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Child Dedication at Crossroads

What is child dedication all about?

* In our child dedication ceremonies, we are acknowledging that children are a gift from God. We present our children back to God, entrusting them to His care.

Mary and Joseph dedicating Jesus:

“When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.” ( Luke 2:22)

Hannah dedicating Samuel:

“After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. When they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him, "As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there. “ (1 Samuel 1:24-28)

* Because we take our faith in Jesus Christ seriously, we desire to pass our heritage on to our children.

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD 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 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. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. “ (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

* We are acknowledging and publicly confessing that we are utterly depend on God for the wisdom, strength, patience and love that we need to be good parents.

‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. “ (Proverbs 3:5-6)

* We are asking for the prayers, support and encouragement of our church community in bringing up our children.

 

• What child dedication is not

* Child dedication is not a substitute for baptism.
* Child dedication doesn’t replace an individual’s personal decision to follow Jesus.
* Child dedication is a statement of commitment to raise your child in a way that honours God.
 

• What actually happens at the dedication service?

You have to be at church 15 minutes early and report to the stage manager. Your family should sit near the front by an aisle where you can easily get to the podium. You and your child will be invited to the stage. You will be given the opportunity to introduce yourselves. A Liturgy of Child Dedication will then be followed. (A copy of this will be sent to you on your first contact with Crossroads). A pastoral blessing over your child will then follow.

 

• Do I need to say anything at the Dedication?

You aren't obligated to, but we would like to give you the opportunity to introduce yourself and your family to the congregation. To do this you simply say introduce your family and where you are from.

 

• Do I need to prepare anything for the dedication?

Parent(s) are asked to choose a Short Bible Verse or Short Poem. This needs to be sent, in advance of the dedication date. The text will be read aloud and place on the large screens for the congregation to read along. The language must be in English and, if needed, another language of your choice. The English version will be read. Also feel free to add a digital picture of your child is you wish.
 

• When will the dedication be?

Parents can request the Sunday date of which they would like their child to be dedicated. Please request the date through an email. The date will either be confirmed or if the date is not available, a new date will be asked for.

Dedications are done in the following services:
The first Sunday of the month during the first service.
The second Sunday of the month during the second service.
The third Sunday of the month during the third service.
No more then two dedications will be done in one service.
On a baptism Sunday there will be no dedications done.

If you want your child to be dedicated, you can contact Tinka Veninga, coordinator Sunday School & Creche at tinka@xrds.nl.
She would like to meet the parents and, if possible, the child that will be dedicated to explain some more and set the date for the dedication.