Memorable Baby Dedications
A Sourcebook for Pastors and Leaders by Kay Kuzma
This resource gives you 24 sample baby
dedication services and hundreds of creative ideas for making the event
special for the baby’s family. Plus suggestions for personalizing the
service and involving the family, Bible texts and songs to plug into your own
programs, and a checklist for organizing dedications.
Memorable Baby Dedications
is a part of Kay Kuzma’s Baby Dedication series which includes In Praise
of Children: Poems and Quotes, Preparing for Your Baby’s Dedication:
A Guide for Parents and Memorable Baby Dedication Songs. These four
books contain everything you need to prepare parents for their baby’s
dedication and plan a memorable dedication service.
A free computer disk comes with the
book (Window’s ‘95 format) with the full text of the books in the Baby
Dedication series (not the songbook) so this wealth of material can be
inserted directly into your sermon notes.
Descriptions
of Baby Dedication Services
Service
1: Basic Baby Dedication
Short litany using texts from Mark
10:13-16 and Matthew 18:1-6, homily suggestions, and detailed pastoral questions to parents asking for a
covenant response. This service was designed for a church setting with one or
more babies.
Service
2: Dedication Litany for A Complete Service
To be used for a special baby
dedication service for one child rather than as a part of
the church service.
Service
3: Dedication Litany with Music
This short litany (with suggestions for
two songs) that can be used as a part of a special service or church service.
Service 4: Baby Dedication Covenant Litany
This short litany dedication service can be a part of a church service.
Service
5: Parents and Congregation Response to Dedication
A covenant response for both parents
and congregation.
Service
6: Congregational Response to Parent’s Personalized Promise
Parents should write a personalized
statement of dedication with this
congregational response to be given after each parent’s statement.
Service
7: Christmas Litany
Short litany based on Isaiah 9:6 and Luke 1:10-20. Includes the dedication.
Service
8: Balloons Belong in Church: A Celebration of God’s Gift of Life
A complete service including opening
song, special music, text, ideas for homily, litany and dedication.
Service
9: Litany of the Little Rose
Story to be read as a litany or told,
homily ideas, poem, and quotations. (Does not include the actual dedication.)
Service
10: The Little Lamb
Based on the text Luke 15:4-7 this
service starts with a story about a grown boy (a lost sheep) coming home from with his newborn and the eager
anticipation of the grandparents. Includes
suggestions for songs, ideas for homily and a dedication litany.
Service
11: Obeying God’s Command to Train Up A Child
Special emphasis is on the church
members support of the young family. The
suggested text is Matthew 19:13-14 where Jesus says, “Let the little
children come to me.” The homily begins with a story and then gives three
basic commandments for parents, special songs and litany for a complete
service.
Service
12: Children: The Heritage of the Lord
This service is based on the text,
Psalms 127:1,3-5. It includes suggested
songs an object lesson and a complete homily on the acceptance of children.
The actual dedication service is not included.
Service
13: The Family Tree
“What is a family?” is the theme of this service. The basic text is Jeremiah 17:7-8. This is a complete service including the homily and dedication. The congregation can read together Psalms 1:1-3 about the ideal father and read responsively Proverbs 31:10-31 about the ideal mother.
Service
14: The Blessing
The importance of giving our children
“the blessing” as Isaac gave Jacob is the
basis of this complete service which includes the text, songs, homily
and suggestions for the dedication.
Service
15: The Dedication of Jesus
A drama of the dedication of Jesus, a
litany, and dedication service. This would be appropriate to use around the Christmas season as well as
other times.
Service
16: Traits of a Strong, Healthy Family