DEDICATION OF INFANTS

     I have dedicated several babies of couples I have  married in recent years.  Let me explain what I mean by 'dedication of an infant'. This can be done in the privacy of your home and it is not required of you to attend or belong to a church or denomination or that you have been married by me. During the dedication ceremony you as  parents (with the baby) will be standing  next to me and with your family and guests seated or gathered around us. I will bring a short Biblical message appropriate for the  occasion. Maybe for a Scripture reading I could use the  following: Luke 18:15  Some people brought their babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. The disciples saw them and scolded them for doing so, 16  - but Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these"  Hereafter  family and guests are invited to stand with us and I will then do a prayer of blessing for the baby and dedicate him/her to God, while laying my hands on the little one. This is done according to the scriptural example above.  So I will not sprinkle water on the babies' forehead as is done when Christening a baby.  However, should you as parents have strong persuasions about the actual sprinkling of water, I do respect your opinion in this regard but I find no Scriptural basis for the tradition to sprinkle water on the forehead of the infant. Todlers and older children may also be dedicated likewise.

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