Church Resources

The Day of Placement: A Service of Blessing

Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Response: Amen.

Leader: We are gathered here today on the [day] of [month and year] for a very special occasion: the celebration of a life and of a gift that makes for the creation of a new family.

We are here to celebrate God’s answer to our prayers that [name of adopted child] was brought into this world strong and healthy.

We are here to celebrate God’s answer to [birthmother’s] prayers, and that He has provided the loving family of [names of adoptive parents] who will bring [child’s name] into their family on this day.

And we are here to celebrate the answer to the prayers of [names of adoptive parents and sibling(s)] that today they are receiving into their home this wonderful son/daughter and brother/sister.

We must be humble before the magnitude of this event.

In Matthew 18:1-5 it is written:


"About this time the disciples came to Jesus and asked him who would
be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus called a child over and had
the child stand near him. Then he said: ‘I promise you this. If you don’t change and
become like a child, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. But if you are
as humble as this child, you are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And when
you welcome one of these children because of me, you welcome me.'"
--From The Contemporary English Version Bible for Today’s Family

[Birthmother’s name], you have welcomed this child into the world. We celebrate your loving role in [child’s name]’s life today. You gave him/her life. In your loving plan, you have chosen [names of adoptive parents] to be his/her loving parents. You are creating a new family. May God bless you.

[Birthmother’s name], at this time would you place [child’s name] into [names of adoptive parents]’s arms?

Birthmother places child in parents’ arms.

Leader: Today we are also here to celebrate the creation of a new family. [Names of adoptive parents], will you promise to love and care for [child’s name] and to bring him/her up in the Christian faith?

Adoptive Parents: We will.

Leader: Join us now as we bow our heads in prayer.

For [names of adoptive family members], and the newest member of their family, [child’s name], that God may bind them together in love as a family in Christ, let us pray to the Lord.

Response: Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader: For [name of birthmother], that her life may be blessed, and that she may find peace in the selfless decision she has made, let us pray to the Lord.

Response: Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader: For all Christian families, that the love of Christ may dwell in their homes, let us pray to the Lord.

Response: Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader: As we are all God’s children by adoption, let us pray together:

Response: [All recite the Lord’s Prayer]

Leader: Loving God, Your Son has taught us that whoever welcomes a child in His name, welcomes Him. We give You thanks for [birthmother’s name], who welcomed [child’s name] into this world, and for [names of adoptive parents], who are welcoming him/her into their family. Bless this family. Confirm a lively sense of Your presence with them ,and grant to these parents patience and wisdom that their lives may show the love of Christ as they bring up [child’s name] and his/her brother/sister, [name], to love all that is good. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Response: Amen.

Leader: May almighty God who has called us into the family of Christ fill us with grace and peace, now and forever.

Response: Amen.