Baby Dedication

Introduction

Welcome Adrian /Heaven Herrera --- Asher Herrera

Mario/Joana Abrego --- Mateo Apifanio Abrego

Wilson/Rebeca Hernandez --- Alaia Hernandez

Welcome the family (use names of parents and all children) Welcome extended family and other special friends who might be visiting the service Make mention of those who can’t join us today (or those linked via Skype or FaceTime)

Introduction • Explain this section of the service

- We are dedicating these children to the Lord and praying that they would come to know and serve him - We are dedicating these parents to the Lord and praying that they be given wisdom, understanding, knowledge and ability to raise this child in the way of the Lord - We are dedicating ourselves as a church family to be the village that helps to raise this child

Two or three Scripture readings

Luke 2:21-40

Luke 2:21–24 ESV

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

Luke 2:21–24 NVI

21 Cuando se cumplieron los ocho días y fueron a circuncidarlo, lo llamaron Jesús, nombre que el ángel le había puesto antes de que fuera concebido. 22 Así mismo, cuando se cumplió el tiempo en que, según la ley de Moisés, ellos debían purificarse, José y María llevaron al niño a Jerusalén para presentarlo al Señor. 23 Así cumplieron con lo que en la ley del Señor está escrito: «Todo varón primogénito será consagrado al Señor». 24 También ofrecieron un sacrificio conforme a lo que la ley del Señor dice: un par de tórtolas o dos pichones de paloma».

Luke 2:25–28 ESV

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

Luke 2:25–28 NVI

25 Ahora bien, en Jerusalén había un hombre llamado Simeón, que era justo y devoto, y aguardaba con esperanza la redención de Israel. El Espíritu Santo estaba con él 26 y le había revelado que no moriría sin antes ver al Cristo del Señor. 27 Movido por el Espíritu, fue al templo. Cuando al niño Jesús lo llevaron sus padres para cumplir con la costumbre establecida por la ley, 28 Simeón lo tomó en sus brazos y bendijo a Dios:

1. Do you recognize these children as gifts of God and with all your heart thank God for this blessing? (Say yesI do)

Children are a gift—regardless of the timing and circumstances of their arrival. They are not an accident. They are a gift—no matter how they come. They are a gift even when they are not what we expect. They are a gift even when they come with infantile seizures, and chromosome irregularities, heart problems, deformities, blindness, tumors, brain damage, respiratory issues, etc. They are a gift when they are throwing up in the middle of the night and displaying their temper in the grocery store. It is an honor to be entrusted by God with these gifts.

2. Do you now dedicate your children to the Lord who gave them to you, surrendering all worldly claims upon their lives in the hope that they will belong wholly to Jesus Christ? (Yes I Do)

This promise expresses our submission to God and to his purposes for our children, in the hope that our children will belong wholly to Jesus Christ. Although children are a gift from God to us, he retains “ownership”—his sovereign right—to our children. More specifically, he retains the right: to give and to take on his timetable, to bring our children to faith in his way, on his schedule and according to his purpose, and to lead our children wherever he pleases.

3. Do you pledge as parents that, with God's fatherly help, you will bring up your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, making every effort, with faithfulness, patience, and love, to build the Word of God, the character of Christ and the joy of the Lord into their lives?

(Yes I Do)

The focus of this promise expresses our commitment to faithfully carry out our Deuteronomy 6:4 and Ephesians 6:7 responsibilities—emphasizing the aim and tone of this effort and acknowledging our limitations and ultimate dependence on God.

4. Do you promise to provide, through God's blessing, for the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual needs of your children, looking to your own heavenly Father for the wisdom, love, and strength to serve them and not use them? (Yes I Promise)

Here we promise to provide for our children in every way. This promise would be impossible to keep without the qualifiers “through God’s blessing” and “looking to your own heavenly Father.” This promise also reinforces a commitment to Christ-like, servant-hearted, parenting that recognizes children exist for God—for his glory—not for our personal satisfaction and pleasure. Do you promise, God helping you, to make it your regular prayer that by God's grace your children will come to trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sins and for the fulfillment of all his promises to them, even eternal life; and in this faith follow Jesus as Lord and obey his teachings. This promise is our expression of hope that God will save our children and that they will passionately follow Jesus.

5. Do you promise, God helping you, to make it your regular prayer that by God's grace your children will come to trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sins and for the fulfillment of all his promises to them, even eternal life; and in this faith follow Jesus as Lord and obey his teachings? ( Yes I promise)

This promise is our expression of hope that God will save our children and that they will passionately follow Jesus.

Prayer