Worship

"An Order of Commitment for Lay servants"

Also, any of these may be adapted and included for a special service of commissioning:

CLOSING WORSHIP A

Centering Prayer:

Like the sun that is far away and yet close at hand to warm us, so God’s spirit is ever present around us.

Come, Creator, into our lives.

We live and move and have our very being in you.

Open now the windows of our souls. Amen.

(from 1987 United Methodist Clergywoman’s Consultation Resource Book, 61)

Song: “Here I Am, Lord” (UMH #593)

Closing Prayer:

A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition

I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,

Exalted for thee, or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and bless God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

Thou art mine and I am thine. So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.      

              

Sharing Signs of Peace:

Blessing: Sarum Blessing

God be in your head, and in your understanding.

God be in your eyes, and in your looking.

God be in your mouth, and in your speaking.

God be in your heart, and in your thinking.

God be at your end, and at your departing. Amen.

(Sarum Liturgy. England. 13^th century, ALT. The United Methodist Book of Worship, 566).

Blessing: An Irish Prayer

May there always be work for your hands to do. May your purse always hold a coin or two.   May the sun always shine on your window-pane.

May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.   May the hand of a friend always be near you. May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

CLOSING WORSHIP B

ENTERING
Welcome & Thank you to Local Church (3 min)

PROCLAIMING
Songs & Praise (15 min.)

COMMUNING
Commissioning Service ( 30 min.).
Communion Service (reading pgs. from Hymnal)
Prayer

SENDING FORTH "Exit to Your Mission Field"
'Food for the Journey' (As people leave they will pass by the elements and be served by the Directors, Host Pastors, District Superintendent, etc. taking with them Spiritual Food for their Journey back to their field of service and their mission field)