April 15, 2007
Welcome
We welcome Laura Dare and Tom Feng who brought their son, Tristan Dare Feng, born on to be dedicated to God, the maker of all things and the giver of life. In doing so we follow the way of Jesus who said, “Let the little children come to me; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.”
Meditation Thought
I asked Laura from where did the name Tristan come. I was unfamiliar with James Herriot’s books that eventually were made into a public television series, All Creatures Great and Small about the adventures of a veterinarian. Tristan is one of the characters in the book/series and since Laura had once thought of being a veterinarian, she said that if one day she would to be blessed with a son, she would name him Tristan. Since Laura likes animals, perhaps, someday, Tristan would love them too.
I discovered that the title, All Things Great and Small is actually the second phrase of the hymn, All Things Bright and Beautiful written in the 1800s on page 30 in our hymnals. The rest of the refrain reads: All things wise and wonderful; the Lord God made them all. God not only made all the great and small animals in the world, God also made Tristan. God blessed Laura and Tom with a beautiful son who will grow bigger and happier every day. He will thrive in your loving care and he will become strong because you are strong and confident that inasmuch as God created Tristan, he also created you as parents. God doesn’t ask us to do things unless God knows that we have the abilities and passion to do them well. May Tristan grow up in faith to boldly testify to the truth that all things are bright and beautiful and the Lord God made them all!
When Jesus was old enough, his parents brought him to the temple for purification. In our Chinese American culture and Christian community, we introduce a new baby into the world a number of times. First, the parents show pictures of their newborns right after delivery. We go to Todai for the red egg and ginger party. They come to the church nursery for the very first time. We make a big fuss over their first birthdays. We have a baby dedication worship service like today. In each of these occasions, the baby is unaware of what’s going on. For pastors, we just hope that the babies don’t cry.
But the real reason why we introduce children into the world is to hear the promises and commitments from the parents, the family members and all of their friends that they will bring this child up in the teachings of Christ. Just as Mary and Joseph provided the right kind of family life to prepare Jesus for his God-given work, you as parents have this sacred responsibility too.
In the life of the church and especially here at FCBC, we have a responsibility too. No longer is this child just a new baby for these parents but today we know him by his given name, Tristan Dare Feng. From this day forward, we will pray for him to grow up, mature in faith in God by providing him with nurture, instruction, and love that comes from God. When we make our commitments, we make them seriously and with the help of God, we will help fulfill God’s plan for this child’s life and purpose in the world.
Ritual
To the Parents:
In presenting Tristan 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 family of this child and members and friends of this church, accept the responsibility, together with the parents, grandparents, 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 the baby, “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
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, Tristan 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 them, his parents, and ourselves, to the end that his life may be a blessing to you and a service to humanity. Amen.