DEDICATION OF JAMES EDWARD BRIDGES
took place on December 12, 2004 at the First Baptist Church of Bradford, NH
Rev. Lynne Hubley, Pastor
Children are a gift from God. Psalm 127:3 proclaims "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him." As believers we are called to recognize that children belong first and foremost to God. God in his goodness gives children as gifts to parents. They not only have the awesome responsibility of caring for this gift, but also the wonderful privilege of enjoying the gift. Because children belong to God and are given by grace as gifts to parents, it is only proper and appropriate that children be dedicated back to God.
We are told in 1 Samuel 1 that Hannah presented her son
Samuel to the Lord. In Luke 2:22 we read that Mary and Joseph brought their baby
Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem in order to present him before the Lord. In the
same way, Heather and Peter Bridges today bring their son James Edward Bridges
presenting first themselves and then their son before the Lord our God.
Accompanying them in making this commitment are James’ grandmothers,
Maryellen Stockwell and Joan Bridges.
Heather and Peter, I call your attention to the commands of
God recorded in Holy Scripture. Deuteronomy 6:4-7 tells us:
"Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." God's instructions are plain.
Heather and Peter love God with every ounce and fiber of
your energy and teach James to do the same.
As you love God and one another, you will model before James a wonderful
love for God that he will want for himself.
Heather and Peter by coming forward before God and his people, do you hereby declare your desire to dedicate yourselves and your son James Edward to the Lord? If so, please respond by saying "we do.”
Modeling this kind of love cannot be done alone. It requires the help of others. For this reason, Heather and Peter call upon the help of James’ grandmothers Maryellen and Joan. I now direct my questions to you. By coming forward before God and his people, do you hereby declare your desire to help Heather and Peter fulfill the vow they have just made? If so, please respond by saying "we do."
Finally, I ask that the church make a vow as well. As believers in the body of Christ, we have a responsibility to teach the Gospel story to our younger generation. In fact, the Old Testament prophet Joel commands us to tell of God's work "to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation" (1:3). So I direct my questions now to the congregation.
Being present in God's house today, do you hereby declare yourselves to be the children of God because you trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life? If this is true, please respond by saying "we do." Would you please stand? Having come freely, I ask now that you make the following commitment before God and those who stand before you: So that James may walk in the abundant life that Christ offers, do you vow with God's help, to be faithful to God in your calling as members of the body of Christ, to help Heather and Peter God, and to help teach and train James Edward in the ways of the Lord so that he might one day trust him as Savior and Lord? If you accept this responsibility, please respond by saying "we do.
Pastor Lynne then gave a Prayer of Dedication.
