Baby Dedication

Baby Dedications at east valley; a time-honored event

Baby Dedications at East Valley are a unique and beautiful experience!  We only have these ceremonies 3 or 4 times a year, so it is a very revered event.  It is much like a wedding in the sense of making commitments, and so it holds great significance in the memories of parents, loved ones, children, and church family.  

Baby dedication is a beautiful way to forge spiritual beginnings for your little ones.  A baby dedication is simply a ceremony involving parents and loved ones surrounding the child, as the Pastor prays over the child and the parents.  In Old Testament times this is how children received a blessing from the Lord.  This is not a guarantee of salvation, but rather a time to ask God to watch over this child's soul and future, and a time for parents to commit themselves to raising their son or daughter in the loving admonition of God and His Word from this special day forward. 

Is this Infant Baptism?

We do not baptize babies, as this is not a biblical practice or concept.  A child must reach the age of accountability (recognizing right and wrong) and make baptism a personal decision.  An infant cannot make a conscious decision to obey Christ, and does not understand what water baptism symbolizes.  Until that time, children are in a time of innocence and not held accountable to God for sin.  So baptism for infants is only a formality, and does not insure salvation.  In fact, the Bible does not record any instances of infants being baptized.   

Is Baby Dedication Biblical?

The concept has scriptural origins, such as is found in 1 Samuel 1:27-28. (NKJV) when Hannah dedicated Samuel.

"For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there." 

    In Luke 2:22 (NKJV) Mary and Joseph dedicated Jesus:
    "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" (Luke 2:22).

So we can clearly see that "dedicating one's child to the Lord" is founded upon the Word of God.

Dedication Registry

Please pick up a form to register for the event from the Welcome Desk during church services, or from the church office during the week.  You will receive a lovely certificate, worthy of framing, within seven days of the dedication ceremony.  Our church loves babies and children!