Our dedication services allow parents to publicly express their desire to bring their child up under Biblical teaching and by the guidance of the Lord.
A child dedication service is an opportunity for parents to say three things:
1. ‘Thanks!’
Parents are thanking God for the gift of their child’s life.
2. ‘We commit to do our best!’
Before God and the gathered assembly, parents affirm their intent to lead and spiritually nurture their children.
Parents demonstrate their desire to assist their child in growing in wisdom, stature, and love of our great God!
3. ‘Help!’
Parents are calling on God to assist them in the tremendous task of raising their children.
They are asking family, friends and the whole church congregation for help.
In this service, parents recognize the importance of other people’s influence in a child’s life.
Please let us know if you believe we could be of an assistance to you.
Complete the form below or
Contact:
Rev. James Howard
Pastor, Cornerstone Baptist Church
ph. (905) 847-3530 | pastor@cornerstonebc.ca
Understanding Child Dedication
As a parent, you’re the most important influence in your child’s life. But you’re not the only influence your child needs. That’s where your church family comes in. Child dedication is an opportunity to invite others to develop and influence your child as they grow in their faith. In addition, it can relieve some parenting pressure because you get to partner with people who will love and lead your child well. Your kids didn’t begin following Jesus by accident. When you dedicate your child, you decide to raise your kids, knowing who Jesus is. Check out what the Bible says about this: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 6:4-7 When we love God with everything in us model and the same for our kids, our example is far more powerful than our words; we teach our kids what it looks like to follow Jesus and talk about it and think about it often. Leading kids to live like Jesus isn’t a checkbox on a parenting to-do list. Instead, it’s an intentional, ongoing conversation that shapes who they are now and who they’re becoming.
Child dedication is an excellent step for your family, but it’s certainly not the same as salvation. Salvation happens when your child chooses to receive Jesus Christ into their life, and baptism is when they decide to go public with their faith. Child dedication is less about your child’s choice now and more about setting them up for those choices later. When you dedicate your child, you’re committing to raising them in an environment where they hear about the Bible and Jesus Christ and have an opportunity to accept Him. It is an excellent practise, but it is optional.
That’s your decision. You can dedicate your child whether they’re three days old or 17 years old. The age doesn’t matter as much as the principle. Child dedication is an essential step in your family’s faith life because it sets a foundation that your family will be known for following Jesus Christ. So, consider choosing a family verse, picking family values, or finding friends who will help you grow in these values and become the people God has called you to be.
Child dedication has a long history going back to Genesis 22, when Abraham was willing to give up his son, Isaac, to God. Others followed this practice, such as Hannah in 1 Samuel 1 when after a long season of infertility, Hannah gave her firstborn son back to God to serve Him. Fast-forward to the New Testament in Luke 2:21-38, where Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the Temple to dedicate and circumcise Him. In that instance, just like today, the dedication of a child was an opportunity for people to be introduced to Jesus.
Membership is not a requirement. However, in addition to identifying as a believer in Jesus Christ, we ask that at least one of the parents be a regular attendee at Cornerstone. In the dedication service, the family states that they are partnering with us as a church to raise the child in the Gospel.
Yes. Other family members are welcome to join the ceremony.
Godparents are typically associated with certain denominations that practice infant baptism. Since Cornerstone only baptizes a person upon a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, we do not require or have a formalized role for godparents. However, if a family wants to include individuals, who serve in a unique role of encouraging the child in their walk with God, we are glad to have them in the service.
Services Sunday Bible Classes 9:45 AM Sunday Morning Worship 10:30 AM Sunday Evening Gathering 5:00 PM Midweek Bible Study 6:30 PM Youth Nights 5:00 PM last Sunday night of each month | Location Sundays at Holiday Inn (Oakville) Centre 590 Argus Road | Oakville, ON
Midweek Bible Study *(Locations, Dates & Times Vary) | Contact Us Cornerstone Baptist Church Box 60057 | RPO Glen Abbey Oakville, ON L6M 3H2 ph. (905) 847.3530 office@cornerstonebc.ca | ||||||||||
