Thanksgiving for the birth of a child
If you have links to King's and do not think baptism is appropriate at this stage but still wish to celebrate the birth of a child, you may wish to consider having a Service of Thanksgiving. Contact the Chaplaincy to express an interest, or to find out more.
About the Service of Thanksgiving
The Church of England describes this service in the following way:
The birth or adoption of a child is a cause for celebration. Many people are overcome by a sense of awe at the creation of new life and want to express their thanks to God. This service provides an opportunity for parents and families to give thanks for the birth or adoption of a child and to pray for family life. It may be a private celebration at home or in hospital, or it may be a public celebration in church, sometimes with a number of children.
This service is not the same as Baptism (sometimes called Christening), which is the sacrament of initiation into membership of the Church, the Body of Christ.
Prayer
God our creator,
we thank you for the wonder of new life
and for the mystery of human love.
We thank you for all whose support and skill
surround and sustain the beginning of life.
We thank you that we are known to you by name
and loved by you from all eternity.
We thank you for Jesus Christ,
who has opened to us the way of love.
We praise you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.