Order of Conducting Child Blessing

Immediately after first part of service.

  1. Family and child kneel before the altar
  2. Reading of the First Bible Reading – Luke 2:22
  3. Anthem(s) by the Choir(s)
  4. Prayer 4 brethren from behind the family of the child (preferably 2 brothers and 2 sisters)
  5. Blessing
    1. Hymn BCS Hymn 854 as background music and possibly repeatedly throughout this Section
    2. The Conductor comes to the altar from the temple
    3. Presentation of the child to the Conductor by a sister (the sister kneels beside the altar till the child is eventually handed back to her)
    4. The Child placed on a pillow on the altar
    5. Water sprinkled on his/her face
    6. Holy oil rubbed on the child and sign of the cross made on his/her forehead, palms and the sole of his/her feet (The Conductor offers silent prayers of sanctification in tandem)
    7. The child’s had is turned to the remaining three of the cardinal points (west, south and East) and on each turn items “e” and “f” above are repeated.
    8. The child is given Holy Water to drink
    9. The Conductor raises the child and points to the four cardinal points (north, east, south and west)
    10. The child is handed back to the sister kneeling beside the altar
    11. The Conductor returns to the temple
  6. Reading the Second Bible Reading – Ephesians 6:1-4
  7. Reading of the Golden Text – 1st Timothy 2:15
  8. The Conductor gives brief advice to the family
  9. First Spiritual Chorus: “Eyen erong uwa”
  10. Second Spiritual chorus: “Eyen amana ono nyin”
  11. Spiritual choruses and general blessing
  12. Love Feast
  13. Testimonies from child’s parents and others
  14. Closing