CELEBRATION OF A NEW MINISTRY Rev. Sean Handcock s Covenanting Service Saint David s United Church Saint John Presbytery February 24, 2013
CELEBRATION OF A NEW MINISTRY WE GATHER AS GOD S PEOPLE Chair of Saint John Presbytery, Rev. Karen MacNeil Prelude: Lied All: Gordon Young The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. And also with you. Hymn: I, the Lord, of Sea and Sky VU 509 Prayer of Approach: Rev. Dr. Ron Vincent PRESENTATION Macgregor Grant: We are gathered here in the presence of God to celebrate a new ministry and to covenant together for the service of God in this place. I present Rev Sean Handcock who has been called to the ministry of Word, Sacrament and Pastoral Care with the Rothesay/Saint David s Pastoral Charge. We believe he is qualified and has been prayerfully and lawfully selected. Sean, you are here at the request of the Rothesay/Saint David s Pastoral Charge and by the action of Saint John Presbytery and Maritime 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 power and grace to perform them. WORDS OF WELCOME WE HEAR GOD S WORD PROCLAIMED Jeremiah 1:4-10 One: The Word of the Lord All: Thanks be to God Responsive Reading: Psalm 139 VU 861 Whitney Walls Sarah Doyle Luke 5: 1-11 One: All: Glory be to you, O God Praise be to you, O Christ Michael Wornell Hymn: My Love Colors Outside the Lines My love colours outside the lines, Exploring paths that few could ever find. And takes me in to places Where I ve never been before, And opens doors to worlds outside the lines. My Lord colours outside the lines. Turns wounds to blessings water into wine. And takes me into places Where I ve never been before.
And opens doors to worlds outside the lines. We ll never walk on water If we re not prepared to drown Body and soul need a soaking from time to time. And we ll never move the gravestones If we re not prepared to die and realize There are worlds outside the lines. My soul longs to colour outside the lines Tear back the curtains sun come in and shine I want to walk beyond the boundaries Where I ve never been before Throw open doors to worlds outside the lines. We ll never walk on water If we re not prepared to drown Body and soul need a soaking from time to time. And we ll never move the gravestones If we re not prepared to die and realize There are worlds outside the lines. My soul longs to colour outside the lines Tear back the curtains sun come in and shine I want to walk beyond the boundaries Where I ve never been before Throw open doors to worlds outside the lines. Reflection: Rev. Audrey Lounder Anthem: Let Us Serve Him Don Besig & Nancy Price COVENANTING ACTION RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL FAITH Let us stand and join in a statement of our communal faith. 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.
STATEMENT OF THIS NEW MINISTRY In Jesus Christ, God came into the world as a servant of all. By our baptism we are called to ministry of worship, witness and reconciliation. Among us, some are called to lead the people in praise and prayer and to preach the gospel of Christ. Sean, you are about to undertake the ministry of Word, Sacrament and Pastoral Care in this place. You, and the members of the Rothesay/Saint David s Pastoral Charge, are called to join 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. Let us pray together: Gracious God, by our baptism you have called us to Christ s ministry; pour out your Holy Spirit upon us as we commit ourselves to work together in Christ s name in this place. Amen Hymn: I Have Called You by Your Name I have called you by your name, you are mine; I have gifted you and ask you now to shine. I will not abandon you; All my promises are true. You are gifted, called, and chosen; you are mine. I will help you learn my name as you go; Read it written in my people, help them grow. Pour the water in my name, Speak the word your soul can claim, Offer Jesus body, given long ago. I know you will need my touch as you go; Feel it pulsing in creation s ebb and flow. Like the woman reaching out, Choosing faith in spite of doubt, Hold the hem of Jesus robe, then let it go. I have given you a name, it is mine; I have given you my Spirit as a sign. With my wonder in your soul, Make my wounded children whole; Go and tell my precious people they are mine. PROMISES OF THE NEW MINISTER (invites Sean forward) That this congregation may know your mind and will, I ask you: Do you believe in God who has 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? Rev. Sean: I do. Rev. Sean: Sean, do you believe that God is calling you to a Ministry of Word, Sacrament and Pastoral Care and Christian Education and Development in this Pastoral Charge and do you accept the call? I do. Will you, with Christ s people, be faithful in prayer and in the study of scripture that you may know the mind of Christ? Rev. Sean: I will. Presider Will you boldly proclaim and interpret the gospel of Christ by word and deed that the children and people of God may be strengthened and that God s reign may be advanced? Rev. Sean: I will.
Rev. Sean: Rev. Sean: Will you accept the discipline of the presbytery and, together with its other members, be responsible for the oversight of the church s life? I will. Will you accept the support and encouragement of this Pastoral Charge and this presbytery? I will. PROMISES OF THE MINISTRY TEAM (Members of the Saint David s Ministry Team stand) Will you work cooperatively together in the Spirit of Christian collegiality and support each other s ministry? Members of the Ministry Team: PROMISES OF THE PASTORAL CHARGE (Congregation, please stand) Will you join with Sean in a ministry of worship, education, study, prayer, and action within this church and in the world? Members of the Pastoral Charge: Will you support him as he serves among you in these ministries? Members of the Pastoral Charge: PROMISES OF THE PRESBYTERY (Members of the Saint John Presbytery stand) Will you, as members of Saint John Presbytery, join with Sean and this pastoral charge in the ministry that is both theirs and ours? Presbytery Members: Will you exercise oversight for their work and witness, support and encourage them in this ministry. Presbytery Members: PRESENTATION OF SYMBOLS Bible (presented by Roy Marr): Sean, take this Bible. Be among us as one who teaches, models, and proclaims the Word. Prayer Shawl (presented by Bev Farnham): Sean, take this prayer shawl and provide pastoral care to the people of God whose companion in life you are. Water (presented by Deb Maber): Sean, take this Water. Be among us as one who baptizes in the name of Christ. Bread and Wine (presented by Betty & Brandon Henry): Sean, take this bread and wine. Be among us as one who breaks the bread and blesses the cup. Plasma Orb (presented by Rachel Heron) Sean, take this plasma orb and let your energy and enthusiasm infuse this congregation with a dynamic sense of faith that calls us each to action. Sean and the people of Saint David s, let all of these symbols be signs of the ministry that is ours and yours in this place.
NEW MINISTER S PRAYER RESPONSE TO COVENANT (People may express joy with applause) Let us rejoice in the covenant we have made together. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: Alicia Walls Presentation of our Offerings: (for the work of Saint John Presbytery) Offertory Prayer: May these gifts bring light to those who walk in darkness, hope to those who live in despair, and justice to those who are oppressed. Grant to each giver a sense of participation in the most important opportunity of all time: to share your love with the world. To this end, we dedicate our offering and ourselves. Amen Hymn: Draw the Circle Wide Chorus: Draw the circle wide. Draw it wider still. Let this be our song, no one stands alone, Standing side by side, Draw the circle wide. God the still point of the circle, round whom all creation turns; nothing lost, but held for ever, in God s gracious arms. Chorus Let our hearts touch far horizons, so encompass great and small; let our loving know no borders, faithful to God s call. Chorus Let the dreams we dream be larger, than we ve ever dreamed before; let the dream of Christ be in us, open every door. Chorus Commissioning and Benediction Postlude: Fanfare on Ein Feste Burg James Pethel Everyone is invited to stay for a reception following the service. Songs printed in the bulletin are licensed by: CCLI #3136401, OneLicense.net #A-721320 and/or LicenSing #C18614