Colten Marcel Lecler Infant Dedication

Introduction Welcome to each one of you. My name is Reverend Michael Scott, and we're here today to participate in the christening sacrament, and to give thanks and celebrate our joy in the arrival of a precious child, Colten.

It is the privilege of all of us gathered here to encourage and assist parents in the proper training and development of their children. Therefore, it is wonderful to unite in this service of dedication for parents and child.

In this service of dedication we will give thanks to God for the creation and birth of this child . Secondly, we are to make a solemn promise as parents and as a witnesses that, relying on the grace of God and working together, we will endeavor to provide guidance for this child in instruction, discipline, salvation experience, and growth in the Lord. In the third place, we are to pray for God’s blessings upon this child , in the presence of his Spirit, remembering how the Lord Jesus Christ took little children and blessed them.

Savannah and Marten want to share their joy with you and they look forward to your continuing involvement with their child's life in the years ahead. They are also aware of the great responsibility that is now theirs. A great deal of their lives will be involved in caring for their child, and guiding him through the many paths of life. As the years go by, their role as parents will be assisted and enhanced by each one of you here today, as well as by the friends and elsewhere that are unable to be here. The christening of a child is an important rite of passage to those that recognise the role that God plays in our lives. The Bible tells us that it is God's will that children be brought to him for blessing.

THE READING OF THE SCRIPTURES

The act of dedication is in keeping with the teaching of God’s Word. An example is the dedication of Jesus by his parents.We are reminded of a story in the book of Matthew, Chapter 19, where little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them.

Matthew 19:13–14 NIV

13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. 14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Psalm 103:17–18 NIV

17 But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— 18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

Ephesians 6:1–4 NIV

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Mark 9:36–37 NIV

36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

So why is this so important; this dedication of Colten which we are doing today? It’s simple really. It is to acknowledge the importance of being a member in God’s family. When Savanagh and I were chatting about today’s ceremony, I asked here if she had any scripture readings she’d like to share. And it is probably the most important passage for us to remind ourselves.

John 3:16–18 NIV

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Today, we welcome Colten into God’s family.

Let us pray. Dear Lord, as we gather here, may your Holy Spirit surround us and rejuvenate us. We pray that out of your glorious riches, you may strengthen Colten with your Spirit, so that Christ may dwell in his heart though faith. And we pray that this child, being rooted and established in love, may know the love of God that surpasses all knowledge, so that he may be filled to the measure with the fullness of God. Amen.

PRESENTATION

We acknowledge Savannah and Marten who present their son before God today.

Savannah and Marten, with the help of God, will you do all that you can to provide your son with love, comfort, encouragement, sustenance, shelter and protection from harm? We will.

Prayer God our creator, we thank you for the wonder of new life and for the mystery of human love. We thank you for all whose support and skill surround and sustain the beginning of life. We thank you that we are known to you by name and loved by you from all eternity. Godparents Section Savannah and Marten, have you chosen godparents for your child? Yes, we have. Please have them come forward. Marcel, with the help of God, will you do all that you can to help and support Savannah and Marten in the bringing up of their son? I will.

Taylor, with the help of God, will you do all that you can to help and support Savannah and Martin in the bringing up of their son? I will.

THE COMMITMENT

Savannah and Marten, in presenting your child to the Lord, do you promise in dependence upon God’s grace, to teach him the truths of the Christian faith, to set a Christian example before him, to bring him up in the instruction and discipline of the Lord, and to encourage him to accept Christ as his Saviour under the guidance of the Holy Spirit?

PARENTS: We do.

And to all of you gathered today: Do you, as witnesses gathered here today, promise to join these parents in the teaching and training of this child that he may be led in due time to trust Christ as Saviour and to confess him in baptism? We do.

Prayers. God our creator, we thank you for the gift of this child, entrusted to our care. May we be patient and understanding, ready to guide and to forgive, so that through our love he may come to know your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Eternal Father, we ask that you pour your blessings into this water, and sanctify it for our use today. In Christ's name.

Then I hereby christen you Colten. By the authority vested in me by God , I hereby dedicate you in the name of the Father (pour or cross),  and of the Son (pour or cross),  and of the holy Spirit (pour or cross). Amen.

As Jesus took children in his arms and blessed them, so now we ask God's blessing on this Child.

Prayer Heavenly Father, we praise you for Colten’s birth - surround him with your blessings that he may know your love, be protected from evil, and know your goodness all his days. May he learn to love all that is true, grow in wisdom and strength and, come through faith to the fullness of your Grace.

May God the Father of all bless these parents and godparents and give them grace to love and care for their child. May God give them wisdom, patience and faith, and help them to provide for Colten's needs.

Eternal Father, we thank you for the rich variety of the families you have created for us, and for the relationships which we see and enjoy within them. Help us to respect and learn from each other. We thank you too for love that binds the families that are here today, and we ask your blessing on them.

Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son shared at Nazareth the life of an earthly home, bless the home of this child, may it provide shelter, warmth and security to the family and to all those who visit. All this we ask in Jesus's name, Amen.

Closing

Colten, today we officially welcome you. We wish you long life and much happiness. May you face all challenges that come to you as a person of integrity, May you continue to bring great joy to your parents, your grandparents, family, friends, and to all those who come to know you.  May beauty delight you and happiness uplift you, May wonder fulfill you and love surround you. May your step be steady and your arm be strong, May your heart be peaceful and your word be true. May you seek to learn, may you learn to live. May you live to love, and may you love - always. And may the Lord bless you and watch over you, the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you, the Lord look kindly on you and give you peace. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always.

Amen