Know more about dedicating your child
What is child dedication?
The word "dedication" means "to consecrate" or the act of setting apart people or things to serve God. In the Old Testament, we see how Hannah prayed for a child and promised God that the child, Samuel, would be given to the Lord all the days of his life (1 Samuel 1:11, 28). In the New Testament, we see how Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple to "present" Him to the Lord (Luke 2:22).
These parents took this act very seriously and were making a commitment in presenting their children to the Lord. Bringing a child before the Lord is not a secret formula for keeping them from ever experiencing harm or pain. Rather, it is a commitment that the parents make to do their part in raising their child before the Lord. Just as the Nazarite children in the Bible had set boundaries and lived their lives set apart to God from birth (Judges 13:5), parents today, through baby dedication, commit to a lifestyle of raising their children separated from the world and its values.
What kind of commitment am I making?
As parents, you begin by publicly acknowledging your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. As you present your child to God in the presence of the pastor and congregation, you are recognizing that he or she belongs to God and has been born to experience His love and to serve Him.
You are committing, as Christian parents, to teach the truths of God's Word in your home and participate in regular worship with your children. You are also committing to be a Christ-like example and seek to lead your children to a personal faith in Christ as soon as they are ready.
What happens at child dedication?
Child dedications generally occur following the worship portion of the service and before the pastor's message. You will meet our Children's Ministry team in the main foyer at a designated table and receive your gift. We ask that you arrive at this table 30 minutes before the service starts. Our team will escort you to the reserved seating area for Child Dedication families near the front.
When your names are announced, our team will escort you to the front of the platform.The pastor will ask if you are making the commitment as outlined in the audio resource from Pastor Dale O'Shields. At that time you are to respond accordingly.
The pastor will pray over all of the children being dedicated at that service time, asking God for His protection and guidance as well as to lead the child to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The pastor will then pray over all of the parents as well. After this, you may take your child to the nursery and return to the service if you so wish.
Are there any requirements?
Parents who are both believers in Jesus Christ and married (a man and a woman) may present their children to the Lord as a couple. These parents should have completed our Living Stones class or be actively involved in the life of the church through regular attendance.
If your spouse is not a believer and/or does not regularly attend church, but would like to be present at the dedication, arrangements can be made to dedicate your child together following a weekend service.Single parents may also dedicate their children to the Lord. See the question “Can a single parent participate in child dedication?” below for more details.
Why don't you have infant baptism?
We believe a person must make a personal commitment to Christ before being baptized. For this reason, we provide parents the opportunity to dedicate their children to the Lord, praying that He would ultimately lead them to that personal decision.
Can a single parent participate in child dedication?
Yes! Child dedication signifies the commitment of parents, including single parents, to do their best to raise their child to be a follower of Jesus. As a church family, we want to do all we can to encourage your walk with the Lord and to be part of your extended family.
We hope to provide compassionate support and opportunities for spiritual growth to help you succeed in parenting your child “in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).If you would like the support of your parents or another family member at the dedication, we would be glad to talk with you about how they can take part in the service.Please note: Because child dedication involves making a commitment as a family to follow the Lord and His Word, parents co-habitating outside of marriage would be unable to make this vow or participate in the ceremony.
If you would like pastoral guidance about this, please contact the RKids Ministry and we’ll be glad to help.
What age should my child be?
We recommend that children be dedicated by the age of 1 year old. Children respond more favorably to public presentation at this age. If your child is older, a date can be arranged when one of the pastors to pray over your child at the altar following a service.
Can I choose my own date?
Baby dedications are only able to occur on certain weekends when our service schedule allows. A service time may be selected on any of these designated weekends.
Who is invited to the platform?
Typically, only the immediate family comes to the front of the platform. Siblings are welcome provided they can remain still and quiet during this time. Parents may also invite one or two family members or special guests to join them. (There is a place to list these names on the form.) Appropriate attire is required for all participants.
What about video recording or photography?
You may photograph or video tape the baby dedication so long as it does not disrupt the sacredness of the event. This means remaining seated and refraining from using flash photography or special lighting equipment.
Please be aware that only a couple committed to Christ and married (a man and a woman) or a single parent committed to Christ and not living with someone out of wedlock may dedicate their child.