As we gather today to welcome……….(name of the child) into the world, we recognise our responsibilities towards……….(name of the child), towards each other and the world in which we live.

In a society torn apart by violence and division, we recognise that what unites us is much more important than what divides us, we recognise our responsibility to work for a society where diversity is recognised and celebrated with people from different traditions living together in mutual understanding and respect.

In a world where the misuse of resources by the rich destroys the lives of the poor and threatens the future of the earth, we recognise that we have only borrowed the world from our children and that it is our responsibility to both conserve and share the worlds resources so that they can be enjoyed by all the world’s children for generations to come.

In a society where children and parents face all kinds of pressures and dangers, we recognise that it takes more than one or two people to ensure that a child grows up in love and security; that we all share a responsibility towards the children of others and to one another; and our presence here is a recognition of that commitment.

In a world where adults want children to grow up in their own image, we recognise that we can only provide our love and support, while our children create their own lives – their own futures.

We recognise, too, that we have as much to learn from our children, who teach us every day about love, trust, honesty, fun, the excitement of learning and the importance of play.

In a world where there is much hurt and broken dreams, we celebrate the beauty and joy of new life and the wonder, creativity and intrinsic value of the human spirit.

We give thanks for the many privileges and opportunities we enjoy, particularly the very special privilege of looking on the smiling face of a child, being able to hold him/her in you arms and know the true meaning of love.

AMEN