naming day/welcome day and godparents/mentors

[lyrebird]

Hi there, I'm new here, please be gentle
I'm wondering if anyone has any nice ideas for us - I have done a search here on this topic but haven't turned up anything. We are having a sort of welcome day next weekend for my 1 year old (was his birthday yesterday!) but we're only having one of his godparents as the others are overseas in the US (we're in Australia). DH, Grandma and Grandpa and older brother will be there too. It's more of an affirmation of my friend as godmum/mentor and a chance to really welcome him here on this earth. It would have been good to have done this earlier, but better late than never...!

We have Gibran's "our children" to recite but I'd be interested in any other ideas, but not wanting to draw it out, just a very tiny ceremony, not religious but perhaps a little spiritual element. I'd like to sing a song with my friend if anyone has any ideas of nice ones for that sort of occasion too...

with thanks in advance.

[zoebird]

instead of a baptism, we had a welcoming party for our guy when he was 6 weeks old.

those who attended just gave a little reading--a poem, verse, quote, or statement of their own. it was great. simple process for everyone, everyone touched. lots of good food after.

very enjoyable.

[lyrebird]

yes, we did that for my 4 year old when he was 5 months old. that's the sort of thing we're planning. What I'd really like help with is choosing a song or two to sing - something tasteful... any ideas?? Something welcoming/celebrating the child or childhood/celebrating life itself.

ta.

[zoebird]

nope, no ideas on that front. i kept it very informal.

[lyrebird]

ok, nevermind. If someone else comes up with something that would be great. We are also keeping it very informal - only godmum, her partner, us and my parents. So it would really be a matter of me and my friend singing off the sheet in the moment in a rather unpolished way. I just can't think of anything right now and can't remember what one of the families sang at my 4 year old's welcome!! Too embarrassed to call them but will have to get over that I think...

[annettemarie]

There's a great song called "Circle of the Sun"
http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiCIRCLESN.html

It's on a great CD from Sound and Spirit called "Welcoming Children" (which might actually have some other songs for you as well)
http://www.amazon.com/Sound-Spirit-W.../dp/B00000JRM0

If you listen to the clip on Amazon, it pretty much shows you how the song goes.

[lyrebird]

Thanks heaps, will have a listen.