Commontide
Thanksgiving for the Birth or Adoption of a Child
O God, you have taught us through your blessed Son that whoever receives a little child in the Name of Christ receives Christ himself: We give thanks for the blessing you have bestowed upon this family in giving them this child. Confirm their joy by a lively sense of your presence with them, and give them calm strength and patient wisdom as they seek to bring this child to love all that is true and noble, just and pure, lovable and gracious, excellent and admirable, following the example of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Draft — AI-assisted research under editorial review.
A thanksgiving collect for new parents, woven from Jesus's saying about welcoming children and Paul's catalog of virtues in Philippians. Composed by committee under the Episcopal Church's Standing Liturgical Commission c. 1975, it first appeared in the BCP 1979 and was received into the ACNA BCP 2019.