Rachael's Dedication

On Sunday, we dedicated our precious Rachael Katherine to the Lord, making commitments we know we can only aspire to by God's grace:

1. Do you recognize these children as the gifts of God and give heartfelt thanks for God's blessing?

2. Do you now dedicate your children to the Lord who gave them to you all, surrendering all worldy claims upon their lives in the hope that they will belong wholly to God?

3. Do you pledge as parents that, with God's fatherly help, you will bring up your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, making every effort, with patience and love, to build the word of God, the character of Christ and the joy of the Lord into their lives?

4. Do you promise to provide, through God's blessing, for the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual deeds of your children, looking to your Heavenly Father for the wisdom, love and strength to serve them and not use them?

5. Do you promise, God helping you, to make it your regular prayer that by God's grace your children will come to trust in Jesus Christ alone for the foregiveness of their sins and for the fulfillment of all his promises to them, even eternal life; and in this faith follow Jesus as Lord and obey his teachings?

Pastor Sam then said: "Rachael, together with your parents who love you dearly and these people who care about the outcome of your faith, I dedicate you to God, releasing all worldly claims on your life in the hope that you may belong wholly to God."

We love Bethlehem's dedication service! Both sets of Grandparents, several of our dear small group friends, and Miss Sarah were at the service. We also had a great time with my parents, who stayed with us, this weekend.