Candlelight Ceremony

Candlelight Ceremony

honoring Jayden Wynn Tode

Just as many streams, known and unknown, small and large, contribute to a river's strength and course, so too the course of Jayden's life will be shaped, in part, by it's many tributaries. Jayden is a birth child; he is an adopted child. He is African-American, Italian and Swedish, Christian and Jewish. He is the son of Theresa and of Erika and Steve. Perhaps he will have Theresa's intelligence, her ability to paint or her love of dancing. Maybe he will have Steve's optimism and strength or Erika's determination and creativity. We hope he will be blessed with all of these things and more.

This first candle signifies Jayden's birth parents and their extended families. Theresa is the person who gave Jayden the gift of life. She gave him his beautiful brown eyes and skin, his genetic destiny, his ancestors and his cultural heritage. She also gave him the gift of a stable, loving family.

This second candle represents Jayden's adoptive parents, Erika and Steve and their extended families. They are the people who rock Jayden to sleep at night and feed him when he's hungry. They are the people who will teach him right from wrong, who will kiss his booboos and provide for his spiritual, physical and emotional needs.

This third candle signifies Jayden's future. A life filled with the love of his birth family, his adoptive family and all of you here. It represents the light Jayden will be to the world and the promise in his young life.

Please join me in a Jewish prayer, the Shehekiyanu, a prayer to commemorate a new beginning.

"Praised are you, O Lord God of us all, King of the Universe, for giving us life, for sustaining us and for enabling us to reach this season".