Child Dedication
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Our tradition of child dedication is based on the biblical example of Hannah dedicating her child to the Lord.
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And she said, "O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord." So they worshiped the Lord there. |
What is Child Dedication?
1. An acknowledgment that a child is a gift from God and therefore rightly belongs to God.
We are acknowledging that our child is not simply a biological result, but created and formed in the image of God Himself and given life and spirit by the Creator.
2. A dedication of the parents to the Lord.
In child dedicaiton, parents are committing to take the responsibility to raise their child in a Christian home with supervision that includes Christ-like living, prayer, Scripture as a guide and standard for choices of living, and regular Church attendance.
3. Personal Vows made by the parents to the Lord, which God warns should not be taken lightly.
Ecclesiastes 5:5 tells us "Better not to vow than to vow and not pay." (NKJV). We would caution that it is an unwise act to make a vow before the Lord and not intend to keep it. We believe the Lord will remember and hold us accountable for the vows we make toward Him.
When you dedicate your child, you and your child will stand before a congregational witness and make your promises and vows before the Lord. Please read and consider the following promises and commitments you will be making. You will need to be willing to answer in the affirmative to all of these in order for the pastor to be able to dedicate your child to the Lord. There is also a segment for extended family to join should the parents so approve.
What is the format of Child Dedication?
Child dedication typically takes place during Sunday morning worship and follows a question and response format between the pastor, the parents, and the extended family:
PASTOR: I would like to commend you for bringing your child here today in recognition for God's gift of life and in acknowledgement or your need for His divine oversight and grace. You have come here today to dedicate yourselves as well as your child before the Lord and this congregation as witness.
PASTOR: Do you recognize your responsibility as parents, and do you bring your child here in dedication to God in the presence of this Church as a sign or your dependence on divine help to fulfill your parental duties?
PARENTS: We do.
PASTOR: Do you promise to instruct your child in the ways of the Lord, to teach your child God's Word, and to talk to your child about faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord when they reach an age of spiritual understanding?
PARENTS: We do.
PASTOR: Do you faithfully commit yourselves to try to provide a home life and the church experience that will shape the kind of environment that will enable your child to profess Christ as Lord and serve Him as Master?
PARENTS: We do.
PASTOR: Do you covenant together, to strive to bring your child to a knowledge of the Scriptures, to teach your child loving, obedient reverence for God and for His Son, Jesus Christ, and to use all the agencies of the Church to accomplish this end?
PARENTS: We do.
PASTOR: Raising a child in the faith is far more effective when we have an extended family of faith to support us - at this time I would like the extended family who would be willing to commit themselves to covenant with these parents and with God in the raising of this child in the faith - would you please join us on the platform.
As an extended family, you have heard the promises of these parents. But they will be unable to achieve all their hopes and dreams for the enrichment of their child alone. Bringing up a child in the faith is a family effort. For this child to grow up to be all that they might be spiritually, emotionally, and physically - you all will have to help. Do you, as an extended family, promise to support the efforts of these parents with your prayers and your words and acts of encouragement?
FAMILY: We do.
PASTOR: Will you also commit to pray for this child daily?
FAMILY: We do.
PASTOR: Having heard these vows and sacred promises, as a minister of God's
Church do joyfully commend your child to the Lord all the days of his or her life upon the earth.
PRAYER
How can I register for Child Dedication?
Click the button below and complete the registration form.
1. An acknowledgment that a child is a gift from God and therefore rightly belongs to God.
We are acknowledging that our child is not simply a biological result, but created and formed in the image of God Himself and given life and spirit by the Creator.
2. A dedication of the parents to the Lord.
In child dedicaiton, parents are committing to take the responsibility to raise their child in a Christian home with supervision that includes Christ-like living, prayer, Scripture as a guide and standard for choices of living, and regular Church attendance.
3. Personal Vows made by the parents to the Lord, which God warns should not be taken lightly.
Ecclesiastes 5:5 tells us "Better not to vow than to vow and not pay." (NKJV). We would caution that it is an unwise act to make a vow before the Lord and not intend to keep it. We believe the Lord will remember and hold us accountable for the vows we make toward Him.
When you dedicate your child, you and your child will stand before a congregational witness and make your promises and vows before the Lord. Please read and consider the following promises and commitments you will be making. You will need to be willing to answer in the affirmative to all of these in order for the pastor to be able to dedicate your child to the Lord. There is also a segment for extended family to join should the parents so approve.
What is the format of Child Dedication?
Child dedication typically takes place during Sunday morning worship and follows a question and response format between the pastor, the parents, and the extended family:
PASTOR: I would like to commend you for bringing your child here today in recognition for God's gift of life and in acknowledgement or your need for His divine oversight and grace. You have come here today to dedicate yourselves as well as your child before the Lord and this congregation as witness.
PASTOR: Do you recognize your responsibility as parents, and do you bring your child here in dedication to God in the presence of this Church as a sign or your dependence on divine help to fulfill your parental duties?
PARENTS: We do.
PASTOR: Do you promise to instruct your child in the ways of the Lord, to teach your child God's Word, and to talk to your child about faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord when they reach an age of spiritual understanding?
PARENTS: We do.
PASTOR: Do you faithfully commit yourselves to try to provide a home life and the church experience that will shape the kind of environment that will enable your child to profess Christ as Lord and serve Him as Master?
PARENTS: We do.
PASTOR: Do you covenant together, to strive to bring your child to a knowledge of the Scriptures, to teach your child loving, obedient reverence for God and for His Son, Jesus Christ, and to use all the agencies of the Church to accomplish this end?
PARENTS: We do.
PASTOR: Raising a child in the faith is far more effective when we have an extended family of faith to support us - at this time I would like the extended family who would be willing to commit themselves to covenant with these parents and with God in the raising of this child in the faith - would you please join us on the platform.
As an extended family, you have heard the promises of these parents. But they will be unable to achieve all their hopes and dreams for the enrichment of their child alone. Bringing up a child in the faith is a family effort. For this child to grow up to be all that they might be spiritually, emotionally, and physically - you all will have to help. Do you, as an extended family, promise to support the efforts of these parents with your prayers and your words and acts of encouragement?
FAMILY: We do.
PASTOR: Will you also commit to pray for this child daily?
FAMILY: We do.
PASTOR: Having heard these vows and sacred promises, as a minister of God's
Church do joyfully commend your child to the Lord all the days of his or her life upon the earth.
PRAYER
How can I register for Child Dedication?
Click the button below and complete the registration form.
We commend you for such a commitment as child dedication. It can have a great Divine lifelong impact in your child's life. May the Lord bless you and your entire house for making a decision to ask the Lord to be the Protector and Keeper of your child and home.