The Adoption of Children

The Adoption of Children

The Adoption of Children is an occasional service of the Reformed Episcopal Church used for the blessing and ecclesial recognition of adoptive parents and an adopted child.

Overview

This order gives the church a pastoral rite for adoption. It receives the child and parents with Scripture, promises, prayers, and blessing, placing the household within God's covenant mercy and care.

Full Text of the Service

¶ The Minister shall stand at the entrance of the chancel, facing the people.

The parents shall stand before him, with two witnesses, one of whom shall hold or stand with the Child to be adopted. All shall stand throughout the service.

¶ The Minister shall begin by saying the following Versicles with the people.

I BOW my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Praise ye the Lord;

The Lord’s Name be praised.

¶ Here may be sung a Hymn.

¶ Then the Minister and people shall say responsively the following.

Justi epulentur. from Psalm 68

LET the righteous be glad and rejoice before God;

Let them also be merry and joyful.

He is a Father of the fatherless, and defendeth the cause of the widows;

Even God in his holy habitation.

He setteth the solitary in families;

Thy congregation shall dwell therein.

Praised be the Lord daily, Even the God who helpeth us, and poureth his benefits upon us.

Thy God hath sent forth strength for thee;

Stablish the thing, O God, that thou hast wrought in us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

¶ Then the Minister shall read the Gospel, first saying,

Hear the words of the holy Gospel according to Saint Mark.

Glory be to thee, O Lord.

The Gospel. St. Mark 9:33-37

JESUS came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

Minister. The Gospel of the LORD.

People. Praise be to thee, O Christ.

The Promises

¶ Then the Minister shall ask the following Questions, the parents alone making reply.

DO you desire to take this Child for your own?

(Both) Answer. I do.

Minister. Will you be to him a true Father and Mother, in spirit and in deed?

Answer. I will, by God’s help.

Minister. Will you show him love and understanding; give him companionship and guidance; and treat him with patience and forbearance?

Answer. I will endeavour so to do.

Minister. Will you bring him up in the knowledge and love of the Lord, in the godly discipline of the home, and of Christ’s holy Church?

Answer. I will, God being my helper.

MAY our heavenly Father, who hath put it into your hearts to do all these things, grant you his grace to fulfill the same unto the end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ Then, if the Child be of sufficient years to answer for himself, the Minister shall say,

DO you desire to have this man and this woman for your Father and Mother, and to be their Child?

Answer. I do.

Minister. Will you love, honour, and help your Father and Mother?

Answer. I will, by God’s help.

MAY God, who hath given you a good will, grant you his grace to perform the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Adoption

¶ Then the Minister, taking the Child in his arms, or by the hand, shall give the Child to the Mother, saying,

AS God hath received us as his children, so now receive this Child your own son; In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

¶ Then the Father shall lay his hand upon the Child, saying,

MAY God, who hath redeemed us, bless this Child, and us: and may our name be named upon him. Amen.

¶ Minister and people.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Our Father, who art in heaven, 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.

And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Amen.

Minister. Thou wilt be a Father unto us;

People. And we shall be thy sons and daughters.

Minister. The Lord be with you;

People. And with thy spirit.

Minister. Let us pray.

O GOD our Father, who makest us thy children by adoption and grace: Give thy blessing, we humbly beseech thee, to this family, who have now bound themselves one to another in thee, that dwelling together in holiness, they may be made perfect in love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

MAY God the Father, who hath adopted you as his children, grant you his grace; May God the Son, who dwelt in the home of Nazareth, fill you with his love; May God the

Holy Ghost, who hath united you in one family, keep you in his peace; And may the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be with you, and remain with you always. Amen.

Notes on Use

• Use after appropriate civil adoption arrangements and pastoral preparation.
• The rite includes parents, witnesses, and the child, and assumes the congregation's prayerful support.
• It may be especially meaningful near a principal Sunday service or family gathering.

Liturgical Structure

• Opening versicles and Scripture
• Gospel
• Questions and promises
• Reception of the child
• Prayers and blessing

Theological Themes

• Adoption as a sign of God's fatherly mercy.
• Household life as a place of Christian nurture.
• Children received with thanksgiving and responsibility.

Source

This text is transcribed from the official Reformed Episcopal Church PDF.

See Also

• Book of Common Prayer
• Reformed Episcopal Church
• Anglican liturgy
• Book of Occasional Services (Reformed Episcopal Church)