Infant Dedication Services

What is infant dedication?

At Neighborhood Church, we view infant dedication as an act in which parents honor God publicly through acknowledging (1) that their child is a gift from God and (2) that they are committed as parents to partner with God in fulfilling His purposes for their child.

"...Bring [children] up in the training and instruction of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4b NIV).

Who qualifies for dedicating an infant?

Any parent or parents who believe in the Scriptural foundation for dedication of children, who wish to publicly acknowledge God as the giver of life, and who desire to raise their children to understand and experience a relationship with Jesus Christ. Parents do not have to be members of Neighborhood Church to dedicate their infants.

How old should a child be when he or she is dedicated?

Most children are dedicated as infants, but there is no age limit.

What is the difference between infant dedication and baptism?

Infant dedication is an act of parents who want to acknowledge God as the giver of life and to commit themselves to raising children in the training and instruction of the Lord. Baptism is an act of obedience on the part of an individual who has experienced salvation through Jesus Christ and desires to publicly testify of this experience. For more information on Baptism, please pick up our packet entitled, "Steps to Baptism," located at the prayer room, information center, or at the main office.

Who will officiate a parental dedication of an infant(s)?

Any of the pastoral staff at Neighborhood Church may be requested to officiate at an infant dedication service.

When are infant dedication services offered?

We can conduct infant dedication services on most Sundays of the year. Services will be conducted from 10:15 - 10:45 AM, between Sunday worship services, or at the conclusion of our second worship service, at 12 PM. The dedication service will be approximately 15 minutes in length.

Where are infant dedication services conducted?

Services will be conducted in a special room to the left of the platform, which has been specifically set aside for our infant dedication services. It is quiet, intimate and allows family and friends to focus on the dedication service.

Why do we conduct these services in a special location between our regularly scheduled services?

The biggest reason is to enhance the intimacy of the moment and to take the necessary time to teach the significance of dedication to those who attend. We further desire to introduce various workers from our ministry as a bridge to parents in their formal commitment of dedication. We seek to minister to families in the most meaningful way possible beyond even the initial dedication service.

(Note: Parents may wish to consider having a private dedication at their own residence, where family and friends can gather. When available, pastors enjoy this very intimate and spiritually focused time.)

What will happen at the dedication service?

When all the family and friends have arrived, the pastor officiating will greet everyone and explain the meaning and significance of infant dedication. He will then invite the parents and infant(s) to the front of the room, along with any others whom the parents may wish to join them. Next, the pastor will offer a prayer of dedication for the infant(s). Following the brief service of dedication, photos may be taken and a certificate of dedication will be presented to the family.

What is my next step in scheduling an infant dedication?

First, fill out and return the Neighborhood Church child dedication form, available at the information desk in the church lobby. Leave this form with a church representative or mail it directly to our main office at 20600 John Drive, Castro Valley, CA, 94546. Make sure you allow at least three weeks of lead-time for dedication services. Upon receiving the form, our office staff will call you to confirm your date and time along with the pastor who will be dedicating.

Next, send invitations to family and friends to join you for this special occasion. You may wish to plan a family gathering afterwards. We also encourage families to use these moments to introduce your guests to the worship service that either precedes or follows your infant's dedication service.

Finally, arrive at least 10 minutes early so the dedication can begin on time. Because these services will be held between our worship gatherings, it is important for families to be on time.

What does the Bible say about dedicating children?

  1. Human life is a gift from God and begins at conception.
    • "Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from Him" (Psalm 127:3 NLT).
    • "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" (Jeremiah 1:5 NIV).
    • "You are the one who put me together inside my mother's body, and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt" (Psalm 139:13-14 CEV).
  2. In response to God's gift of children, His people have honored Him by dedicating their children to His purposes. The example of Hannah dedicating Samuel:

    • "I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:27-28 NIV).
    3. The example of Mary and Joseph dedicating Jesus:

    • "When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord" (Luke 2:22).