Candle Lighting Ceremony Sample
A simple ceremony where parents (grandparents, godparents and siblings optional) are given candles which are used to light the baby's candle. A blessing is spoken for each candle lit and the baby's candle is a keepsake to remember the support given at the welcoming of his or her life. This can be a ritual added to any other ceremony, blessing, dedication or naming as well.
(Please feel free to change any aspect of the ceremony, including blessings, readings, structure and wording or a custom written ceremony is available at no additional cost. Be as creative and individualized as you would like! ***You may add multiple blessing rituals as well for an additional cost.***)
Candle Lighting Ceremony
Opening
parent and parent have invited friends and family here today to celebrate the welcoming of baby into their family and community of friends. parent and parent have been gifted with the wonderful blessing of new life and in turn wish to bless that life to be filled with happiness, health and prosperity. Today we carry out a candle lighting ceremony in which each family member/guest/officiant will offer a spoken blessing to baby while lighting a candle. Each person here will be a part of baby 's life and will enrich that life with their love and experience.
As you bless baby reflect on the love and joy in your heart, remembering to be thankful for all that has come to pass, and all that has made it possible for baby to come to be, as well as all of the amazing things that his/her future shall hold. Today we simply give thanks and celebrate all the many wonderful blessings baby brings and do our best to remember, and be thankful for, the very special role that we all have in his/her life.
Reading
Know you what it is to be a child? ... It is to have a spirit yet streaming from the waters of
baptism; it is to believe in love, to believe in loveliness, to believe in belief; it is to be so little
that the elves can reach to whisper in your ear; it is to turn pumpkins into coaches, and mice
into horses, lowness into loftiness, and nothing into everything, - for each child has a fairy god-
mother in his/her own soul; it is to live in a nutshell and count yourself the king/queen of
infinite space; it is:
To see the World in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
Welcoming/Naming
Let us celebrate the name of this child.
What is his/her full name?
Parents: baby first and middle name
What are the meanings of the chosen name.
Parents: meaning of first name
Parents: meaning of middle name
baby's full name , we welcome you to this community of friends and family. You are a gift unto us. May you feel loved, accepted and welcomed to this world all your days.
Candle Ceremony
The lighting of candles has many spiritual meanings. The lighting of the candle today represents the light of a person's life. The flame represents the eternal truth of God/Life. The light shining forth represents the truth shining forth upon the world. To collectively light a candle, represents the sharing and fellowship of love; and represents the unity and connection of the individuals with family.
I ask each Godparent and each Parent/Sibling/Grandparent/Godparent to take one of the candles and light it from this candle which represents love and light and oneness. As you light your candle please bestow a blessing upon baby .
(Family/guests have a choice to say their own poetry, blessing, reading or parents can assign blessings of their choosing or I can write individual ones.)
Examples:
-May your life be filled with unconditional love.
-May you always know joy and laughter.
-I wish you peace of mind and passion of heart and gentleness of soul.
-Infinite love, light, blessings and positivity.
-An Irish Blessing
May joy and peace surround you,
contentment latch your door,
and happiness be with you now
and bless you evermore!
-May you find happiness, may you find truth, may you find all that you pursue.
-I bless you with the gift of gratitude, so that all things to you, are a wonderful gift.
-Tibetan Buddhist Blessing
May you be filled with loving kindness.
May you be well.
May you be peaceful and at ease.
May you be happy.
-Jewish Blessing
May God bless you and protect you.
May God’s face shine toward you and show you favor.
May God look favorably upon you and grant you peace.
-Blessed be your mind, full of wisdom. Blessed be your heart, full of compassion. Blessed be your hand, full of wealth.
-May You Be Filled With Thanks And Wonder, Humor And Fun, Hope And Perseverance, So That You May Grow In Wisdom And Grace.
-May you know magic, may you know miracles, may you always be here now in every moment.
-May all your hopes, wishes and dreams come true.
-Forever Young by Bob Dylan
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young...
Additional Blessings and Readings Click Here
Then, together, all may light the center candle for baby , as the light of his/her life.
{Parents/Siblings/Grandparents/Godparents light their tapers then together they light the center candle.}
I ask that at the conclusion of this service, each of you keep your candle for this reason; Should there be a time in baby 's future for which he/she faces difficult times of trial, or be called upon to make grave decisions - of hardship or joy, or become lost in spirit - you should, find a quiet place alone to yourself. Light this candle and through prayer and meditation ask for the safekeeping of baby in both body and soul.
baby , from this day onward, no matter how dark the world may seem nor how alone and lost you may feel, you shall never be alone, never without hope or assurance of love and acceptance. parent and parent , give baby his/her candle, so that when life casts its shadow, he/she will always have a light to illuminate the darkness and connect him/her to family.
Blessing
Iona Community Prayer
Deep peace of the running wave to you,
Deep peace of the flowing air to you,
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,
Deep peace of the shining stars to you,
Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you.
Closing
baby , has received a multitude of blessings from all who have bestowed them today. May each of us bestow the blessings of good health, happiness, love and prosperity on him/her. We all wish the very best for baby . May each one of you lend your time, your guidance and hearts to ensure the positive growth of baby . Each baring the responsibility of a good influence, a caring companion, a listening ear and gentle guidance. parent and parent thank you for sharing in this special celebration, and are honored to share the care of their most precious gift with you. We happily welcome this precious gift into all of our lives. Giving thanks for all the magic this new life has brought and will bring to us.
A simple ceremony where parents (grandparents, godparents and siblings optional) are given candles which are used to light the baby's candle. A blessing is spoken for each candle lit and the baby's candle is a keepsake to remember the support given at the welcoming of his or her life. This can be a ritual added to any other ceremony, blessing, dedication or naming as well.
(Please feel free to change any aspect of the ceremony, including blessings, readings, structure and wording or a custom written ceremony is available at no additional cost. Be as creative and individualized as you would like! ***You may add multiple blessing rituals as well for an additional cost.***)
Candle Lighting Ceremony
Opening
parent and parent have invited friends and family here today to celebrate the welcoming of baby into their family and community of friends. parent and parent have been gifted with the wonderful blessing of new life and in turn wish to bless that life to be filled with happiness, health and prosperity. Today we carry out a candle lighting ceremony in which each family member/guest/officiant will offer a spoken blessing to baby while lighting a candle. Each person here will be a part of baby 's life and will enrich that life with their love and experience.
As you bless baby reflect on the love and joy in your heart, remembering to be thankful for all that has come to pass, and all that has made it possible for baby to come to be, as well as all of the amazing things that his/her future shall hold. Today we simply give thanks and celebrate all the many wonderful blessings baby brings and do our best to remember, and be thankful for, the very special role that we all have in his/her life.
Reading
Know you what it is to be a child? ... It is to have a spirit yet streaming from the waters of
baptism; it is to believe in love, to believe in loveliness, to believe in belief; it is to be so little
that the elves can reach to whisper in your ear; it is to turn pumpkins into coaches, and mice
into horses, lowness into loftiness, and nothing into everything, - for each child has a fairy god-
mother in his/her own soul; it is to live in a nutshell and count yourself the king/queen of
infinite space; it is:
To see the World in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
Welcoming/Naming
Let us celebrate the name of this child.
What is his/her full name?
Parents: baby first and middle name
What are the meanings of the chosen name.
Parents: meaning of first name
Parents: meaning of middle name
baby's full name , we welcome you to this community of friends and family. You are a gift unto us. May you feel loved, accepted and welcomed to this world all your days.
Candle Ceremony
The lighting of candles has many spiritual meanings. The lighting of the candle today represents the light of a person's life. The flame represents the eternal truth of God/Life. The light shining forth represents the truth shining forth upon the world. To collectively light a candle, represents the sharing and fellowship of love; and represents the unity and connection of the individuals with family.
I ask each Godparent and each Parent/Sibling/Grandparent/Godparent to take one of the candles and light it from this candle which represents love and light and oneness. As you light your candle please bestow a blessing upon baby .
(Family/guests have a choice to say their own poetry, blessing, reading or parents can assign blessings of their choosing or I can write individual ones.)
Examples:
-May your life be filled with unconditional love.
-May you always know joy and laughter.
-I wish you peace of mind and passion of heart and gentleness of soul.
-Infinite love, light, blessings and positivity.
-An Irish Blessing
May joy and peace surround you,
contentment latch your door,
and happiness be with you now
and bless you evermore!
-May you find happiness, may you find truth, may you find all that you pursue.
-I bless you with the gift of gratitude, so that all things to you, are a wonderful gift.
-Tibetan Buddhist Blessing
May you be filled with loving kindness.
May you be well.
May you be peaceful and at ease.
May you be happy.
-Jewish Blessing
May God bless you and protect you.
May God’s face shine toward you and show you favor.
May God look favorably upon you and grant you peace.
-Blessed be your mind, full of wisdom. Blessed be your heart, full of compassion. Blessed be your hand, full of wealth.
-May You Be Filled With Thanks And Wonder, Humor And Fun, Hope And Perseverance, So That You May Grow In Wisdom And Grace.
-May you know magic, may you know miracles, may you always be here now in every moment.
-May all your hopes, wishes and dreams come true.
-Forever Young by Bob Dylan
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young...
Additional Blessings and Readings Click Here
Then, together, all may light the center candle for baby , as the light of his/her life.
{Parents/Siblings/Grandparents/Godparents light their tapers then together they light the center candle.}
I ask that at the conclusion of this service, each of you keep your candle for this reason; Should there be a time in baby 's future for which he/she faces difficult times of trial, or be called upon to make grave decisions - of hardship or joy, or become lost in spirit - you should, find a quiet place alone to yourself. Light this candle and through prayer and meditation ask for the safekeeping of baby in both body and soul.
baby , from this day onward, no matter how dark the world may seem nor how alone and lost you may feel, you shall never be alone, never without hope or assurance of love and acceptance. parent and parent , give baby his/her candle, so that when life casts its shadow, he/she will always have a light to illuminate the darkness and connect him/her to family.
Blessing
Iona Community Prayer
Deep peace of the running wave to you,
Deep peace of the flowing air to you,
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,
Deep peace of the shining stars to you,
Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you.
Closing
baby , has received a multitude of blessings from all who have bestowed them today. May each of us bestow the blessings of good health, happiness, love and prosperity on him/her. We all wish the very best for baby . May each one of you lend your time, your guidance and hearts to ensure the positive growth of baby . Each baring the responsibility of a good influence, a caring companion, a listening ear and gentle guidance. parent and parent thank you for sharing in this special celebration, and are honored to share the care of their most precious gift with you. We happily welcome this precious gift into all of our lives. Giving thanks for all the magic this new life has brought and will bring to us.
