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Having a
Dedication at Selsdon Baptist church
This is a moment of special prayer and
thanksgiving for a child, shared by the parents and the whole
church.
 The
picture shows one of our church families at the dedication service for
their daughter. Both they and the church are giving thanks for their
daughter, and praying for God's help as parents, and that their daughter
will find her own faith in Jesus when she grows.
- We welcome any parents
who want to bring their child to church to say 'thank you' to
God, to pray for the child and to ask for God's blessing and
help for them as parents in their task of bringing up their
family
- This is not a baptism. No promises
are made on behalf of the child concerning the faith that the
child will or will not have. We can express our prayer and hope
that the child will grow up to love, follow and serve Jesus
Christ, but we also want to recognise that this will be the
child's own decision when the child is old enough to understand
that for him or herself. Only at that stage will the subject of
baptism become a relevant one.
- The dedication happens within the
context of a morning service in the presence of the
congregation and children. It is a happy and joyful time when
the church join with the family in their thanksgiving and their
prayer. After the dedication a certificate will be presented to
the parents and the child's name will be added to the list of
those dedicated at Selsdon Baptist Church.
- Sometimes the minister will
take the child around the church
during the singing of a hymn and introduce the child to some of
the congregation. This is only done, however, when it is the
wish of the parents.
- Before a dedication, the Minister likes
to meet with both of the parents to talk about the service and
plan it appropriately. Parents are invited to share in the
planning of the whole service, by suggesting hymns and songs
that might be sung, and offering any other ideas that can be
incorporated into the service, or people who might want to share
in some way.
- God-parents are not part of a
Dedication, as the traditional role of 'God-parents' is to make
Christian promises on behalf of the child.
However, we realise that many couples like the idea of others
who stand with them, who take an interest in the child and maybe
even take on legal custody in the case of bereavement. To help
those who want to be involved in this way, we are happy to name
in the service SPECIAL FRIENDS who have taken a special interest
in the child. These special friends may be asked to stand, but
will not be asked to make any promises.
- The actual form of dedication is
variable and can be worked out with each couple individually.
There is a set form involving words that parents, minister and
church say alternately. Otherwise the form can involve questions
put to the parents by the minister. The whole will usually
involve at least three elements:
- There will be thanksgiving for
the life of the child
- There will be prayer for God's
blessing on the child.
- There will be prayer for the
parents.
- The service is also seen as a welcome
for the child into the family of the church, and the child's
full name is used as a recognition that the child is special,
precious and God's unique creation.
- Sometimes the parents who think about
dedication do not both have the same level of faith.
Sometimes one may be a Christian and not the other. This does
not prevent a family bringing a child for a Dedication, provided
both parents are willing to work out, with the minister, a
suitable form of wording which they can agree to with honesty
and integrity. It would not be our wish to make a person use a
form of words with which they are uncomfortable.
If you want any more information or want to
discuss this more fully, please do not hesitate to contact:
Rev Mike Elcome
at
Selsdon Baptist Church
Addington Road
Selsdon
CR2 8LL
Tel: 020 8651 4308
or email
mike.elcome@selsdonbaptist.org.uk
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