PARENT AND BABY DEDICATION

The Bible says in Proverbs 22:6 to “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Participating in a Parent and Baby Dedication (for children age 0 – 4 years old) and making a public commitment to raise your child in the ways of God, is one of the first and most important steps you should make in the journey of godly parenthood.

In this special ceremony, parents, family and friends will stand along with other families to celebrate the precious gift they have been given and make a public commitment to honor God’s plan for their child by guiding them towards a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Our Senior Pastors will then pray a special prayer of blessing, protection and favor over your child’s life as they are dedicated to the Lord. 

HOW THE PARENT AND BABY DEDICATION PROGRAM WORKS

1. Register Your Child

Our Parent and Baby Dedications are held on designated Sundays throughout the year (see dates below). Please note that you may only sign up for the next scheduled ceremony. 

The 2024 ceremony dates are as follows:

• Sunday, March 10th at 11:30 am

• Sunday, June 9th at 11:30 am

• Sunday, August 11th at 11:30 am

• Sunday, November 10th at 11:30 am

2. Attend the Parent and Baby Dedication Ceremony

Check-In:  On the day of the ceremony, parents will check in at the Parent and Baby Dedication table in the foyer beginning at 11:00 am (only the names of children whose parents have checked in will be announced during the ceremony). After you check in, you may proceed to the sanctuary to be seated by our ushers for the 11:30 am worship service (you and your guests may sit anywhere in the sanctuary).

The Ceremony:  During the ceremony an announcement will be made for the parents and child to come to the front of the sanctuary, followed by an invitation for family and friends to stand with the family. Our Senior Pastors will pray a special dedication prayer over each child, their parents and other family members.

Photos and Videos:  After the prayer, our photographer will take a photo of you, the baby, our Senior Pastors and all those standing with you. Photos of the ceremony will be posted by the next day on our Harvest Life Facebook page. You are also welcome to have someone take photos and/or videos of your family during the dedication ceremony. 

3. Parent/Child Dedication Certificate

During the ceremony you will be presented with a personalized Parent and Baby Dedication Certificate by our staff to commemorate this special occasion.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR PARENT AND BABY DEDICATION

We are here to support you and ensure that you are prepared for this special occasion. Please see the list of things you should do to get ready for the Parent and Baby Dedication.

• Register Your Child: Register for the upcoming ceremony. 

• Invite Family and Friends: Invite your family and friends to be a part of your child’s dedication and celebration.

• Submit a Photo of Your Child: Submit a photo of your child no later than one week before your ceremony date. Your child’s photo will be displayed on the screen when their name is called during the ceremony. Email your child’s photo to [email protected].

• Get Your Child’s Attire: We ask that children wear all white ceremonial or formal attire for the dedication.  However, if you don’t have the specified attire, your child can still be dedicated.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How old does my child need to be to take part in the Dedication?

Harvest Life dedicates children from birth to 4 years old. If you have more than one eligible child, they can be dedicated at the same time. 

When are Parent and Baby Dedications held?

Parent and Baby Dedications are held on designated Sundays following the message during our Family Worship Service at 11:30 am. However, you may only sign up for the next scheduled ceremony. The 2024 ceremony dates are as follows.

• Sunday, March 10th at 11:30 am

• Sunday, June 9th at 11:30 am

• Sunday, August 11th at 11:30 am

• Sunday, November 10th at 11:30 am

What should parents and family members wear on Parent and Baby Dedication day?

Parents and family members should wear business attire. 

Can I have someone take pictures or videos during the ceremony?

Yes. You are welcome to have someone take pictures and/or videos of your family during the dedication ceremony. In addition, our photographer will take a photo of you, the baby, our Senior Pastors and all those standing with you. Photos of the ceremony will be posted by the next day on our Harvest Life Facebook page. 

Can a single parent participate in the dedication ceremony?

Yes! The Parent/Child Dedication signifies the commitment of parents (including single parents) to do their best to raise the child in the ways of the Lord.

What should I do if I signed up to be a part of the dedication ceremony and can no longer make it for the event?

Send an email to [email protected] stating that you will be unable to participate in the ceremony. Please provide the parent(s) and child’s names in the email and visit the Events area of our website to sign up for the next ceremony.