BAYSIDE KIDS

PARENT/CHILD DEDICATION

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We are excited that you are interested in dedicating your child to the Lord. The purpose of Parent/Child dedication is for parents to present their child before God and the church, committing to seek after His grace and wisdom in carrying out their responsibilities.

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We believe Psalm 127:3, which says “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” Parent/Child Dedication is a time for us to celebrate and thank God for the gift of your children. It’s also a time for you, as parents, to commit to model what following Jesus looks like and to raise your children to understand that they are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, to believe that the Bible is absolute Truth, and to know the importance of committing to a community of faith through the local church.
 

Parent Commitments

During the dedication service, parents promise before God, their family, and the church to raise their child in a God-honoring way. Because parents are the key role models for their children, we ask that they commit to the following before dedicating their child:

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• Parent(s) have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

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• Parent(s) are regular attenders of Bayside's services and are following Christ in their own life.

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• Parent(s) agree with our church’s beliefs and values, which can be found in our Statement of Faith.

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• Parent(s) commit to modeling personal purity and to lead by example in matters of faith and conduct. That means living a life of sexual purity according to God's standards. 

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Scripture References

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The Scriptures are used for reading at a Parent/Child dedication service and to speak God's truths and promises over the life of the precious child! The following are some examples. We encourage you to read, study and mediate on the scriptures in God’s Word that speak to raising your children and in pointing them to faith in Jesus.

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• Luke 2: 21-40, Jeremiah 1:5, Jeremiah 29:11; Matthew 18:10, Proverbs 22:6; 1 Samuel 1:27-28; 3 John 1:4; Psalm 139:13-14; Psalm 127: 3-5; Ephesians 6:1-4

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COMMON QUESTIONS

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Do I need to be a member to dedicate my child?

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You do not need to be a member of Bayside Baptist Church to dedicate your child. We do ask that families call Bayside home, because in dedicating your child to God, you are stating that you are willing to partner with God and the Church to raise your child in cooperation with God’s intentions. As your church family, we are here to partner with you as the body of Christ and support you as a family unit.

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Can a single parent participate in a child dedication service?

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Yes! Child dedication signifies the commitment of parents, including single parents, to do their best to raise their child to be a follower of Jesus Christ. We encourage single parents to include any important figures in their child’s life to be a part of the dedication. As a church, Bayside is committed to supporting single parents in providing a Christian foundation for their child’s upbringing.

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Is Dedication the same as Baptism?

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Bayside Baptist 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 children, we encourage a dedication ceremony, where parents formally call upon God’s blessing for their child and publicly commit to raise him or her in accordance with Scripture.

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What should I expect for Parent/Child Dedication?

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Parent/Child Dedication is a small, intimate time during our worship service. During the ceremony, parent(s) publicly commit to help their child grow in their faith and to raise them in a home centered on Jesus. Our team welcomes the child and parent(s), and prays over each family.

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When is Parent/Child Dedication?

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Parent/Child Dedication is held a couple of times a year, or as often as our growing church family needs.  If you are interested in participating in Parent/Child Dedication, please fill out this form. The Bayside Kids team and a church Elder will reach out and provide more information on the upcoming dedications,

please fill out this form.