THE GIFT OF A CHILD
We declare that God has given us the gift of life in our children. It is our desire to raise them up to walk with Him.
- 1 Samuel 1:27-28 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.
- Deuteronomy 5:5-9 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 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. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.
- Mark 10:16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
The scriptural root of a child dedication is found in 1 Samuel 1:27-28, where a godly woman named Hannah prayed year after year for God to give her a child. He answered her prayer and she gave birth to a son, whom she named Samuel. When Samuel was born, Hannah prayed these words: For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him. So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.
In Luke chapter 2 of the New Testament, following our Savior’s birth, Mary and Joseph took the infant Jesus to the temple and dedicated Him. In both Scripture passages, the parents entrusted their child completely to God. So this ceremony is called a child dedication, but aims primarily at challenging the parents of the child and for the church family to dedicate themselves to raising their children in God’s grace.
Dedication is not a sacrament; nor does it impart salvation to a child. We know that salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ as each person recognizes their sinfulness and receives God’s grace and forgiveness because of His death and resurrection. Yet, these dedications can serve as a memorial to the parents to raise their children up as Moses writes, in Deuteronomy 6:5-9: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 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. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.”
For information on baby and child dedication please complete the form below or contact the office: 603-532-4432. Thank you.
©Hope Fellowship Church
16 Prescott Rd, Jaffrey, NH 03452
603-532-4432