Prompted by numerous requests for liturgies of dedication we provide the following outline for construction your own liturgies for the dedication of just about anything during a gathering of the worshipping community. Our thanks to the Rev. David Shearman (shearman@sympatico.ca) of the United Church of Canada for the outline of what follows. Links to sample litanies and prayers of dedication by various folk are found here as well.

Services of Dedication of memorial gifts are decidedly simple. Most often they are placed in the order of worship at or near the time of receiving the gifts and offerings of the people, but they can go anywhere that seems practical to the liturgist.

The dedication of some gifts may involve a special liturgy and worship occasion (for example a new piano or organ might prompt one to have a special worship event that features a great deal of music and a small homily or sermon about 'singing a new song to the Lord', etc)

In any case the outline below will provide the structure of the actual act of receiving and dedicating the gift.

OUTLINE OF A SERVICE OF DEDICATION

* A Statement of the Occasion
	- A brief statement about what is to occur next
		
* A scripture reading.
	- Geared to the theme or thought suggested by the gift.   A new
	communion table or lectern might lead one to chose a scripture
	concerning "the bread of life" or "hearing the word".  
	
* Presentation and Response
	- The Presentation is usually by the donor and/or the persons
	charged with representing the donor and the congregation.   
	- For example stained glass windows are often dedicated in memory
	of a family member.   A member of the family and/or the Worship or 
	Building Committee might come forward and make the request for 
	dedication and include some comments as appropriate.
	
	- The Response is usually made by the Minister and/or a 
	representative of the congregation.
	- For example in response to the request to dedicate new hymn 
	books or  a musical instrument the Music Director might say  "We 
	receive with thanks these books / instrument and promise to use 
	them/it in the worship of God and to God's glory in this place."

* Act of Dedication.
	- the presiding liturgist, preacher, pastor, etc will then dedicate 
	the object or item "to the glory of God" and, if needed, "in memory 
	of - name of person", all in the name of "the Father, the Son, and 
	the Holy Spirit"

* Prayer of Thanksgiving
	- The presiding liturgist or preacher or pastor will then lead the 
	congregation in appropriate prayers of thanksgiving (for God's 
	goodness, for the persons being memoralized, for the graces conveyed 
	by the item dedicated.
	- For example upon receiving and dedicating new communion ware the 
	presider might pray - "Loving God, we thank you for the bread that 
	gives us life and the wine that wells up to eternal joy and for the
	gift of this cup and this plate which brings your grace to us.   We 
	thank you too for the gift you gave the family of - name of person 
	memoralized - during his time with us - and we pray that you would 
	bless them and all those who draw near to you in this sanctuary of 
	your presence."

* Closing
	- Every one involved returns to there place in the congregation.  
	Sometimes it may be appropriate to exchange a sign of peace as this
	occurs.

David Shearman writes: Using this model, and adapting from any denominational resource (I have yet to come across a denominational resource without a dedication service of some kind), a service of dedication should be easy to craft. I should think that a pastor with access to their denominational worship resource should be able to come up with such an act in about an hour; 30 minutes if you are really good.

Using that model I have dedicated stained glass windows, highway bridges, hymn books and just about any piece of holy hardware we would use in the Reformed tradition.

To which we say - Amen.