Sunday, January 10, 2010

Finley Book of the Month for January 2010


This prayer is from Welcome! Prayers for New and Pregnant Parents, which follows the process from wanting a child through pregnancy or adoption and on to the child's first birthday.

On the New Baby’s Baptism

Loving God,
thank you for the opportunity to celebrate baptism
with our child and our friends and families....

Thank you for the faith community of our parish,
that welcomes our child on behalf of the whole Church.
Help them and us to teach our child what it means to believe in you,
more by who we are than by what we say.

Give us the gifts to teach this child about faith.
Help us remember that our family is the first experience
of the community of believers that we call “church”
that our child will know.
Be present in our “domestic church”
and in our hospitality to those who come into our home.

As our child was baptized
into your death and resurrection,
help us to be willing to “die and rise” with you—
day in and day out—as we care for this child
and through our love for him
about yourself and your amazing, patient love for us.
Amen.

"[Simeon] came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel." [Luke 2:27-32]


To learn more about this book, or to order a copy, click here: Welcome!