Importance Of Baby Dedication

In today 's Christian society, a common and accepted practice for infants or young babies is to perform a dedication of the child back to God. This practice is performed by multiple religious groups and it is a symbolic service where the parents recognize that God gave them the child and they in return are giving him/her back to God in an act of submission and recognition. This rite of passage for the child ensures that the parents have began the infants Christian journey with the blessing of the pastor/priest and that they have done their parental duties in initiating the child 's first interaction with God. Baby dedications are liminal experiences used in Christian churches show the importance of continuing a folkloric tradition that …show more content…
The dedication that I attended, was my brothers little boy and little girl. The little boy, Micheal, was three weeks old and his little girl, Ainsleigh, was two years old. In attendance for the dedication was myself, my mother and father, my brother Thomas and his wife and little girl, my brother Bo, his wife and three children, my sister Tara, her husband and their four children, however my sister Misty could not make it. The dedication was performed at my Uncle 's church, due to the fact that my brother wanted the dedication to be as personal and sentimental as possible. Having a family member dedicate the babies made the experience for the entire family more special. This also ensures that when the babies are older, they will be able to have a relationship with the minister who dedicated them to God. When the dedication began, the minister had the entire family gather in the front of the church. He recognized the spiritual accomplishments of my parents for raising so many children to follow God and continue with their pilgrimage in Christianity. He also began reminiscing on …show more content…
It is the basis of their relationship with Christ. Incorporating spiritual elements such as the prayer over the babies and the spiritual symbol of the pilgrimage that the infants will begin once the dedication is over, are all crucial elements in making the baby dedication successful. This spiritual component of this ritual offers the parents a peace for the future of their babies. In a study on religiosity and spirituality, it was discovered that individuals feel “...their beliefs made them feel strong, loved, free, and trusting” (Woods 400). Which is the desired outcome from the dedication service. By having the service set in a church, on a Sunday morning, during a regular scheduled church service, all spiritual elements are incorporated in the service: prayer, worship, singing and preaching. This affects the atmosphere of the dedication, making it feel more formal and serious for the family