REGISTER NOW
Attending a dedication orientation meeting is required prior to
dedicating your child at Cornerstone. In the meeting we talk about why we dedicate our children, how a Dedication Service works and when the next available open date
is. Please take a moment to check when the next orientation is scheduled and to
register:
Register online for the orientation meeting
DEDICATE YOUR CHILD
Infant Dedications at Cornerstone Fellowship take place during
special Dedication Services through the year.
With the blessing of a child comes a
tremendous responsibility for Christian parents. We are entrusted to raise our
children in accordance to Biblical truth and point them to Jesus Christ.
In light of this great responsibility, Cornerstone thinks of Infant
Dedications as “family dedications.” We want to pray for each member in the
family and his or her individual responsibilities.
DEDICATION VERSES
Suggested verses for you to read at your
child's dedication. You can view them here.
These verses are mere suggestions; the Bible is full of verses that would be
perfectly appropriate to read at your child's dedication.
WHAT DO I COMMIT TO WHEN I DEDICATE MY CHILD?
Infant Dedication is a promise to the Lord—a
commitment to obey God and to teach your child to follow Him. By making your
commitment in the presence of other believers, you are making them aware of
your promise, encouraging them to pray for you and keep you accountable.
WHAT DEDICATING YOUR CHILD DOES NOT MEAN
The “Dedication Ceremony” does not make your
child a Christian. As parents, we cannot decide our child’s salvation for him.
Each person must make her own decision about her relationship with Christ. When
a child becomes old enough to understand the concept of sin and his
responsibility for that sin before God, he is then ready to make a decision
about salvation.
Parents can, however, lay a foundation by
their teaching and example that helps their child to be ready to make that
decision when the time comes. An illustration of this is marriage. We don’t
decide when or if our child will marry and we can’t guarantee them a happy
marriage. However, our positive example can lay a foundation for his making a
good decision when that day comes.
This dedication is not a Baptism. It is not a
church sacrament. It does not impart salvation to the child. The Family
Dedication ceremony is viewed as a confirmation between the parents and the
church to raise the child in God’s ways until the child is old enough to make
his own decision in accepting Christ as his personal Savior.
CAN A SINGLE PARENT DEDICATE HIS OR HER CHILD?
Yes! We recognize that child dedication
signifies the commitment of parents (including single parents) to do their best
to raise their child to be a follower of Christ. Additionally, we highly
encourage single parents to dedicate their child as they commit themselves to
raise him or her without the presence of a spouse. The decision to dedicate a
child is not dependent on the beliefs of the ex-spouse; however it is a
discussion we challenge single parents to have with their ex-spouse. We
acknowledge the extra effort required for a single parent to raise a child and,
as a church, we are committed to supporting single parents in providing a
Christian foundation for their child’s upbringing.
CAN PARENTS WHO ARE NOT YET MARRIED DEDICATE
THEIR CHILD?
We ask parents who are living together and are
not married to take steps to acknowledge and surrender to God’s plan for their
individual lives before participating in a child dedication service. Please
contact Pastor Christiaan VandenHeuvel at 447-3465 ext 5501 to talk more about
this.