Today’s morning service was a dedication service. In our church, we don’t christen or baptise babies, believing that a personal decision to follow Jesus is the basis for baptism. In a dedication service, we give thanks to God for the life of a child and ask for His blessing and guidance on the whole family.
Garry spoke about how a parent’s love is sacrificial and giving, wanting the best for the child, often at great personal cost. Parents are involved in the special occasions, but are also there in the everyday and the mundane, changing dirty nappies, wiping snotty noses and caring for children through thick and thin. The love a family has for each family member is great through all generations, but no matter how strong our love, it is not enough. We are all human and fallible and need a love that is stronger than we are capable of giving. God is our heavenly Father, able to love unconditionally and through every circumstance of life.
God has promised us freedom (Jn 8:32) and fulness of life (Jn 10:10) and abundant hope (Rom 15:13), but these things are accepted by faith. Each one of us has to make that choice; our prayer is that each child that is dedicated to God will grow to know and love Him as they mature.
Praying for Oliver:
Enjoying food and fun after the service:
A special cake:
