Dedication Celebration!
To dedicate means to “set apart.” A dedication service is a public expression that you as Christian parents are willing to do all you can to “set apart” your child for God until that child can make his or her own choice regarding a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It could more aptly be described as “Parent Dedication”.
In dedicating your child to the Lord, you as parents make a vow to raise your child in God’s ways and not your own. The dedication service is more than a ritual – it is a commitment you are making to honor the will and Word of God.
Proverbs 20:25 tells us, “It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later consider his vows.”
Developmental Insights…Making the Connection
A recent research study by the Barna Research Group, which studies American Cultural trends and the Christian Church, discovered that a person’s lifelong behaviors and views are generally developed when they are young – particularly before they reach their teenage years.
Their research showed four critical outcomes:
1. A person’s moral foundations are generally in place by the time they reach age nine.
2. Determinations regarding the personal significance of Christ’s death and resurrection are most likely to be made by age twelve.
3. In most cases people’s spiritual beliefs are irrevocably formed when they are pre-teens. In essence, he noted, “what you believe by the time you are age 13 is what you will die believing.”
4. Today’s adult church leaders usually have serious involvement in church life and training when they are young.
Partnership – understanding your Contribution
Families and church working together:
The research also concluded “In situations where children became mature Christians we usually found a symbiotic partnership between their parents and their church.”
The church encouraged parents to prioritize the spiritual development of their children and parents raised their children in the context of a faith-based community. Neither the parents nor the church could have done it alone.
Details for your special day…
- Please sign up to register your attendance at a class.
- A class / overview is required to be able to dedicate your child at GC.
- Child dedications are an intricate part of or worship celebration, and are planned accordingly. Hence the number of dedications per service is limited…please do not make any arrangements for your dedication until you have attended class and confirmed the logistics for your dedication.
- A dedication service is usually held every 4-6 weeks after each class…please check dates below so you can schedule your class. Service times and dates will be confirmed at class end.
To register for an upcoming class click here…
Upcoming class and service dates…
January – June 2010
Class - May 2nd - 12:00 – Train Room
Dedication Services – MOTHERS DAY – MAY 9th – all services
Class- June 6th - 12:00 – Train Room
Dedication Services – FATHERS DAY – JUNE 20th – all services
We will resume child dedication classes and services in September.
