About
Dedication
At Central, we recognize and celebrate the life that God gives! It’s why child dedication is an integral part of our church. The tradition originates from the story of Hannah.
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
Child dedication is a commitment by the parents and the church to provide an opportunity for the child to know and experience what it means to follow Jesus.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Parents voluntarily present their children and themselves to God. Parents are committing themselves to faithfully fulfilling their parental responsibilities (1 Tim 5:8; Prov 22:6), training their child in a biblically shaped environment (Deut 6:6-7; Col 3:21; Eph 6:4), and being a Godly example by modelling and teaching their child how to walk in a personal relationship with Jesus (2 Tim 3:15-16). Parents are also acknowledging their need for prayerful support and encouragement from others in the church to do this (Heb 10:24-25). In Jesus Christ’s example, Luke 2:22 says, “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.”
At the time of dedication, the family at Central is also committing themselves to participate in the raising of this child through our children and youth programs, as well as to encourage this child in such a way as to be a positive witness and influence so that the child can grow up to one day accept Jesus and live for Him.
At Central, we dedicate, rather than baptize children. We see baptism as a reflection of an individual’s decision to follow Jesus. It’s why we wait to baptize children until they are old enough to understand and believe.
We hold child dedications 3-4 times a year during our Sunday morning experiences at 9am &11am. We limit each service to 10 families; service time preferences will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis until each service is full. We encourage you to invite your family and friends to attend and participate in this special day.
One week before the dedication, we meet each family and walk through the service order. On the day of dedication, families will arrive 20 minutes before the start time and check in with the designated staff. We will reserve the front section near the stage for our families to sit until the dedication portion of the service.
Only the parent(s) of the child will be on the stage. In the case of a single parent, you may request another family member to stand with you on the platform if they are available. All other family and friends are welcome to attend and are encouraged to sit with the family near the front of the auditorium.
By submitting your application, you are indicating your agreement with the purpose and intent of dedication and the logistical requirements.
- Please click the register button at the top of this page to register your child for dedication. Forms must be submitted at least 14 days before the scheduled date.
- You will receive a confirmation email from our team confirming your spot.
(Reminder: We must limit the number of families to 10 children per experience.) - Once your date and experience time has been confirmed (9am or 11am), feel free to invite family and friends to participate in this special time.
If you have questions regarding baby/child dedications, please contact Lynette, our Care and Event Co-ordinator, or call her at 905.937.5610 x 253.
