Child dedication at Petra is a way in which we present our children to God for his purposes to be accomplished in their lives. A leadership couple from the church will pray for and bless the child, and will give the child a certificate. Grandparents are invited to stand with the parents during this special segment of the morning worship service.

Child dedication is not infant baptism. When the child is older, they need to personally accept Christ as their Savior for the forgiveness of their sins and be baptized. We ask that children wait until age 10 to be baptized in order to have a better understanding of baptism.

Child dedication is also a parent dedication where the parents publicly commit to teaching and training their child to follow God in a healthy Christian environment.  We ask that both parents attend the dedication; however, single parents are also welcome to dedicate their child. If you are unmarried and living together you need to first meet with a pastor to discuss your plans in establishing a Christian home and marriage. If you would like to talk to a pastor further about this, please call the church office.

We will only dedicate or baptize minor age foster children and those in the custody of someone other than a birth parent if the birth parent approves and is present or the one dedicating the child has full legal parental rights to the child and the parental rights of the birth parents have been terminated.

We will consider a request by grandparents if a grandparent who has custody (not through the foster system) wants to dedicate their grandchild and there is written permission from a birth parent.

An alternative to a public dedication is a private personal prayer ministry for the child.  We would not call it an official dedication.

Child dedications at Petra are usually done on the 5th Sunday of the month in both morning services. You can register online or by calling the church office. Registration opens six weeks before the date of Child Dedication.

You will be asked to complete a Child Dedication Form and provide several pictures of your child which will be shown during the dedication service. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the church office at 717-354-5394.

View the Child Dedication rack card here.