Service of
 Dedication and Thanksgiving

for the birth of a child

 

In the Methodist Church

The Minister says:

1.  Heavenly Father, we thank You for the wonderful gift of sons and daughters. We pray that C, now to be dedicated may come to know You better and love You more, day by day, through Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord.  Amen.

The Ministry of the Word

2.  Deuteronomy 6: 4-7

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 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.

3.  Mark 10: 13-16

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

4.  So it is today that we bring children into the presence of Jesus that he might continue to touch them and bless them. We do so this morning by dedicating C to God, in joy and thanksgiving for his/her life and praying that, in the fullness of time, s/he will discover for him/herself the joys of new life in Jesus Christ and will him/herself choose to be baptized.

The Dedication

5.  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

We praise you, O God,
for creating all things
and for making us in your own image.

We thank you that even though we hurt You and ignore You,
You gave your only Son, Jesus Christ,
to be born of Mary,
to live as one of us,
to suffer death on the cross,
and to rise again for our salvation.

And now we offer You our thanks and praise
for the gift of a daughter/son to A and B (A)
and we pray that C, 
sustained and inspired by Your grace
and by the love of her/his parents,
may come to know You
and share with all Your people
the life of the baptized,
the bread of heaven,
and the joys of your kingdom;
we ask all this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

6.  The minister says to the parents:

A and B (A),
do you thankfully receive C 
as a gift from God,
and do you promise
with humility and hope
to love and to care for him/her
and to provide him/her with constant access
to the teaching, fellowship and worship of the Christian Church?

Answer: We do.

7.  The minister says to the people:

Members of the body of Christ,
will you surround this family with your caring love,
and will you support them 
with your fellowship and prayers?

With God's help, we will.

8.  The minister takes the child in her/his arms and says:

Will you name this child please.

Parents reply.

God our Father,
bless C with your Holy Spirit
that she/he may come to believe in Christ
and may bring forth the fruit of love, joy and peace
and glorify you for ever. Amen.

9.  The minister says to the Godparents:

Will you, who have come to support these parents, help them in the upbringing of this child?

Godparents: With God's help, we will.

Final Prayers

10.  Let us pray.

Heavenly Father,
we pray that C will come to know Jesus as Lord and friend,
and share with Your people the life of Your Church and kingdom.

The Lord hears our prayer.
Thanks be to God.

We pray that C and his/her family may follow Christ
and witness to Your love in their home and in their community.

The Lord hears our prayer.
Thanks be to God.

We pray for A and B
that they may be strengthened in their love for C
and receive your gifts of wisdom and understanding.

The Lord hears our prayer.
Thanks be to God.

11.  The love of the Lord Jesus
draw You to Himself,
the power of the Lord Jesus
strengthen You in His service,
the joy of the Lord Jesus
fill your hearts:
and the blessing of God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit
remain with you always.  Amen.

The service continues...