not here -- I just can't say "good-bye".
There are no tears or pain and that is where you are,
safe in Jesus' arms above the shining stars.

March 7, 1995