A friend of mine recently changed her name, and we marked the occasion with a little ceremony. This is my first attempt of liturgy writing, as I did alot of searching online and couldn't find anything suitable. So I'm saving it here for other people to use, it's adapted from The Church of England's baptism liturgy in Common Worship:
Jane's celebration of taking on a new name.
The blessing of the new name
Today we are celebrating the decision to take on a new name. We open with some words of
scripture:
Genesis 17:
5 No longer shall your name be Abram,* but your name shall be Abraham;* for I have made you
the ancestor of a multitude of nations.
6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from
you.
7 I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their
generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring* after you.
15 God said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her
name.
16 I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise
to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.’
Addressing the person with the new name: What is the name you have decide to take?
[Answer from Jane]
Jane, we thank God for your new name and what it represents to you. We ask God to bless
your new name and this new chapter in your life.
Jane is now going to renew her baptismal vows in her new name to represent her continued
commitment to Christ.
Prayer over the water
Praise God who made heaven and earth,
All: who keeps his promise for ever.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give thanks and praise.
We thank you, almighty God, for the gift of water
to sustain, refresh and cleanse all life.
Over water the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation.
Through water you led the children of Israel
from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land.
In water your Son Jesus received the baptism of John
and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ,
to lead us from the death of sin to newness of life.
We thank you, Father, for the water of baptism.
In it we are buried with Christ in his death.
By it we share in his resurrection.
Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, in joyful obedience to your Son,
we baptize into his fellowship those who come to him in faith.
Now sanctify this water that, by the power of your Holy Spirit,
they may be cleansed from sin and born again.
Renewed in your image, may they walk by the light of faith
and continue for ever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Lord;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be all honour and glory, now and for ever.
All: Amen.
Renewal of baptism vows
In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light.
To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him.
Therefore I ask:
Jane, Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?
All: I reject them.
Jane, Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?
All: I renounce them.
Jane, Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour?
All: I repent of them.
Jane, Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?
All: I turn to Christ.
Jane, Do you submit to Christ as Lord?
All: I submit to Christ.
Jane, Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?
All: I come to Christ.
May God, who has given you the desire to follow Christ,
give you the strength to continue in the Way.
The Profession of Faith
The president addresses the congregation
Brothers and sisters, I ask you to profess the faith of the Church.
Do you believe and trust in God the Father?
All: I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?
All: I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?
All: I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
The president says
Almighty God,
we thank you for our fellowship in the household of faith
with all who have been baptized into your name.
Keep us faithful to our baptism,
and so make us ready for that day
when the whole creation shall be made perfect in your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
All: Amen.
[Sprinkle Jane with water to represent baptism]
May Christ dwell in our hearts through faith,
that we may be rooted and grounded in love
and bring forth the fruit of the Spirit.
All: Amen.
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