Dedication Services
Chichester Baptist Church is a family church for people of all ages and walks of life. It is a joy for us that we have so many babies and children among our numbers. We believe that each child is a gift from God and that it is important to help children discover God for themselves.
The arrival of a child is one of the most significant experiences in life. In a dedication service, parents want to mark this significant event with prayer, with thanksgiving to God and with promises. A dedication service is a chance to say three things:
‘Thanks!’ Parents thank God for the gift of their child’s life.
‘We commit to do our best!’ In a dedication service parents commit before God and others to bring their children up under the teaching and guidance of the Lord.
‘Help!’ Parents call on God to help them in the awesome task of looking after children. We also call on family, friends and the whole church congregation to help, recognising that many other people play a key role in bringing up a child.
We hold dedication services because Jesus welcomed little children, placed his hands on them and blessed them, and because the Bible as a whole encourages us to bless children.
The most important part of a dedication service is where we pray for God’s blessing on the child. We also pray for parents, as together we commit ourselves to provide the context in home and church, for a child to be given the best opportunity to grow towards faith in Jesus.
What about godparents?
We tend not to use the word ‘godparent’ but quite often, as part of the dedication service, parents do ask a small number of people to join them in praying for and supporting them in bringing up their child. We ask these people if they will pray faithfully for the child and offer friendship and a Christian example.
What about older children or more than one child?
Most commonly, the children brought to dedications are under two years old, but sometimes parents of older children seek a dedication service for their children. This is particularly common where they have started coming to church regularly some time after the birth of their children. Very often we have one dedication service for more than one child in the same family.
What about baptism?
Dedication services are a little different from what are called ‘christenings’ or ‘infant baptisms’ in other churches. This is because we believe that baptism in the Bible is a personal expression of faith.
What if there is only one parent?
If you are the single parent in a family, you are just as welcome to present your child to God, and to seek his blessing on your child.
It may also be that the other parent is not interested in a dedication service or doesn’t share your faith. In such a case, we would always want to work with both of you to see if there is a way you can both be included.
Whatever your circumstances, we will not ask you to say ‘yes’ to something you do not believe in or are uncomfortable with.
Does a dedication have to take place in a Sunday service?
Normally dedication services take place as part of our main church Sunday morning service but they can just as easily take place in a family home or at church on another day.
What now?
When you’ve had a chance to think it through, and you’ve decided that you would like to have a dedication service, in the first instance talk to one of the staff team at church or contact us.