Parent
/ Child Dedication
This dedication is a ceremony in which the parents or parent make public
their intent to raise their child in a home that honors God by committing
to lay a spiritual foundation that, it God’s timing, will ultimately
lead a child into a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ.
God has given parents a special responsibility. The
Bible reads in Deuteronomy 11:18—20, “Teach God’s
Word to your children, talk about it when you sit at home and when you
walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up...”
Some
commonly asked questions about Dedication Day...
Is
the dedication the same as baptism?
No. When the term
baptism was used in the Bible, it referred to immersion. All decisions
to be baptized in the Bible were made by people who were old enough
to understand the basics of what they were doing. Even Jesus was an
adult when he was baptized. We believe the decision to be baptized is
one to be made by a person who is mature enough to understand the importance
of that decision.
What
will happen at the ceremony?
A word of encouragement
is given to the parents to remind them of their God-given responsibility
and commitment to teach their children about Jesus, and to have a God-honoring
home.
Olive oil is lightly
dabbed on each child’s forehead. Olive oil has special significance
in the Bible; it was used to anoint prophets, priests, and kings, it
symbolized setting them apart for God’s special purpose. The purpose
of the olive oil in the ceremony is to invite God’s blessing on
the child as parents and family set them apart for His special purpose.
When
does the Dedication Ceremony take place?
We set
aside a Sunday each Spring and Fall for a Parent/Child Dedication Ceremony.
The ceremony takes place during the Sunday morning service. Sunday church
service, and it takes about 10 minutes near the beginning of the service.
About 3 weeks prior to the designated Sunday, you will have the opportunity
to sign-up for the dedication and you will be contacted with the necessary
information.
