'Reuben Brown's Naming Ceremony'
7th, September, 2014
'Blakley Methodist Church', Blakley, Halifax
Minister: Rev. Stephen Harvie
(Speech prepared by William Forde and delivered by Peter Forde in his brother's absence).
Today we are gathered in thought and presence to celebrate the birth and naming of Reuben William Brown who was born on the 31st March, 2014. As with the naming of all children, it is a joyous day which brings together the families of Brown, Scott, Forde and Fanning; branches of all Reuben’s ancestors who merge to form his family tree.
The naming of a child is not only a serious business, but is also a sacred thing. It just doesn’t happen without a considerable degree of thought having been put into it beforehand. For most of us, we will carry our names around with us for the rest of our lives so it helps us considerably if we like what we are called. I have always believed that we like things better when we better understand their origin, where it comes from, how it got here and what does it all mean!
The name Reuben is Hebrew in origin and it comes straight out of the bible and the Book of Genesis although it has been used as a Christian name since the time of the Reformation. Reuben was not only the eldest son of his parents Jacob and Leah, but he went on to head one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The name of Reuben literally means,’Behold a son’.
There will undoubtedly be other children who are also being named today who may not like the names they are given and indeed, may never grow to like their name. Some boys may wish to have been given a more masculine-sounding name and some girls may wish for more feminine one. And there are some boys or girls who will never grow to appreciate the androgynous names that they were given as they go no way towards identifying a clear identity which we all prefer to have. But little Reuben here need never fear on that score as his name is ‘what it says on the tin.’I remind you that the meaning of Reuben literally translates to ‘Behold a son'.
The name Reuben is first found in the Book of Genesis; a book that gives meaning to that of life itself. Genesis tells us that the Lord God created the heavens and the earth. He filled the heavens with stars and the earth with beasts of the field, birds of the air and fish of the sea. Then he made his most wondrous creation of all; you. You Reuben William Brown are made in the image of God’s love. The Lord God made the world and set it spinning on an axis of his perfect love, but it is the love of all the Reubens in the world that is expressed one to another that keeps the world spinning in perpetual motion. The one thing I know in all certainty Reuben is that only ‘Love makes the world go round’ and it is this single piece of knowledge and sincerest of personal beliefs that I pass from my generation to yours as my naming gift today.
However, today is not a time for the giving of worldly advice from the oldest to the youngest branch of the family tree. Today is a special day of celebration. It is a day to welcome Reuben William into our family and to express our gratitude that he was born safe and well and is such a happy child; a child in whom love resides in abundance.
As I approach the autumn my life and Reuben William is but at the start of his, along with everyone here present, I wish him, his parents and all of his family a joyous, peaceful, healthy and productive life. God bless you Reuben William Brown and all of your family.
Great Uncle Billy.
Added section to speech by Evie Brown (Reuben's mother)
Unfortunately Billy cannot be here today as he is undergoing treatment for Leukaemia. Reuben's middle name is William. He was in fact named after his Great Uncle Billy, great in title as well as in nature. Reuben already appears to have taken on his Great Uncle's sense of humour and infectious laugh. His name is also a tribute to his Great Great Uncle Willie and his Great Great Grandfather William Fanning.
Evie, like the rest of the family were particularly fond of Uncle Willie, who lived life to the full, took no fools, and always made us cry with laughter whenever we visited him in our hometown of Portlaw in Waterford, Ireland. Or maybe it was the fish heads he used to put in his mouth that made our eyes water? Evie has chosen to continue the family name, and believes Willie's memory already lives on in Reuben's Irish eyes which are always smiling. I feel honoured to have had Reuben partly named after me, his great great uncle and his great great grandfather.
The naming of a child is not only a serious business, but is also a sacred thing. It just doesn’t happen without a considerable degree of thought having been put into it beforehand. For most of us, we will carry our names around with us for the rest of our lives so it helps us considerably if we like what we are called. I have always believed that we like things better when we better understand their origin, where it comes from, how it got here and what does it all mean!
The name Reuben is Hebrew in origin and it comes straight out of the bible and the Book of Genesis although it has been used as a Christian name since the time of the Reformation. Reuben was not only the eldest son of his parents Jacob and Leah, but he went on to head one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The name of Reuben literally means,’Behold a son’.
There will undoubtedly be other children who are also being named today who may not like the names they are given and indeed, may never grow to like their name. Some boys may wish to have been given a more masculine-sounding name and some girls may wish for more feminine one. And there are some boys or girls who will never grow to appreciate the androgynous names that they were given as they go no way towards identifying a clear identity which we all prefer to have. But little Reuben here need never fear on that score as his name is ‘what it says on the tin.’I remind you that the meaning of Reuben literally translates to ‘Behold a son'.
The name Reuben is first found in the Book of Genesis; a book that gives meaning to that of life itself. Genesis tells us that the Lord God created the heavens and the earth. He filled the heavens with stars and the earth with beasts of the field, birds of the air and fish of the sea. Then he made his most wondrous creation of all; you. You Reuben William Brown are made in the image of God’s love. The Lord God made the world and set it spinning on an axis of his perfect love, but it is the love of all the Reubens in the world that is expressed one to another that keeps the world spinning in perpetual motion. The one thing I know in all certainty Reuben is that only ‘Love makes the world go round’ and it is this single piece of knowledge and sincerest of personal beliefs that I pass from my generation to yours as my naming gift today.
However, today is not a time for the giving of worldly advice from the oldest to the youngest branch of the family tree. Today is a special day of celebration. It is a day to welcome Reuben William into our family and to express our gratitude that he was born safe and well and is such a happy child; a child in whom love resides in abundance.
As I approach the autumn my life and Reuben William is but at the start of his, along with everyone here present, I wish him, his parents and all of his family a joyous, peaceful, healthy and productive life. God bless you Reuben William Brown and all of your family.
Great Uncle Billy.
Added section to speech by Evie Brown (Reuben's mother)
Unfortunately Billy cannot be here today as he is undergoing treatment for Leukaemia. Reuben's middle name is William. He was in fact named after his Great Uncle Billy, great in title as well as in nature. Reuben already appears to have taken on his Great Uncle's sense of humour and infectious laugh. His name is also a tribute to his Great Great Uncle Willie and his Great Great Grandfather William Fanning.
Evie, like the rest of the family were particularly fond of Uncle Willie, who lived life to the full, took no fools, and always made us cry with laughter whenever we visited him in our hometown of Portlaw in Waterford, Ireland. Or maybe it was the fish heads he used to put in his mouth that made our eyes water? Evie has chosen to continue the family name, and believes Willie's memory already lives on in Reuben's Irish eyes which are always smiling. I feel honoured to have had Reuben partly named after me, his great great uncle and his great great grandfather.
