Child Dedications at The First Parish in Portland, Maine, UU

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Each night a child is born is a holy night

When you register for a child dedication, whether privately or during a worship service, please provide us with the following information:

Your child

Full names of both parents

Full names of godparents, if any

Ceremony date

Fall Worship Spring Worship Private Service

If you would like a private service, please let us know when and where.

Parent's email address

Parent's phone number

We will contact you soon to finalize details of your child dedication booking.

The First Parish is a vibrant, active faith community. We welcome you into our space for your special day. Please be aware that because our parish is not solely an "event venue," we display our banners and flags at all times. Thank you for joining us in our historic space and for respecting our traditions.

At First Parish, we dedicate children during a fall worship service and on Mother's Day.

We are neither exclusively Christian nor Bible-centered, although we draw inspiration from the Jewish and Christian and other scriptures.

At First Parish, we put water on the child's head during the ceremony. Water, for us, is a symbol of connection with the interdependent web of all existence, of which we are a part.

We use the gift of a flower to symbolize the uniqueness of the child, and the hope that s/he will grow to fruition in that uniqueness.

You may wish our ministers and chaplains to perform a “Christening” ceremony for children whose families consider themselves in the Liberal Christian tradition.

The essential element is the welcoming of the child.

We formally “give” the child his/her name, a symbol of uniqueness. Bestowing the name is a moment of “welcoming in” a differentiated life, with its own power, into the circle of the tribe of humanity.

Parents, godparents, and siblings vow to love and support this child and his/her growth as a unique and “unrepeatable” being.

The congregation vows to enter into a special relationship with this unique and precious human being. We provide religious education programs for children and youth. We give simple gifts any adult can give any child: a smile, a hello, a friendly attitude, a respectful listening and sharing.

We say to them, “here, among us, you belong and are valued.”

It all adds up to the spiritual strength any child who grows up here will carry with them into the wider world.

If you'd like to visit us...

Join us for a worship service at 10:00am any Sunday morning or email us or call the office at 207-773-5747 and come in during the week.

There are no fees to dedicate a child during a worship service.

Private child dedication fees:

$355 to book the Meeting House

$150 to engage the Officiant (Minister or Ministerial Lay Chaplain)

$150 to engage the Music Director (optional)

$230 to book the Parish House and Sexton for an intimate reception