**This event has now passed - thank you to all who participated! please return here for future child dedication service dates and information. contact jennifers@nwctally.com if you would like for your family to be a part of the next service.

CHILD DEDICATION SERVICE - Sunday, February 2nd @ 10:45 am

Child Dedication is a special time for parents and their children. As a church, we will come together during our Sunday worship service at 10:45 AM to celebrate these precious lives and to stand with parents as they thank God for their children and commit to raising them according to God’s purpose.

Child Dedication is not the same as salvation or infant baptism; rather, it is simply a declaration that our church will partner with each family to help resource them, make community easy, provide consistent people in their child’s life at every stage, and to cheer them on as they raise their children to grow in their faith and develop their own personal relationship with God.

We will have a Parent Orientation & Breakfast at 9:30 AM in the Multi-Purpose Room for all participating families where we will share some brief instructions about the dedication service. The Dedication Ceremony will be during the Worship Service at 10:45 AM following the Orientation.

If you have any questions, read below to learn more, or contact Jennifer Stokley at jennifers@nwctally.com or Todd Sapp at todds@nwctally.com.

Child Dedication FAQs

What is the Biblical Purpose for Child Dedication?

The scriptural root of child dedication is found in 1 Samuel 1:27–28 (NASB), 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."

A New Testament example is in Luke chapter 2. Following the birth of Jesus, 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. The writings of Moses, found in Deuteronomy 6:5–9, describe God's plan for how a parent should raise up a child: "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 doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

At What Age Can a Child Take Part in a Dedication Service?

While Northwoods Church doesn’t have a set age requirement for a child's dedication, the average for a child to be dedicated is preschool age and younger. However, many parents dedicate children much older than that because they want to dedicate all of their children at the same time or because families have just recently considered Child Dedication, never having done it before.

What Should We Wear on Dedication Day?

Parents and children are welcome to wear whatever makes them feel most comfortable.

Does Northwoods Church Baptize Infants?

Scripture provides evidence that baptism follows an individual’s decision to trust Jesus alone for salvation (Acts 2:41, 8:12, and 10:47–48). In the Bible, we find parents bringing their children to Jesus. He held them, prayed for them and told us to welcome them. But He did not baptize them and He did not tell anyone else to baptize them. Northwoods Church believes baptism is for those who have made a personal decision to trust Jesus alone for their salvation, once they have the maturity and ability to understand what that means.

Dedication is not a sacrament; nor does it impart grace or salvation to a child. Salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ as each person recognizes their sinfulness and receives forgiveness and eternal life through him and his work on the cross.

Rather than baptizing infants or young children, Northwoods Church encourages Christian parents to dedicate their children. This is a special moment in our church service where parents formally call upon God’s blessing for their child and publicly commit to raise him or her in accordance with scripture and to walk together in faith as a family.

Can Parent(s) Assign Godparents?

Although the term “godparent” is not formally used at Northwoods Church, we do welcome parents to invite friends and family members committed to supporting them. The presence of these significant adults symbolizes their commitment to play a supportive role in the child’s spiritual development as they “widen the circle” of people who influence his or her life.  During the ceremony we would ask that only immediate family members come up to the front or on stage, but there will be plenty of seating available for family and friends. We will have a professional photographer on the stage who will help capture your special moments.