Welcome the child who comes to be blessed, welcome the faith that makes the request, echo the words that Jesus would say: "Bring her, and never turn her away!" Joy-bringer God, new life is our joy! gift her with hope no hurt can destroy, keep her clear-eyed to wonder and trust, finding a people gentle and just. Bless her by water, Spirit and sign, bring her to share the bread and the wine, draw her, like frond of fernleaf* uncurled, open to love and life in your world. Give her a Church with family claim, closeness to Christ, not only in name, make her a source of light and delight -- baptism's grace with baptism's rite. *Originally "koru" -- Maori word for fernleaf design