Family Dedication (July 2023)
We had the joy of holding Family Dedication at our 30 July 2023 service. A total of four families participated in this.
The four families were:
The Ngs – Glen and Ruth with Beth and baby Erin.
The Lums – Aaron and Shermaine, with Renee and baby Noel.
The Sees – KwangYew and Christabel, with Alexander, Athelstan, Arthur and baby Athanasius.
The Ngs – Marcus and Audrey, and baby Joni.
We believe that children are God's gifts, and we are thankful that God has provided for our families in this way. In participating in this dedication, the families are committing to raising their children in the way of the Lord, and are also inviting the church to walk alongside them.
As Psalm 145:1-4 reminds us, we are to commend the works of the Lord to the next generation, and speak of His wondrous glory:
I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. (Ps 145:1-4)
Our recent sermon series in Hebrews also serves as a reminder for us to see how Jesus, the Son of God, is better than the old covenant. As we continue to learn together as a church, may it also spur our worship of Him, and help us to better speak of God to our children.
As the families recited the following commitment to the church in the covenant, let us also consider the many ways that we can serve each other in the church:
We commit to love God’s church: to invest ourselves in building Christ-centred relationships in this community, so that our children can also be discipled by others in this family of faith.
For example, our Children's Ministry is also in need of teachers for Sunday School, or helpers for the nursery. Mums Connect, the fortnightly reading group for mothers is also looking for childcare help during their meetings. If you are keen to help, you can contact Siew Ting (siewting@gracebaptistchurch.sg).
Apart from these formal ministry and service opportunities, there are many other informal ways to love and serve families. Some of them need help with their children during church-wide meetings like QCM or Prayer Meetings. Why not extend a helping hand and help watch the children during the meeting? Or, consider inviting a familly to lunch after service, and helping with the children then? These are simple ways that we can practically love these families.
And families too, invite others into your life, not just because they are useful, but to share your life with them. This also allows your children to see how the church displays the gospel. Invite another couple or family to lunch after church. Or, invite them to join you for a family day out, or to have a cup of coffee while the children are at enrichment classes.
There are many ways that we can practically live out this commitment we made as a church during the Family Dedication. Why not start today?