July 23, 2011
Welcome
Today, Bernice and Erwin bring their new daughter, Julianne to be dedicated to God, the maker of all things and the giver of life.
By taking this time out of busy lives, you as a family are demonstrating to Julianne that you will support her in all of her efforts in life. You will love her when she makes mistakes. You will encourage her to try new things and eat new food. You will look at every opportunity as another way for her to try out her new skills and competencies. Your faith in her will enable and empower her to have confidence that she can do anything she wants to do in this world. By enabling Julianne to become herself, you partner with God to help her be the gift to the world that God intends her to be.
When Jesus was teaching and healing, parents brought their children to him in order that Jesus might bless them. But the disciples thought that children were not as important as the adults. Then Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” Jesus took them into his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
Jesus knows how important children are to the world. He knows how important and valuable they are to you as a family. Just as Jesus shared unconditional love to the people he met, you are called to share unconditional love to Julianne (and Emma too). Julianne may not be contributing to the family income yet or doing chores around the house yet, but Jesus said that Julianne is already a part of the kingdom of God.
One of Bernice and Erwin’s hopes for Julianne is that she and her older sister Emma will bond as loving sisters. Whether this is intentional or not, their names suggest that they are close sisters. They both share “e’s and a’s” in their names. And since Emma is older than Julianne, Emma’s “m’s” is before Julianne’s “n’s” in the alphabet. I thought that was interesting! In fact, as far as I can see, all your names have the letter “e” from the Lees to the Yehs and first names too which suggests that you are truly one family bond together in “love” that also has an “e!”
To the Parents and Family
In presenting Julianne Leigh Yeh to God, do you promise that through the grace given you and in partnership with your family and larger community, you will teach her the truths and responsibilities of the Christian faith, and seek to lead her into a living relationship with Jesus Christ?
Parents & Family
We will.
Pastor Blesses the Child
Julianne Leigh Yeh, 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.
Prayer
Let us pray. 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 place, that among your people they might present her to you. Give to these parents your special graces of insight and love that under their guidance, Julianne 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 Julianne, providing her with food for the spirit to nourish her through the years of growth into maturity. With gratitude to you for this child we dedicate her, her parents, and ourselves, to the end that her life may be a blessing to you and a service to humanity. Amen.