January 29, 2012, 10:20 Worship
Standing here represents the largest single family in our church! Today, we welcome Colby Ryan Ung, the fifth child of Eva and Arlen Ung. We have Caitlin, Curtis, Hailey, Noah, and now Colby! Eva told me that Colby completes their family! Did you know that Caitlin the oldest and Colby the youngest share the same birthday—July 11th? They are the engine and the caboose representing the complete train.
Welcoming a new baby into our midst is a true celebration! There is joy and happiness and completeness. It’s like Colby completes the circle. When you count the members of Eva and Arlen’s family, there are 7 of them which is a sacred number in Hebrew but when they include Jesus Christ into their lives as they do, there are 8 and in the Chinese, 8 represents goodness, good fortune and complete joy and celebration. God’s love for us is never-ending like the number 8 has no ending.
When Paul was writing to the Ephesians (4:1-16), he asked them to make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Since every member of the church has different and valuable gifts for ministry, with Christ as the head, we are all united, joined together, knitted together so that we can work together as one body building itself up in love.
Our family life can also be compared to be like the body of Christ. For the family household to properly work together; everyone makes a good effort to maintain unity, everyone’s unique gift is treasured and welcomed so that the entire family can enjoy and appreciate the God-given blessings.
Colby will grow up receiving all of the insights and learning that you as parents and older siblings will offer. He will collect all of who you are and grow from that. As he looks up and see what’s going on, he will find the courage to add his own contributions to your family to unify your life together. Caitlin said that when she sees Colby, she can see a little bit of all of her family in him. Colby is a mixture of all his sisters and brothers and his parents.
As we know, we are all special and uniquely created in the image of God. For the Ungs, Colby has this special gift that unifies, excites, and brings completeness to his family. He may not know it, but he brings synergy to his family. When they see him, love multiplies. When they care for him, they learn what love is like. As a family of 7 people, now with Colby, the whole is greater than the sum of all its parts. Because you have brought Colby here to dedicate him to the Lord, Jesus Christ himself completes you and there is great joy and celebration!
Ritual
To the Parents:
In presenting Colby Ryan Ung to God, do you promise that through the grace given you and in partnership with this church, you will teach him the truths and responsibilities of the Christian faith, and seek to lead him into a living relationship with Jesus Christ?
Parents: We will.
To the Congregation:
Do you, the loving church family of this child and members and friends of this church, accept the responsibility, together with the parents, grandparents, godparents, aunts and uncles, to teach this child that he may be brought to full maturity in Jesus Christ? If so, will you signify your acceptance by saying, “We will.”
Congregation: We will.
Don holds Colby, “God bless you and keep you. God’s face shine upon you and be gracious to you. God look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.”
Presentation of Certificates and Roses
This certificate will remind you of the commitments you made here today. This rose, a universal symbol of beauty and God’s wondrous creation represents your child made in the image of God himself.
Closing Prayer
Dear God, even as Mary and Joseph brought the child Jesus to your house that he might be consecrated to your service, so these parents have brought this little one to this house of worship, that among your people they might present him to you. Give to these parents your special graces of insight and love that under their guidance, Colby Ryan Ung may grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with you and all people. Grant that we your people may truly be a household of faith to this child, providing him with food for the spirit to nourish him through the years of growth and maturity. With gratitude for this child we dedicate him, their parents, and ourselves, to the end that his life may be a blessing to you and a service to humanity. Amen.