A SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING OVER THE BIRTH OF A CHILD
**This Service, being of a personal and private nature, will not usually be attended by a congregation.
**The Minister, preferably a woman, meeting the mother in the Church at the appointed time, will say:
LET US PRAY
OUR FATHER, Who art in Heaven, all hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. When in temptation Thy love sustains us, and deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory. For ever and for ever. Amen.
O LOVING FATHER, we come in thankfulness, to show by our presence in this Sanctuary, our gratitude for this woman's safe delivery; and we ask Thee to bless her and her child.
My sister, you have come to render thanks to God and His Spirit World for the protection which has been vouchsafed unto you. Be very sure that in rendering thanks thus openly you bring upon yourself and your little one a spiritual blessing. Remember how significant and symbolic is the birth of the physical body, signifying a picture of that new birth from Earth to Heaven. Give thanks, and humbly glorify your Creator, in so honouring you to be a co-partner with Him in this great miracle of physical birth. You will remember that our Lord showed special understanding of a woman's lot, and that He openly showed His compassion to her. He referred to a woman when she was in travail having sorrow because her hour was come. He then added: But as soon as she is delivered of a child she remembereth no more the anguish, and you, dear Sister, know that this is true.
Remember for your comfort the thanksgiving given by Mary, the young mother of the Christ-Child, and let this Song of Praise echo in your heart:
ST. LUKE 1, 46.
MY SOUL doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For He hath regarded the lowliness of His hand-maiden.
For behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is His Name.
**Then follows the personal prayer of the mother, she repeating the same after the Minister:
