DESIGNING RITUALS OF ADOPTION FOR THE RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR COMMUNITY

1. INTRODUCTION
2. RELIGIOUS RITUALS Religious rites: Why invent tradition? Therapeutic rituals Adoption rituals can be teaching tools What about open adoption? The entrustment ceremony Ritualizing the adoption finalization ceremony
3. THE RELIGIOUS ADOPTION CEREMONY
4. JEWISH ADOPTION RITUALS
   Entrustment ceremony
   Entrustment/naming ceremony of a baby girl
   Suggested readings and symbolic actions
5. CHRISTIAN ADOPTION RITUALS
   Baby dedication ritual (Assembly of God)
   Thanksgiving for a newly adopted child (Catholic)
   Thanksgiving for the adoption of a child (Episcopal in English and Spanish)
   An ecumenical service of adoption
   Thanksgiving for the gift of a child (Anglican - New Zealand)
   Dedication of a child (Universalist/Unitarian)
   Service for giving a child in love
   A hospital chapel entrustment ceremony
   A Christian and Lakota adoption celebration
   Christian: Suggested readings and symbolic actions
6. SECULAR RITUALS
   Designing a ritual carries its own meaning
   Who leads?
   Choosing a setting
   Gifts marking the adoption journey
   Gifts marking the country and/or family of origin
   Gifts which mark the adoption
   Content: Symbolic and literal
   A song to celebrate open adoption
   Grounding the ritual
   A case for repeating rituals
   Ritualizing grief
   Ritualizing adoption disruption and adoption dissolution
   "The Sacrifice Flower" by Sister Jose Hobday
   Adoption placement ceremony
   "The Medicine Bag" by Sister Jose Hobday
   A ritual to recharge the love batteries
   Commonly used symbols
   Cultural considerations
   Music
   Readings and words spoken from the heart
   Keepsakes and gifts
   Flowers, herbs, and trees
7. SUMMARY