Baby
Dedication
Introduction
It's exciting whenever a new child
enters a family. There's no greater moment for parents to sense that children
are a gift from God. In these joyful moments, pastors have the privilege of sharing
how parents can express their full appreciation to God through a baby
dedication service.
Counseling for Baby Dedication
Dedicating a child acknowledges God's
sovereignty not only over the child, but also over the Mom and Dad. Parents
present their child before God and His people, asking for grace and wisdom in
carrying out their responsibilities. Parents also come praying that their child
might one day trust Jesus Christ as Savior for the forgiveness of sin. Before
the actual ceremony, it is crucial that pastors counsel parents about the
meaning of dedication. The best passage for discussion is Deuteronomy 6:4-7.
First, it commands parents to love God;
if they truly wish for their child to one day love and follow God, their lives must be an example. This is a good time to
query parents about their own personal relationship with Christ.
Second, Deuteronomy makes clear that the
duty of teaching children belongs to parents; Sunday schools can provide weekly
instruction, but parents must seize the teachable moments that arise throughout
life. Explain the value of prayer (for example, repetitious prayers like
"Now I lay me down to sleep . . .") at meal times and before bed.
Urge them to read aloud Bible stories for devotions. Give them practical ideas
they can implement into their daily family routines.
Sometimes it is custom for parents to
choose godparent(s). Often viewed simply as an honorary title, its value,
however, can be greatly enhanced by defining how this role will be carried out.
Many godparents assume responsibility to provide cards and gifts of a Christian
nature for the child on birthdays and holidays. Some periodically ask the
parents how they are doing in training their child (Proverbs 22:6). Still
others have arranged that in the event of the parents' unexpected death, the
godparents will take the child into their home. (This of course requires legal
documentation.)
Conducting the Ceremony
On the day of dedication, meet with the
parents a few minutes before the service in order to explain where they should
stand. For the services given below, the following advice is suggested:
With the pastor standing front and
center in the sanctuary, the father should stand immediately to the pastor's
right, with Mom next to Dad, accompanied by any other children. Godparents and grandparents
should stand to the pastor's left. Have the wife hold the baby as the family
comes forward. During the service, the wife will pass the child to the father
for the vow of dedication; the father holding the child during this time
symbolizes that the husband is the family's spiritual head. After the vow of
dedication, the father is then able to pass the baby to the pastor for the
prayer of dedication.
Be sure to recognize everyone who stands
before the church, especially siblings. Though this is not their special day,
it's important to confirm that they, too, are important participants.
When grandparents are present, you may
want to insert the following into the ceremony:
"Standing
before us are three generations. Seeing this brings to mind Proverbs 17:6 which
tells us that 'Grandchildren are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride
of children.' (NAME OF GRANDPARENTS), we know you're very proud of this your
children. And (NAME OF PARENTS), we trust that the step of faith you're taking
today will make (NAME OF CHILD) one day proud of your actions."
Finally, keep in mind that babies are
unpredictable. Some may sleep during the dedication, but others might cry,
especially while you're holding them! Humor is a delightful way to make light
of the situation and dissipate any of your own uneasiness. It is moments such
as these that makes baby dedications so special. The
sacred and the mundane collide. And through it, we see a glimpse of the
glorious gospel--God being found in the appearance of man.
Service of Dedication I (with
godparents)
Children are a gift from God. Psalm
127:3 proclaims that "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward
from Him." As believers we are called to recognize that children belong
first and foremost to God. God in his goodness gives children as gifts to
parents. They not only have the awesome responsibility of caring for this gift,
but also the wonderful privilege of enjoying the gift.
Because children belong to God and are
given by grace as gifts to parents, it is only proper and appropriate that
children be dedicated back to God. We are told in 1 Samuel 1 that Hannah
presented her son Samuel to the Lord. In Luke 2:22, we read that Mary and Joseph
brought their baby Jesus to the temple in
In the same way, (PARENTS) today bring
their (
Accompanying them in making this
commitment are (CHILD'S) godparents, (GODPARENT'S NAME). And witnessing this as
well are (PARENT'S OTHER CHILDREN).
(PARENTS), I call your attention to the
commands of God recorded in Holy Scripture.
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 tells us: "Hear O
Israel: The Lord our God is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your strength. These commandments that I
give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on their children. Talk
about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie
down and when you get up."
Ephesians 6:4 says: "Fathers, do
not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the training and
instruction of the Lord."
God's instructions are plain.(PARENTS), love God with every ounce and fiber of your
energy and teach (CHILD) to do the same. As you love God, one another, and
(OTHER CHILDREN), you will model before (CHILD) a wonderful love for God that
(s)he will want for (herself/himself).
(PARENTS), by coming forward before God
and his people, do you hereby declare your desire to dedicate yourselves and
your (
If so, please respond by saying "we
do."
PARENTS: "We do."
Having come freely, I ask now that you
enter into the following commitment in the presence of God and his people (Wife
hands child to husband as a sign of his spiritual headship in the family).
So that (CHILD) may walk in the abundant
life that Christ offers, do you (PARENTS) vow by God's help and in partnership
with the church, to provide (CHILD) a Christian home of love and peace, to
raise him in the truth of our Lord's instruction and discipline, and to
encourage him to one day trust Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord?
PARENTS: "We do."
Modeling this kind of love can not be
done alone. It requires the help of others. For this reason, (PARENTS) call
upon the help of (GODPARENTS). I now direct my questions to you. By coming
forward before God and his people, do you hereby declare your desire to help
(PARENTS) fulfill
the vow they have just made by becoming (CHILD'S) godparents? If so, please
respond by saying "we do."
GODPARENTS: "We do."
Having come freely, I ask now that you
enter into the following commitment: So that (CHILD) may walk in the abundant
life that Christ offers, do you vow by God's help, to encourage, through praise and
correction, (PARENTS) in their effort to raise (CHILD) in the fear of the Lord,
to uphold them in prayer, and if anything should happen to (PARENTS), to assume
responsibility in helping (CHILD) receive our Lord's guidance and instruction?
GODPARENTS: "We do."
Finally, I ask that the church make a
vow as well. There's an old proverb that says "it takes a village to raise
a child." Parents have first responsibility. But parents need the help and
support of the community. So I direct my questions now to the church. By being
present in God's house today, do you hereby declare yourselves to be the
children of God because you trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of
sins and the gift of eternal life? If this is true, please respond by saying
"we do."
CONGREGATION: "We do."
Would you please stand? Having come
freely, I ask now that you make the following commitment to those who stand
before you: So that (CHILD) may walk in the abundant life that
Christ offers, do you vow by God's help,
to be faithful in your calling as members of the body of Christ, to help
(PARENTS) be faithful to God, and to help teach and train (CHILD) in the ways
of the Lord so that he might one day trust him as Savior and Lord? If you
accept this responsibility, please respond by saying "we do."
CONGREGATION: “We do.”
(Dad hands child to pastor for prayer of
dedication)
(Presentation of Certificate and Gift)
(May wish to sing dedication hymn)
Service of Dedication II (with
grandparents)
God delights in children. He takes great
pleasure in them. They are one of the greatest gifts He gives to husbands and
wives. Psalm 127:3 proclaims that "Sons are a heritage from the Lord,
children a reward from Him." Because children are a gift from God, it is
natural that Christian parents present and dedicate their child to God. In the
Gospels we read that people brought little children and babies to Jesus so that
he might place his hands on them and pray for them.
In the same way, (PARENTS) today bring
their (
making this commitment are (GRANDPARENTS). And
witnessing this as well is (OTHER SIBLINGS).
(PARENTS), I call your attention to the
commands of God recorded in Holy Scripture.
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 tells us: "Hear O
Israel: The Lord our God is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your strength. These commandments that I
give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on their children. Talk
about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie
down and when you get up."
Years ago the music group Crosby,
Stills, Nash, and Young had a hit song with the words "teach your children
well." Indeed there is no higher calling for parents. Proverbs 10:1
reminds us that "a wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son
grief to his mother." The best thing Moms and Dads can teach their child
is the "fear of the Lord," for Proverbs 1:7 tells
us this is "the beginning of knowledge." In other words, the
successful application of all that (CHILD) learns in
life depends on him first learning to fear and follow God. So the church urges
you (PARENTS) to love God with every ounce and fiber of your being and teach
(CHILD) to do the same. As you love God, one another, and (OTHER SIBLINGS), you
will model before (CHILD) a wonderful love for God that he will want for
himself.
(PARENTS), by coming forward before God
and his people, do you hereby declare your desire to dedicate yourselves and
your (CHILD) to the Lord? If so, please respond by saying "we do."
PARENTS: "We do."
Having come freely, I ask now that you
enter into the following commitment in the presence of God and his people (wife
hands child to husband as a sign of his spiritual headship in the family).
So that (CHILD) may walk in the abundant
life that Christ offers, do you (PARENTS) vow by God's help and in partnership
with the church, to provide (CHILD) a Christian home of love and peace, to
raise him in the truth of our Lord's instruction and discipline, and to encourage
him to one day trust Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord?
PARENTS: "We do."
For encouragement in fulfilling these
vows, (PARENTS) call upon (GRANDPARENTS). Proverbs 17:6 declares how
"Grandchildren are the crown of the aged." There is great pride in seeing
a new generation of family. And how that joy is reinforced
when children are raised to fear God.
To this end, I ask you the following
questions. By coming forward before God and his people, do you hereby declare
your desire to help (PARENTS) fulfill the vow they have just made? If so,
please respond by saying "we do."
GRANDPARENTS: "We do."
Having come freely, I ask now that you
enter into the following commitment: So that (CHILD) may walk in the abundant
life that Christ offers, do you vow by God's help, to pray for and encourage
(PARENTS) in their effort to raise (CHILD) in the fear of the Lord, so that
(CHILD) might receive our Lord's guidance and instruction?
GRANDPARENTS: "We do."
Finally, I ask that the church make a
vow as well. As believers in the body of Christ, we have a responsibility to
teach the Gospel story to our younger generation. In fact, the Old Testament prophet
Joel commands us to tell of God's work "to your children, and let your
children tell it to their children, and their children
to the next generation" (1:3).
So I direct my questions now to the
congregation. Being present in God's house today, do you hereby declare
yourselves to be the children of God, trusting in Jesus Christ alone for the
forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life? If this is true, please
respond by saying "we do."
CONGREGATION: "We do."
Would you please stand? Having come
freely, I ask now that you make the following commitment before God and those
who stand before you: So that (CHILD) may walk in the
abundant life that Christ offers, do you
vow by God's help, to be faithful in your calling as members of the body of
Christ, to help (PARENTS) be faithful to God, and to help teach and train
(CHILD) in the ways of the Lord so that he might one day trust him as Savior
and Lord? If you accept this responsibility, please respond by saying "we
do."
CONGREGATION: “We do.”
(Dad hands child to pastor for prayer of
dedication)
(Presentation of Certificate and Gift)