This afternoon I had the honor of conducting a little Baby Blessing Ceremony for Annie & Corey’s almost-1-year-old daughter,  Caroline.  Caroline’s grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents and even 1 great-grandmother gathered at the Ivy Inn for a little ceremony and lunch.

Having had the honor of marrying Annie & Corey back in 2005, it was especially sweet for me to be with them again to celebrate another wonderful milestone in their lives.  With Caroline having already triumphed over a serious health challenge in her first year gathering with family and friends to celebrate her life was even more joyous and filled with gratitude.

Here are two little readings that Corey & Annie shared with Caroline and her guests today:

Dearest Caroline, born of our two hearts
You are grace
You are beauty
You are pure happiness
You are love beyond measure
And gift without price
We are gathered this day
To introduce you to your greater family
And to bless you, before God
Even as we have been blessed by your birth

With all our hopes and dreams for your future, we celebrate your being.
May you always feel the love that surrounds you.
May your days be filled with wonder and your nights be gentle.
May your years on this earth be blessed with strength, health and wisdom.
May the love you are be the power forever guiding your light on this earth.
May God bless and keep you.
And may your days be good and long upon this earth.

I know this is slightly off topic, but I’ve been wanting to share this with you … this summer I had the privilege of creating and performing a Baby Blessing ceremony for the 6-month old son of a wonderful couple that I married a couple of years ago. Christine, Reed, Baby Elijah and about 15 friends and family gathered together at a shady spot, near the creek, on Reed & Christine’s Albemarle County property to welcome Elijah to the family, to the community and to life.

After smudging ourselves with burning sage we shared prayers, blessings, poetry and heartfelt personal messages with each other and with Elijah. Reed and Christine each vowed to always be there to love and support Elijah as he grows into his future. Finally, we performed a little water blessing, anointing Elijah’s hands, feet and head, using the same copper pitcher from Reed’s family that we’d used in their wedding ceremony.

Baby Elijah cooed, smiled and wiggled his way through the ceremony and there was laughter and tears all around… all in all a blessing to everyone in attendance. What a wonderful way to welcome and bless a new life!