The Order for theOrdination of

Deacons & EldersSaturday, June 20, 2015 | 7:30 p.m.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Words: Joachim Neander, 1880;Music: Erneurten Gesangbuck 1885. OneLicense.net E-801569. All rights reserved.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation!O my soul praise him, for he is thy health and salvation!All ye who hear, now to his temple draw near;join me in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigning

bears thee on eagle’s wings, e’er in his keeping maintaining.

God’s care enfolds all, whose true good he upholds.

Hast thou not known his sustaining.

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work

and defend thee;

surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,

who with his love doth befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord, who doth nourish thy life and restore thee, fitting thee well for the tasks that are ever before thee.

Then to thy need God as a mother doth speed,spreading the wings of grace o’er thee.

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!

All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before him!

Let the amen sound from his people again;

Gladly forever adore him.

Bishop:The grace of Jesus Christ be with you all.  

People:And also with you.

Bishop:

We come together to praise God, to hear the Holy Word, and to seek for ourselves and others the power, presence, and direction of the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray:

All: Eternal God, by Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit you gave to your apostles many excellent gifts. Give your grace to all servants of your church, that we may with diligence and faithfulness fulfill our various ministries.

Grant that we your people may follow where you lead, perfect our ministries, and live in joyful obedience to your will, through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

Bishop:Ministry is the work of God, done by the people of God. Through baptism all Christians are made part of the priesthood of all believers, the church, Christ’s body, made visible in the world.

We all share in Christ’s ministry of love and service for the redemption of the human family and the whole of creation. Therefore, in celebration of our common ministry, I call upon all God’s people gathered here:

Bishop:Remember your baptism and be thankful.  

People:We remember our baptism and affirm our common ministry.

Go live until the end of the Sermon.

Affirmation of Faith:The Apostles’ Creed  

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord:who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin

Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;

the third day he rose from the dead;

he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the

right hand of God the Father Almighty;

from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the

body,and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Go live for the Word in Song until the ordination hymn. Stanza 1

Ordination Hymn

Lead On, O King EternalUMH 580. Words: Ernest W. Shurtleff, 1887; Music: Henry T. Smart, 1835.

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Stanza 1

Lead on, O King eternal, the day of march has come; henceforth in fields of conquest thy tents shall be our home.

Through days of preparation thy grace has made us strong; and now, O King eternal, we lift our battle song.

Go live through Examination of Deacons

Ordination Hymn

Lead On, O King EternalUMH 580. Words: Ernest W. Shurtleff, 1887; Music: Henry T. Smart, 1835.

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Stanzas 2 and 3

Lead on, O King eternal, till sin’s fierce war shall cease, and holiness shall whisper the sweet amen of peace.

For not with swords loud clashing, nor roll of stirring drums; with deeds of love and mercy the heavenly kingdom comes.

Lead on, O King eternal, we follow, not with fears, for gladness breaks like morning, where’er thy face appears.

Thy cross is lifted o’er us, we journey in its light; the crown awaits the conquest; lead on, O God of might.

Go live through Examination of Elders and the Blessing

Spirit of God,Descend Upon My Heart

UMH 500 Sung to UMH 698. Words: George Croly, 1867 (Gal.5:25), Music: George W. Warren, 1894; (God of the Ages)

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Spirit of God, descend upon my heart; wean it from earth, though all its pulses move;

stoop to my weakness, mighty as thou art, and make me love thee as I ought to love.

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies, no sudden rending of the veil of clay,

no angel visitant, no opening skies; but take the dimness of my soul away.

Has thou not bid me love thee God and King? All, all thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind.

I see thy cross; there teach my heart of cling. O let me seek thee, and O let me find!

Teach me to feel that thou art always nigh; teach me the struggles of the soul to bear.

To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh,teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Teach me to love thee as thine angels love, one holy passion filling all my frame;

the kindling of the heaven descended Dove, my heart an altar, and thy love the flame.

A newly ordained deacon dismisses the people:Go in peace to serve God and your neighbor in all that you do. We are sent in Christ’s name.

People: Thanks be to God!

Until the Whole World Hears