Baby Dedication

Information Concerning Baby/Child Dedications at Peaceful Valley Church

Dedicating your child to the Lord is an important matter and our church family is excited to assist you and be a part!

Baby/Child Dedication ceremonies are conducted by request.  For new babies, this is usually done within 6-8 weeks of the child being born.  Please contact Pastor Jim to discuss possible dates for a Baby/Child Dedication.  His phone number is 292-8584.  Private appointments with the pastor are NOT necessary prior to a baby/child dedication ceremony.  But IF you feel you have lots of questions concerning the significance of this event, OR you feel you cannot honestly answer “yes” to ALL the questions below you will be asked OR if you have questions about how a baby dedication is different than an infant baptism, please feel free to call the church office to schedule an appointment to talk with one of our pastors.

A Child Dedication Form is to be filled out and turned into the church office at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled Child Dedication service.  Invitation cards (with maps to the church) are available upon request to invite family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, relatives, etc. to this special ceremony that will be held during our regular Sunday morning church services.

During the worship service, the Pastor will invite all parents/guardians, other significant family members, and the children they are dedicating to come to the front of the sanctuary.

The Pastor will take the microphone and ask one of the parents/guardians to introduce the child they are dedicating and tell the congregation their name, age and then read the verse they have chosen for the child (see attached list for possible suggestions).

The pastor will ask all the parents/guardians present the following questions as a group:

In presenting your children for dedication to the Lord, do you confess your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord?  Response: I do or We do.

Do you understand…

1.         …Your child is a gift from God?   Response I do or We do.

2.         …Your child must see God’s love and truth lived out in your life day by day?  Response: I do or We do.

3.         …You must consistently pray for your child’s spiritual growth and protection for the rest of your life?  Response: I do or We do.

4.         …A healthy marriage relationship with each other is vital to the emotional and spiritual well being of your child?  Response: I do or We do.

5.         Do you promise to affirm this child in their obedience and show your love for them by disciplining them when they are disobedient?  Response: I do or We do.

6.         Do you promise to do your best to faithfully* attend church with your child and that you will you seek to lead your child to a personal faith* in Jesus Christ?     Response: I do or We do. (*Please note: If you cannot honestly make this promise at this time, we would request that you call and schedule a meeting with the pastor prior to scheduling your child for dedication).

The Pastor will then pray the following prayer of dedication (or something similar) “On the basis of the word of God and by the testimony of these family members, we dedicate these children to You Lord, we thank you for the gifts that they are, we joyfully encourage these parents, their children and our entire church family to pray and work together as we attempt to raise these children to know and love Jesus Christ.  Amen.”

The parents/guardians and children will then be dismissed from the platform to return to their seats (and/or to take their children to nursery or Sunday school).

Possible Bible Verses for Your Child’s Dedication Service

During your child’s dedication you will be asked to introduce your child and personally read a Scripture verse or passage that you have chosen for your child.  The following list provides you with a wide range of verses other parent’s have used in the past.  You can choose one of the verses listed or come up with a different verse that you would like to use.

Please indicate on your Baby Dedication Form which verse or passage you have chosen for your child.

Numbers6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

Dt. 4:9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

Dt. 6:6-7 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your 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.

Luke 2:52 Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

1 Sam 2:26 The boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with men.

Luke 1:80 The child grew and became strong in spirit.

Luke 2:40 The child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

Judges 13:24 The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the LORD blessed him.

1 Sam 2:21 The boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.

2 Sam 5:10 He became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him.

Ps 22:10 From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

Jos. 24:15 As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

Pr 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.