Some "value added" options I've witnessed at large churches include:

* Certificates signed and embossed

* Multi-week course in parenting just prior to the actual dedication opportunity (led by the counseling department or someone with the kind of "heft" to make it helpful and positive rather than cumbersome)

* Opportunity for ANYONE AND EVERYONE to stand up front with the family--this is a very unique time for a family and I've loved to see extended families, dressed up, along side godparents [former catholics love this] and it creates a "photo op" that is priceless, long lasting and really intimate!

* Professional Photographer--Prestonwood has Lifetouch come in and take family portraits just prior to the event (when everyone is at their best) and it just adds a touch of class! Other churches have their own prefessional photographer come and set up an unused room into a sort of studio (brides rooms are fantastic for this) and it should cost your church nothing. They make their money on the "upsell" of pictures to the extended family that is gathered!

* The "Parent-Child Dedication Information Meeting" is an important opportunity to meet the pastor who will guide them through the process. Now the process differs for any and every church. Some churches have the parents and congregation repeat a promise or commitment that should be at least rehearsed prior to the event in "big church" (I've seen them done when the families are hearing the words they have to agree to for the first time and it really seems wrong). Depending on the service (at Wooddale, we conduct twice yearly Parent-Child Dedication Services at 5pm, and it is its OWN service and usually lasts 45 minutes (limited to 10 children). I would write out a prayer for each child, the parents would choose a verse that they would want to be their child's life verse (helpfully we provided 3 pages worth of verses that had been selected in years past) and I made sure that the grandparents, godparents, siblings, mom & dad and the child all had their names spelled correctly. Then I said that anyone could say a few brief words for that child (you can see it took 5 to 7 minutes per child, thus necessitating its own service). Sometimes I had children give a poem to their little brother, other times I had a parent sing a song for their child. And a pet peeve of mine is to DROP the singing of schmaltzy kids songs as the families are walking up to be greeted (like "Jesus Loves Me" or something else designed for kids rather than extended families gathered for this event). Usually the Parent-Child Dedication Service Information Meeting was a quick 30 minutes, and I didn't offer child care so parents would come with their little one in tow to diffuse the whole fear that their little child would somehow terribly embarras them...everyone sees that little children are squirrely and I love it when I sense everyone's relief!

Keith