Child Dedication

Presentation

It is my great joy to share with you this morning the gift of Eliza Brooke Johnson also known as E.B. Stephanie and Chad are her parents. Eliza was born

We are gathered here in this place this morning to celebrate Eliza Brooke and the joy she has already brought Stephanie and Chad as well as the rest of you gathered here today. We come today to pledge before God and each other to raise this child in a way that honors the Lord.

Please join me in prayer:

Most Gracious Lord, thank You for the gift of this day. Thank you that we can gather from various places and aligned our schedules to meet together right now in this Holy place. We invite Your presence to be in this room with us and we ask Your blessing among us. Thank You Lord for the opportunity to honor You and thank You for the gift of this child. We pray these things in the Name of Your Child, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

The Bible has much to say about children and the raising of children according to the design of God.

Deuteronomy 6:4–7 NIV84

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 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.

Matthew 19:13–15 NIV84

13 Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought 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.” 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

Psalm 78:1–8 NIV84

1 O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old— 3 what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. 5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, 6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. 7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. 8 They would not be like their forefathers— a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him.

Each of these passages indicate that we are to lead and guide our children in the ways of the Lord. We have been gifted the responsibility by God to raise our children in a way that points toward Him.

At this time, I would like to ask the parents, Stephanie and Chad a series of questions. After each one, please respond WE DO.

Do you today recognize that Eliza Brooke is a gift from God and give heartfelt thanks for God’s blessing?

Do you dedicate Elize Brooke to the Lord who gave her to you in the hope that she will fully belong to God?

Do you pledge as parents, that with God’s help, you will bring her up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, making every reasonable effort, with patience and love, to build the Word of God, the Character of Christ, and the joy of the Lord into her life?

Do you promise to provide, through God’s blessing, for the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs of her, looking to your own heavenly Father for the wisdom, love and strength to serve them and not use them?

Do you promise, God helping you, to make it your regular prayer that, by God’s grace, your child will come to trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of her sins and for the fulfillment of all His promises to her, even eternal life; and in this faith follow Jesus as Lord and obey His teachings?

It has been said in an African Proverb that “it takes a village to raise a child.” Dear family, you have already been a light in this young child’s life. Will you also respond WE DO after each of the following questions:

Will you promise to support Stephanie and Chad and they parent Eliza Brooke in the days and years to come?

Will you promise to pray for Eliza Brooke, Stephanie and Chad as they grow in faith as a family together?

Finally, will you promise to also pray for Eliza Brooke that she would grow in wisdom and stature, and that she would come to a place in her life where she would love the Lord her God with all her heart, all her soul, and strength?

Statement of Dedication:

Eliza Brooke Johnson, together with your parents, who love you dearly and these family members who care about the outcome of your faith, I dedicate you to God, surrendering together with them all the worldly claims on your life, in the hope you will belong completely to God forever.

Prayer of Blessing