Aim

Same as for previous lesson.

Preparation

Before the lesson prepare some simple celebratory food like biscuits or cake.

Lesson

Revise what was taught last week about Muslim and Christian birth customs.

There are a few more areas which you need to explore with them.

The Giving of Gifts

Both Muslims and Christians believe that babies are a gift from God. So another way they welcome their babies into the world is by giving gifts.

• Did any of the children receive gifts when they were born?
• What were they?

Some Christians welcome their babies into the world by giving them a Bible and/or a candle.

• What do the children think of those as presents?
• Why do Christians give them then?
• What presents would the children like to give to their baby?

Celebration

To say thank you to God for the gift of their baby, Muslim parents give money to the poor. They may also pay for an animal to be killed and the meat given to their friends and relations. Poor people get a share too.

Christian parents sometimes have a party with a special cake, which is shared out among all the guests.

• What food would the children like to eat in order to celebrate the gift of their baby?
• Would they like to share it with another class?

Godparents/ Community

• Do the children know what the role of a godparent is?
• Do any of the children have them?

Muslims believe that all the adults in a child's family and in the area where they live should act like godparents.

• How many godparents is the class baby going to have and who will they be?
• What promises are they prepared to make?

The Welcoming Ceremony

Now that you have discussed and made decisions about the different elements of a baby welcoming ceremony. You could perform one, using the basic format of a Christian infant baptism (without the water, which will be explored in the next lesson)

The children could record their role in the ceremony either on paper or cassette tape.