The Churchtown Weekly Thursday, November 14, 2024
Learn-Grow-Become-GO!
Shout it in the assembly.
Shout it to the world. (Psalm 40)
Child Dedication:
We will make a covenant today – parent to child – it is much like the New Covenant except for the fact that BOTH PARTIES – and the third party of the church – WILL FAIL.
That’s where God comes in.
We believe in the presentation of children for the Lord’s blessing.
In this service, these children will be set apart for the Lord. The congregation will join with the parents in pledging themselves to the Christian nurture of this child.
We believe children are a gift of God.
We read in Genesis 33:5 NIV, “Esau looked up and saw the women and children. ‘Who are these with you?’ he asked. Jacob answered, ‘They are the children God has graciously given your servant.'” The great judge and prophet Samuel was dedicated to the Lord even before birth. After Samuel had been weaned, Hannah said, “I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:27 -28 NIV).
We believe children are a part of the covenant community.
Children born to parents who are in the household of faith experience God’s love through the care and loving concern of their Christian parents and the Church. This service of dedication recognizes their participation in the life of the family of God.
We believe parents are responsible for the spiritual nurture of their children.
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6 NIV). The New Testament directs parents to raise their children with Christian discipline and instruction (Ephesians 6:4). Throughout the Scriptures God’s people are urged to teach and nurture children by word and example. “Only be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them” (Deuteronomy 4:9 NIV; see also Deuteronomy 6:5-7).
We believe the congregation is responsible for the spiritual nurture of children presented for the Lord’s blessing.
As children need warm relationships in their families, so they need warm relationships in the family of God. Such nurture is needed for both parents and children. This calls for a variety of educational opportunities and constant encouragement. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another as a fellowship of God’s people” (Hebrews 10:25 NIV). Members of the congregation serve as models for parents and children, demonstrating what it means to be a Christian.
We believe we ought to follow Jesus in Ministering to children.
“Little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these'” (Matthew 19:13 -14NIV). Jesus showed deep appreciation and concern for children. So should the Church.
Service of Dedication
God delights in children. He takes great pleasure in them. They are one of the greatest gifts He gives to husbands and wives. Psalm 127:3 proclaims that “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him.” Because children are a gift from God, it is natural that Christian parents present and dedicate their child to God. In the Gospels we read that people brought little children and babies to Jesus so that he might place his hands on them and pray for them.
These parents bring their children presenting first themselves and then the child before the Lord our God. Accompanying them in making this commitment are Many family and friends.
Parents, I call your attention to the commands of God recorded in Holy Scripture. Deuteronomy 6:4-7 tells us:
“Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on their children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
There is indeed no higher calling for parents than to raise Godly children and as we examined in 1 Corinthians earlier, there is no greater example than the example of unconditional, selfless love that comes through parents who are submitted followers of Jesus Christ.
Proverbs 1:7 tells us that “the beginning of knowledge is the fear of the Lord.” In other words, the successful application of all that this child will learn in life will depend on her first learning to understand and follow God. So, I urge you parents to love God with every ounce and fiber of your being and teach your child to do the same.
As you love God, one another, and others in this world, you will model before your child a wonderful love for God that they will want for themselves – the love of which Paul spoke in his letter to the Corinthians.
To the parents:
By coming forward before God and his people, do you hereby declare your desire to dedicate yourselves and your child to the Lord? If so, please respond by saying “we do.”
Having come freely, I ask now that you all to enter into the following commitment in the presence of God and his people – mother, please allow your child to be in the hands of their fathers at this time (Wife hands child to husband as a sign of his spiritual headship in the family).
So that this child may walk in the abundant life that Christ offers, do you (parents) vow by God’s help and in partnership with the church, to provide this child a Christian home of love and peace, to raise her in the truth of our Lord’s instruction and discipline, and to encourage her to one day trust Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord?
If so, please respond, “We Do.”
At this point, ask immediate family (parents, grandparents, brother, sisters) of the child to stand.
For encouragement in fulfilling these vows, I call upon the family of this child to profess their support for this child – please come forward…
There is great pride in seeing a new generation of family. And how that joy is reinforced when children are raised to fear God. To this end, I ask you the following questions.
By standing today before God and his people, do you hereby declare your desire to help these parents fulfill the vows they have just made by supporting them with the love that can only be measured by God’s own heart?
If so, please respond by saying “we do.”
Having come freely, I ask now that you enter into the following commitment: So that these children may walk in the abundant life that Christ offers, do you vow by God’s help, to pray for and encourage these parents in their effort to raise their child in the fear of the Lord, so that she might receive our Lord’s guidance and instruction?
If so, please respond by saying “we do.”
Now – Ask the rest of the church family to please stand as they are able…
Finally, I ask that the church make a vow as well. As believers in the body of Christ, we have a responsibility to teach the Gospel story to our younger generation. In fact, the Old Testament prophet Joel commands us to tell of God’s work “to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.”
I direct my questions now to the congregation.
Being present in God’s house today, do you hereby declare yourselves to be the children of God because you trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life?
If this is true, please respond by saying “we do.”
Having come freely, I ask now that you make the following commitment before God and those who stand before you: So that this child may walk in the abundant life that Christ offers, do you vow by God’s help, to be faithful in your calling as members of the body of Christ, to help these parents be faithful to God, and to help teach and train Maddie and Samuel in the ways of the Lord so that they might one day trust him as Savior and Lord?
Church, If you accept this responsibility, please respond by saying “we do.”
Ask council members to come to the front.
Now ask extended family – and finally chamily members who want to come for the laying on of hands.
We will stand together in quiet prayer.
Quiet prayer as each child and parent is prayed over and anointed.
We will now sing the first verse and chorus of “How Great Thou Art.” We will sing it a cappella.
Oh Lord, my God
When I, in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Special Song for the Children, “In the Garden”
We hold fast to the confession of faith of which both Jesus and Paul speak in scripture.
We believe that God covers those who are unable, whether because of age or impairment, with his prevenient grace.
When a person is able, we pray the person will repent of their sin, proclaim faith is Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and submit themselves to His will for their lives.
This is the basis for the dedication of children to the church.
We will experience this as well as Brittany’s confession of faith through baptism on Sunday.
Let’s get the chamily together. 😊
WE WILL SEE YOU IN CHURCH!
Thanks for taking the Churchtown Monthly and returning the surveys! We have received 4 – we need them all!
I have attached the survey to this email!
If you have not signed up for the Christmas Hymn Sing but want to – TODAY IS THE DAY!!!!!!!
All Thanksgiving Bags should be accounted for in the Fellowship Hall SUNDAY!
I am delivering them on Monday!
ANOTHER BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!
You can now subscribe and listen to the
“Churchtown Podcast Network!”
Available on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify, just search “Turning on the Lights!” and “Churchtown Church of God Sermons” – subscribe and then leave a rating and a review! More folks will see it!
*Audio and video are always posted on our YouTube channel @churchtownchurch (there are 1,100 videos there)
Church Calendar
Child Dedication and baptism SUNDAY! Let’s come together for this! (NSS Lead)
Thanksgiving Eve Service 7pm Wednesday Nov. 27 with The Lord’s Supper
Christmas Hymn Sing 6pm Sunday December 1
Remember, the single biggest reason given for why someone attends church for the first time is that a friend asked them!
As always, we continue in prayer for Churchtown, for our community, for the church universal, and for the lost everywhere.
God is good. God provides. Keep your eyes up and on the cross people.
Be well and do good, my friends. And, as always, Keep Looking Up! The lord comes!
REMEMBER THAT!
Opportunities!
We are always seeking individuals to be trained in technology. We would like to develop TEAMS that could rotate weekends.
There is always the opportunity to provide music – join up with the New Song Singers and / or talk to me about a special prelude or piece.
Gather-Grow-Become-Go
Churchtown Church of God
Sunday, November 17, 2024
Welcome to Churchtown!
We are glad you are here!
The New Song Singers will be leading today beginning with #36 in our hymnal, “Psalm 136.”
Opening Word
Spoken Word—Thanksgiving
“I Will Bless Thee, O Lord”- New?
563, “Count Your Blessings”
“Amazing Grace, My Chains are Gone”
“Thanksgiving Medley”
Our Time in the Word
Deuteronomy 6 (NLT)
Child Dedication
“In the Garden”
Our Time of Corporate Prayer
“The Lord’s Prayer”
282, “The Family of God”
As a “little” church, we are always asking the question, “What CAN we do?” Well, we can start by caring for the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of each other.We CAN serve the next person God places before us.
We CAN invite that person to church!
We CAN be intentional about going to church and strengthening ourselves and the body.
We CAN serve our community and show who Christ is to those who do not know Him.
We CAN PRAY, PRAY, PRAY – and we can REMAIN FATIHFUL!
I Love Being Your Pastor and Your Friend,
Brian
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