Celebrate Intimate Weddings

with Relationship Speaker/Author/Coach...
Larry James

It is a great honor when friends ask you to be a Godparent (aka, mentor, supporting adult, guideparent or guardian) and is an awsome responsibility and signals that they really trust you to look out for their child if something should happen to them.

A male Godparent is a Godfather and a female Godparent is a Godmother. The child is a Godchild. Siblings of the Godparents are Godsisters or Godbrothers.

Traditionally, the Godparents were counted informally responsible for ensuring that the child's religious education was carried out, and for caring for the child should he/she be orphaned. Today the latter duty is the most commonly recognized duty of a Godparent, and the word "Godparent" often no longer has religious overtones.

The modern definition of Godparent is an individual chosen by the parents to take a vested interest in raising a more complete human being. However, Godparent is not a legal position, and should the parents seriously intend the Godparents to act as foster parents in case of their death, this must be legally specified through the usual means (such as a will).

A Godparent may, or may not, be related to the child. A child may have one or several Godparents.

Here is an example of Larry's most popular Godparents Celebration Ceremony with Sand.

Minister: We meet here today to take part together in a very special ceremony. We do so for a number of reasons. First of all, _____ and _____ _____ wish to express their joy to everyone present on the appointment of _____ and _____ _____ as Godparents to their children, _____ and _____.

_____ and _____, _____ and _____ want to take this opportunity to express their highest degree of trust and faith they put in you - their treasured friends - as you officially become their children's potential guardians and your children, _____ and _____ become their Godsisters.

With this ceremony they celebrate your friendship. They want you to know that they have experienced your warm hearts, and know that you are God-fearing friends of the highest moral character and today they demonstrate their respect for you and your family by naming you both Godparents of their beloved children.

They want you to know more than anything else that while the chances of ever needing you to assume the role of guardian is small, it gives them great comfort and they will be eternally grateful that you are willing to accept this awesome responsibility.

As a community of friends and family we all share a responsibility to provide an atmosphere in which children will develop into fully functioning, healthy adults. Godparents assist children in finding their identity and their inner security - and to integrate themselves into society.

The special relationship of trust and mutual enjoyment, which develops between a child and a Godparent, is something very special. This social inheritance lays the foundation for the young person to construct their personality during childhood and adolescence and adds great meaning to their existence.

A Godparent is a person of deep faith, prayer, and spirituality and put the ability to "walk the talk" above institutional commitment. They demonstrate a sincere interest in the children, good listening skills, nonjudgmental acceptance, stability, high moral character, and a capacity for being a role model. A Godparent is a mentor, helper, and friend and ultimately nurtures a lifelong bond.

It is certain that the more love these children receive the more they will benefit in their life and the more love in turn they will be able to give to others. The more people to whom these children relate the more balanced and rich their growth will be. So your acceptance of this awesome responsibility at this celebration today is appreciated, as will be your interest and involvement in them in the years ahead.

In this age of the nuclear family when many of us live isolated from our family and friends Godparents have perhaps a more important role today than they have had in the past. They undertake a special and lifelong interest in the welfare of their Godchildren and to assume a more than ordinary responsibility in the event there is a need to do so.

It is our duty to present the children in both families in the coming years with a broad and balanced view of life, and encourage them in the virtues we all agree as good - integrity, honesty, concern, fairness and love toward his fellow human beings.

Minister to the Children:_____ and _____ may life's richest joys and blessings be yours. May you both grow in health of body and mind to full adulthood and may it be your good fortune to play some worthy part in making life more pleasant for those whose paths you cross.

So, I now ask the Godparents, are you, _____ and _____, willing to accept this most honored tradition?

Godparents: We are.

Minister:

If a child lives with criticism she learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility she learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule she learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame she learns to feel guilt.

However. . .

If a child lives with tolerance she learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement she learns confidence.
If a child lives with fairness she learns justice.
If a child lives with security she learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval she learns to love herself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship she learns to find love in the world.

Your Godparent relationship will now be symbolized through the pouring of these individual containers of sand.

Each one holds its own unique beauty, strength, and character. They can stand on their own and be whole, without the need of anything else. When they are blended together they represent an entirely new and extraordinary relationship between, parents, Godparents and children. Each grain of sand brings to the mixture a lasting beauty that forever enriches the combination.

The Parents, Godparents and Children pick up the containers of sand

As you each hold your sand the separate containers of sand represent your lives to this moment; individual and unique. As you now combine your sand together, your lives also join together as one.

You may now blend the sand together symbolizing the uniting of the _____ and _____ families and _____ and _____ _____ into one.

The life that each of you have experienced until now, individually, will hereafter be inseparably united, for you shall become one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your relationship with one another be.

So. . . let it be known that on this Sunday, January 21st of 2007, _____ and _____ _____ are now the official Godparents to _____ and _____ _____. And so it is.

Now, go in peace and forever Celebrate Love!

Godparents Prayer: We searched for someone special, both a woman and a man, to be the Godparents of our child, to serve as God's right hand. Baptism is the first step on a journey back to Him, and we chose you to guide our child as this pilgrimage begins. To you has been entrusted God's own loving care, and we have peace of mind and heart, knowing you are there. We are sure that up in heaven, the Lord looked down and smiled, when He saw that you were chosen as Godparents of our child.

To view photos of Larry's "Godparents Celebration Ceremony with Sand," click here!

Copyright © - Larry James. Adapted from the books, "How to Really Love the One You're With" and "LoveNotes for Lovers."

Site Map

Ceremonies