The Celebration Of A Covenant Between
The Westminster United Church, South Alberta Presbytery and Jane Clarke
February 3rd, 2002
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Greeting
Call to Worship (Bill Ramage) (Responsive)
One: Sisters and brothers, as we gather in the welcome of God's love, as we gather in the joy of our unity in Christ, as we gather in the power of the spirit, let us listen for the voice of God!
All: Let us worship God, who has spoken and still speaks to those who attend to the roar or the whisper of the Holy One.
Prayer of Approach (Unison)
One: Let us continue to pray.
All: God, as we worship you, lead us into life in all of its fullness. Help us to worship with all we are and have. Let our laughter and our tears be instruments of prayer. Let our loves and our delights fly out in a sky-parade, painting our world and our worship with color and sound. Make our doubt the clay from which we shape our faith. Let our fears boil within us until they emerge as shining hope. And let the light of the world be born with us until we radiate the love that is Christ. Amen.
Hymn #634 "To Abraham and Sarah"
Prayer of Confession: (Andrew Weiss) (unison)
God of new beginnings: We confess those things which keep us from the life you offer. We bring what is hurtful and unfinished, angry moments and tasks undone. We confess these bruises on our spirits. And we bring our resistances, the pride that keeps us from asking forgiveness, the lack of energy that turns us away from new adventures, spirits too clogged to wonder and to pray. We confess our unwillingness to risk for the future...(silent confession)
Declaration of God's Forgiveness (Responsive)
One: People of God, rejoice! In Christ there is forgiveness and freedom; in Christ there is empowerment and peace.
All: In Christ all things are made new. We are God's forgiven people. Thanks be to God.
Presentation of New Minister:
Rev. Frank Lewis: We are gathered here in the presence of God to celebrate a new stage of our ministry by covenanting together for the servicing of God in this place.
Bill Ramage: We present Jane Clarke, who has been appointed by South Alberta Presbytery to minister with us and among us within Westminster United Church. We believe she is qualified and has been prayerfully and lawfully selected.
Rev. Frank: Jane you are here in response to the call of Westminster United Church and by the action of South Alberta Presbytery and Alberta Northwest Conference. We come together to mark a new relationship among you, the presbytery and the pastoral charge. May the God who has given us the will to do these things give us the grace and power to perform them.
We Listen for God's Word:
Reading from the Hebrew Scriptures: Proverbs 31:10-31
Anthem “Here I Am Lord”
Reading from the Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28
One: This is the Good News of Jesus Christ
All: Thanks be to God.
Meditation: “It Is Worth It”
Hymn #808 “On Eagle’s Wings”
We Respond to God's Word:
Your work, O God, needs many hands to help you everywhere, and some there are who cannot serve unless our gifts we share.
Prayer of Dedication (Dave Luyten) (One)
Caring God, may we offer not only our material gifts, but our whole
selves to you, and to all those who need our support in the quest for justice. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Covenanting:
Rev. Frank: Let us stand and with the whole church confess our faith.
The Creed (unison)
We are not alone,
we live in God's world.
We believe in God: who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the church:
to celebrate God's presence,
to live with respect in creation
to love and serve others
to seek justice and resist evil
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death.
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Rev. Frank: In Jesus Christ, God came into the world as servant of all. By our baptism we are called to lead the people in praise and prayer and to preach the gospel of Christ. Jane, you are about to undertake that ministry in this place. You, the members of this church, are called to join Jane in worship, study, prayer and action. We, the presbytery, will be responsible for the oversight of this ministry. Let us ask for God’s grace as we covenant together this day.
The new minister comes forward at the invitation of the presider.
Rev. Frank: That this congregation may know your mind and will, I ask you: Do you believe in God who created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, and who works in us and others by the Holy Spirit?
Jane: I do.
Rev. Frank: Will you, with Christ’s people, be faithful in prayer and in the study of scripture, that you may know the mind of Christ?
Jane: I will.
Rev. Frank: Will you boldly proclaim and interpret the gospel of Christ by word and deed, that the people of God may be strengthened and that God's reign may be advanced?
Jane: I will
Rev. Frank: Will you accept the discipline of the presbytery and, together with its other members, be responsible for the oversight of the church’s life?
Jane: I will.
Rev. Frank: Will you accept the support and encouragement of this pastoral charge and this presbytery?
Jane: I will.
Promises of the Pastoral Charge:
The members of Westminster please stand.
Rev. Frank: Will you join with Jane in a ministry of worship, study, prayer, and action within this church and in the world?
Members of the Pastoral Charge: We will.
Rev. Frank: Will you support Jane as she serves among you in this ministry?
Members of the Pastoral Charge: We will.
Rev. James comes forward, and is introduced.
Rev. Frank: Jane and James, you have been called by God to work together in this pastoral charge. Will you promise in faith and obedience to Christ to share this ministry, supporting one another in love, and, through your unity of spirit, inspiring all God's people here in their common ministry for Christ?
Team Ministers: We will.
James is seated.
Promises of the Presbytery
Members of the Presbytery come forward.
Rev. Frank: Will you, as members of South Alberta Presbytery, join with Jane and this pastoral charge in the ministry that is both theirs and ours?
Presbyters: We will.
Rev. Frank: Will you exercise oversight for their work and witness,
support and encourage them in this ministry?
Presbyters: We will.
Rev. Frank: Let us pray. Gracious God, give to all these, your servants, the grace and power to fulfill their ministry. Strengthen us by your Holy Spirit so that we may keep the promises that we all have made this night. Amen.
Presentation of the Symbols:
A Bible: Take this Bible. Be among us as one who proclaims and teaches the word.
Towel and Basin: Receive this towel and basin. Help us to be servants to one another.
Coffee Mug: Please accept this coffee mug as a tool of one who is with us in our joys and sorrows.
Puppet: Please accept this puppet as a reminder of the importance of the children in our community of faith.
Prayer: Jane Clarke
Response to the Covenant:
Rev. Frank: Let us rejoice in the covenant we have made.
May God bless the ministry of Jane, of the members of this Pastoral Charge, and of all gathered here tonight.
Prayers of the People: Sharon Clay
Hymn #639 "One More Step Along the World I Go"
Commissioning and Benediction
Also Participating in Tonight's Service
Music Director: Carol Pols
Greeters: Justin Weiss & Danielle Weiss
Ushers: Taylor Croissant, Clarke Croissant, Shannon Bergstreser, Christina Rachinsky
Chair of South Alberta Presbytery: Rev. Frank Lewis
Sharing the Word: Rev. Deborah Walker
Scripture Reader: Marilynn Piotrowski
Symbol Presenters:
The Bible: Shannon Bergstreser
The Bowl and Basin: Jean Riggins
The Coffee Mug: Dave Luyten
The Puppet: Sabrina & Amber Henderson
The Choir: Anthem
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