Parent/Child Dedication

It is Woodcrest Church’s custom to offer Parent/Child
Dedication services for infants and children. This is a
special time of public ceremony and personal
commitment when the child’s parents and the church family promise to raise the child in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Dedication services are held throughout the year on Sunday mornings as part of the regular worship hour. Parents meet with pastoral staff prior to a scheduled dedication to learn more about the event and for the pastor to learn more about the family and the child. The church family, in witnessing this ceremony, pledges itself to the spiritual care and education of the child. It is a
reminder to the congregation that all of the children of the church belong to God and are our mutual responsibility.

What is Parent/Child Dedication?
The custom of Parent/Child Dedication has ancient origins in the Bible. The Israelites, on the
eighth day of a child’s life, brought their children to the priest for a blessing. In 1 Samuel, Hannah
brought her son, Samuel, to Eli, the priest, to dedicate him to the Lord. Mary and Joseph brought
baby Jesus to the temple for His dedication.

We recognize that faith comes to a child through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Faith
is not passed on to a child through Parent/Child Dedication; rather, Dedication is a statement
of obedient intent. Parents are promising to raise their child in the training and instruction of the
Lord, with the desire that one day, their child will receive Jesus Christ as his/her personal Savior.

Parents should prayerfully enter into Parent/Child Dedication. They should see this ceremony as a
very special moment of sacred trust. Both parents are saying, in effect, that they have previously
committed their lives to Christ and are promising God that, to the best of their ability, they will
lead their child in the same way.

Parent/Child Dedication Checklist

• 1.) Call Woodcrest Church to request the next available dedication date.
• 2.) Fill out the Child Dedication family questionnaire.
• 3.) Send or bring your child’s picture to the Woodcrest Church office.
• 4.) Meet with pastoral staff prior to the service to get acquainted.
• 5.) Pray that this event would be a significant moment in your family’s life.