mayfield church of christ

Dedication Service - Ben Partridge

Posted by Pastor Mark on 1 February 2009 | 0 Comments

Tags: Dedication Service

Invite Robert, Lizie and Ben come forward.....

Psalm 139:13-16 (New International Version)

 For you created my inmost being;
       you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
       your works are wonderful,
       I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you
       when I was made in the secret place.
       When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.
       All the days ordained for me
       were written in your book
       before one of them came to be.

Welcome

What a great opportunity it is....to come here this morning to give thanks for the life of Ben Partridge.....Lizie and Robert  bring Ben here this morning....and have asked us all to join them....in dedicating themselves to the role of raising Ben and also to give thanks to God for this great little guy.

So we welcome you all here this morning for this time of thanksgiving.....

How awesome is it....having little babies around...... but even more amazing....is what happens as they start to grow. In what seems like an instant....this tiny baby....who is vulnerable and dependent... becomes a toddler...and they learn how to crawl and then to walk.... cries become words then sentences....they grow in body...they grow in mind...and they grow in spirit.... and they seem to almost sprint toward adulthood...and Ben has just begun that process.

And as parents Bert and Lizie have been given this tremendous opportunity to witness ALL of that....BUT they also have the great responsibility of guiding this amazing process that they began.

But the most amazing aspect of it all..... is that the very hand of God is involved in that process. The word of God in Psalm 139, tells us that our Creator knows each child long before he even enters this world, before he is even a dream in his mother's heart....The creator God was there at Ben's birth and will be there throughout ALL his years....

And as such....there is a sense in which our children belong to God.....but they are entrusted into our care for a season.....So parenting....in essence....is a calling from God...for us to take on this role through those years.....to love and protect.....to challenge.... and to gradually release these precious children.

And as Lizie and Bert already know......Parenting requires every resource we have, and then some....and coming here this morning is a way of  acknowledging their need for God's help in fulfilling their role as parents

And so.......Bert and Lizie...I'd like to ask you these questions....

Do you bring Ben before God this morning to give thanks for him....and to dedicate yourselves to the role of parenting him?

If that's the case....I'd ask you to respond with..... "We do."

 Do you acknowledge your need of Gods help, in your role as parents.....to nurture and guide Ben towards a life of obedience, love and faith.....in the hope that one day he too will seek to have a relationship with Jesus Christ?

If so, say, "We will."

And finally, will you do all in your power to shape the home life of Ben, by your words and example, training and prayer, to provide a place where he might become all that he can be....and see in you both, something that makes him desire to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

If so, say, "We will."

The responsibility, for the development and nurture of Ben DOSEN'T fall only upon the immediate family. For good or bad, our society, the nation, and in fact the whole world will have some influence. And it's at this level, that all of us.....as     members of the family of God, share some of that responsibility.

And so I'd like to ask you all ....Are you all willing to participate as fully as you can, in the creation of a nurturing, loving and prayerful environment for Ben. To show to him, the love and grace and nurture of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If so...I'd ask you to respond... " We will".

Would you all stand and join with me in a prayer of dedication.

The Prayer of Dedication

For all your gracious gifts to us, Father, we give you our thanks, especially for the life of this great little guy, Ben. We want to give thanks to you for him, and dedicate him to you today. Bless Robert and Lizie as his parents.....in all that they do....Guide us all as family and as a congregation in all that we do.... that Ben may increase in wisdom and stature and in favor with You and with all of mankind. Grant that the vows made here this morning may be faithfully upheld. Give all of us some measure of Christ's love and appreciation of children. And help us to do our part in building a world in which all children may grow up in health and happiness. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing

Jesus said, in Matthew 18: 3-5 "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me."

And so......Ben, I dedicate you to God..... to His care and holy purposes, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.