King’s Weigh House Church

 

Devotional Services for Public Worship

by John Hunter, minister of , then a Congregational church, in Mayfair, London. Published in 1903.

ORDINATION OF A MINISTER

Prayer

Almighty God, the Source of goodness, the Fountain  of all light and life, we humbly beseech Thee to hear our prayer on behalf of Thy servant whose calling and ordination by Thee to the ministry of Thy Word we this day recognize and honour.

We thank Thee for the power with which Thou hast endowed him, for the learning Thou hast enabled him to acquire, for the wisdom his experience of life has taught  him, and for the knowledge of Thy name and will which  he has received through communion with Thee and Jesus Christ Thy Son.

We thank Thee for the way in which Thou hast led him, and brought him to this hour. In early years Thy good Spirit didst move and call him to this work: he has been under Thy discipline and teaching, and in many ways both secret and open Thou hast been training him for Thy will and work.

Almighty Father, we pray that in the days to come he may be still taught and led by Thee. Endue him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, of power and a sound mind. Make and keep him simple in character, pure in heart, clear in judgment, unselfish and earnest in purpose, and lowly in personal claim. Let the same mind be in him which was also in Christ Jesus. May he have in his work the spirit of his Master's compassion for men; the love that endureth all things, hopeth all things, and never faileth. Amid praise and blame, amid success and failure, may he be faithful to his high calling, faithful to Thee. May he never be overcome of evil. In his hours of darkness and depression may he ever realize that Thou art his refuge and strength, and that his sufficiency is of God. And when he is most conscious of his weakness and want, may he find rest and hope in the thought of the heavenly grace that triumphs over the frailties of Thy servants, and preserves unbroken the communion of saints.

Almighty God, the Giver of every good and perfect gift, grant unto this our brother ever clearer and fuller knowledge of the things which belong to the highest well - being of Thy children. That he may quicken and nourish in others the temper of faith, we pray Thee to increase his own faith. In these days of questioning and unrest, may the peace of God keep his heart and mind. Deep in the fellowship of Thy Son may he live, so that his words to this people may be ever full of reality and life. May he speak of the Eternal Love as one whose heart has been won by its sweet constraint. May he speak of the Grace of Jesus Christ, as one who has taken upon himself the sins and sorrows of his brethren, and is filling up that which is behind of the Saviour's sufferings. May he speak of the Holy Spirit as one who lives in the constant realization of His quickening, inspiring and revealing power. May he speak of sin as one to whom the decay of holy affection and aspiration is the only real evil. May he speak of the life that now is as one who sees and reads its meaning in the light of eternal laws. May he speak of the new spirit which has come unto the world through Jesus Christ our Lord, as one who is himself completely surrendered to the power that will draw all men to God. May he speak of the hope that is full of immortality, as one to whom the veil between the worlds has been taken away. We ask for him Thy might in his spirit that he may ever speak as one moved by the Holy Ghost, and boldly as he ought to speak, not as seeking to please men, but only Thee. May all thought of himself be lost in the thought that he is Thy servant. And in the midst of holy offices and sacred things, may Thy Spirit move him continually to guard and nourish the inner life. Like his Master, may he ever seek to sanctify himself, that others may be sanctified through the truth. And may this people feel that his ministry is a good gift from Thee. May it strengthen them for the duties and trials of life, and lift them nearer the light of Thy face.

Almighty God, in whose sympathy with us is our only hope, into Thy hands we commend Thy servant. In all time of his wealth and in all time of his tribulation be Thou his stay and the Rock of his strength. So direct and sustain him that when his day's work is done, he may be able to look on his Master's face without fear and without shame. Amen.

Installation of the President of LCMS Synod

 

The presiding minister takes the right hand of the president-elect and says:

N., I install you as president of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The presiding minister vests the newly installed with a pectoral cross, saying:

Receive this cross as the emblem of the office to which you have been called and as a reminder of Him whom you serve.

The presiding minister presents the newly installed with the books whereby he is to administer

the Synod.

As he presents the Bible, he says:

Receive the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, the Word of God, “which is the only true norm according to which all teachers and teachings are to be judged and evaluated.”

As he presents the Book of Concord, he says:

Receive the Book of Concord, the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, which are in accord with the Word of God and bear witness to the truth of the Gospel.

As he presents the church body’s Handbook, he says:

Receive the Handbook of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod containing the Constitution and Bylaws by which this church is governed.

The newly installed kneels for prayer.

Let us pray. Almighty God, heavenly Father, grant to Your servant N. Your Holy Spirit that he may faithfully perform the duties of his office to the glory of Your name and for the well-being of Your people; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

The congregation prays the Lord’s Prayer as the ministers lay on hands.

The presiding minister blesses the newly installed president.

Go in peace and joy. The almighty and most merciful God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you, and bless and strengthen you for faithful service in His name.

https://vimeo.com/14975745

Stalybridge Unitarian Church

 

Stalybridge Unitarian Church

Service of Induction

12-3-16

We, the congregation of Stalybridge Unitarian Church, do hereby install you as our Minister. We pledge ourselves to walk with you in the ways of God, to join you in the worker celebration of free religion and to follow the ways of peace, justice and compassion.

Friends: with a deep sense of responsibility, trusting not in my own strength, but in the grace and power of God, I take on the ministry of this church and I pledge myself, so far as in me lies, worthily to maintain the freedom of the pulpit, to speak the truth in love, without fear of persons; diligently to fulfill the several offices of worship, pastoral care and community service, according to your customs; and in all things to live as to promote generosity and faithfulness, love and peace, among you and all men.

 

 

May I invite Bob to remain standing in front of you; I'm going to direct him until I have the opportunity to do so, and to face this wonderful congregation.  And may I also at this point invite all Christian ministers to come forward, those who wish, and to stand behind Bob as we begin to offer our prayer of installation and dedication, as a symbolic expression of their support for him, and for their blessing of his ministry. I would also wish to invite Dr. Buckle, in her capacity as president of the East Cheshire Union, to stand with Bob at this point .

I call who wish to rest a hand on his shoulders and:

Let us pray!

Almighty and loving God by your grace you have called your servant Bob to Christian Ministry, and by this prayer, loving Father in Heaven, we install and dedicate the reverend Bob Pounder to Ministry and to Service, here at Stalybridge Unitarian Church.

We pray that you will bless, guide and support him in the office and in the work of ministry; and by the power of your Holy Spirit that he will faithfully lead worship, preach the Word, administer the Sacraments and care for the people; after the example of Jesus Christ Our Lord and Master in Whose name we pray. Amen

Amen

Dear friends, please be seated, my colleagues there, and Applause! might be good at this point!

May the peace of God, the peace that passes all understanding, that peace which the world can neither give nor take away, be with us now, this day, now and forever. Amen

Amen

Presbyterian Church of England

 

Presbyterian Church ofEngland

Directory for Public Worship (1912)

The moderator shall offer the Ordination Prayer, not failing to include therein the words specially indicated in the following form:

Almighty God, Who didst give unto Thy Church men to be apostles, prophets, and evangelists, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the Body of Christ, graciously behold this Thy servant who we, in dependence on Christ the Head of the Church, are setting apart for the same Ministry. Confirm unto him the call he has received from Thee. Endue him with the power from on high.

Bestow upon him Thy Holy Spirit, as we now, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ (there the Moderator shall lay his hands upon the head of the Ordinand, the other Presbyters also laying on their right hands). Ordain him with the laying on of hands, to be a Minister of the Church of God, and commit unto him authority to minister the Word and Sacraments.

Give unto him the hearts of this people. Enable him to discharge his Ministry among them, breaking to them the bread of life, tending the young of the flock, comforting the burdened and the sorrowful, and so ministering the manifold grace of God that the Body of Christ may be built on this place. Strengthen him to lead the people in the service of the Kingdom, and sent him forth as an ambassador of Christ to persuade men to be reconciled unto Thee. Enable him to preach the Gospel of Thy love to men in Jesus Christ with the demonstration of the Spirit and with power.

Prosper him in all his labour, bless him in his home, and sustain him by Thy continual grace. So may he in all things fulfil his Ministry in Thy sight that, having finished his course with joy, he may at the last receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Grant this, we humbly beseech Thee, o God, for the love of Thine only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Prayer being ended, the Congregation shall stand, and the Moderator shall make this declaration

In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Head of the Church, and by the authority of this Presbitery, I declare you, A. B., to beordained to the office of the Holy Ministry; and I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to make you perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

I receive you to take part with us in this Ministry, and hereby induct you into the office of Minister of this Congregation with all its rights and privileges.

In token whereof I now give you the right hand of fellowship.

 

When a Minister is appointed to a Congregation for a limited term, the words “ for a period of …. years” must be used after the words “this Congregation” in the Declaration.

When an Assistant Minister is ordained, the Moderator shall substitute the following words for the concluding paragraph of the Declaration:

I receive you to take part with us in this Ministry. In token whereof I now  give you the right hand of fellowship.

When a Missionary  is Ordained, the Moderator shall substitute the following Declaration:

In the Name of the lord Jesus Christ, the only Head of the Church, and by the authority of this Presbytery, I declare you, A. B., to be ordained to the office of the holy Ministry; and I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to make you perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

I receive you to take part with us in this Ministry, and hereby induct you into the office of a Ministerial Missionary of this Church with all its rights and privileges. In token whereof I give you the right hand of fellowship.

 

Thereupon the Moderator and the other members of Presbytery shall give the new ordained the right hand of fellowship.

United Norwegian Lutheran Church - Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church (1915)

 

Altar book of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church : a translation 

pag. 134

ORDINATION TO THE HOLY MINISTRY.

 

The President shall then say:

 

Give me thine hand in token thereof.

 

The person to be ordained shall then rise, and give his hand, first to the President, then to the Pastors from right to left. After this he shall again kneel.

The President shall then say:

 

I commit unto thee, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, the sacred office of the Gospel Ministry, with authority and power, as a right servant of God and of Jesus Christ, to declare God's Word both in public and in private, to administer the Holy Sacraments in accordance with their institution, to bind sin upon the obstinate and to loose it upon the penitent, and further to perform whatsoever belongeth to this thy holy calling in accordance with the Word of God and the practices of our Church.

 

Let us all pray.

 

The President shall then lay his hand upon the head of the person being ordained, the Pastors doing the same. If more than one is being ordained, the Pastors shall distribute themselves in equal numbers about each one of the Candidates. The President moves his hand from one to the other during the following prayer:

 

Merciful and everlasting God: By the Word of Thine only begotten Son Thou hast taught us that the harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; and that we should pray the Lord of the harvest that he send forth laborers into His harvest. Hear, therefore, the prayer we offer in behalf of him whom we ordain this day to be a servant in Thy Church.

Lord, keep him in Thy Name, and sanctify him in Thy truth, strengthen him in faith and in love toward Thee, and bestow upon him through Thy Spirit the gifts of ministration, that he may become a right laborer in Thy harvest. Help him to proclaim Thy Word with boldness and fidelity, to counsel, comfort, and rebuke with all meekness and wisdom, and in all things conduct himself as a good steward of Thy manifold grace.

Be with him in every conflict and trial, and make him patient and humble in heart; for Thy power is made perfect in weakness.

Make fruitful his labors according to Thine own good pleasure, and when his day of toil shall end, receive him with joy in Thine own presence, there to inherit a portion with all Thy saints in everlasting bliss. Hear us, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Our Father, who art in heaven; Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

From the heart let all say, Amen.

 

The Pastors answer:

 

Amen.

 

The President:

 

In the Name of Christ, Amen.

 

A stanza of an appropriate Hymn, such as the first of No. 39 in the Hymnary, shall then be sung, during which the President kneels in silent prayer at the Altar, while the persons ordained together with the other Pastors kneel around the Altar Circle. Thereupon the President and the persons ordained go into the Sacristy.

The act of Ordination thus performed, the Hymn before the Sermon shall be sung, after which a Sermon shall be preached, either by the person ordained, or by one of the other Pastors, as the President shall determine.

At the Conclusion of the Sermon, the person newly ordained shall take the oath of ordination.

If more than one person be ordained, the Ritual shall be modified accordingly.

 

 

General Church of the New Jerusalem (1916)

General Church of the New Jerusalem

Liturgyfor the General Church of the New Jerusalem

ORDINATION

All kneeling, the Bishop shall repeat one of the following, or other suitable Prayer:

O Lord, our Redeemer and Savior; we beseech Thee to bless Thy servant now about to enter (more fully) among those who teach Thy Word and lead in the way of heaven; enlighten him by Thy Holy Spirit; warm his heart; strengthen his hands; give him knowledge and understanding, that he may see Thy truth and follow Thee, seeking to know only Thy Divine will and Thy Divine law, in Thy presence evermore. Amen.

O Lord Jesus Christ, who art our King and High Priest forever; we pray Thee for the fulness of Thy presence in this act and ordinance of Thy Church; come Thou, O Lord, with light and power, to give enlightenment and strength to this Thy servant now entering (more fully) upon the duties of the priestly office; be Thou with him in the work that is before him; bless his ministrations for the good of Thy Church; lead him in the way of truth and order in the promotion of Thy Divine work of leading souls to Thy kingdom; as he works so may he grow in knowledge and intelligence, and in all good, that he may fulfill the measure of his use, to the honor and glory of Thy holy name. Amen.

The Minister and People shall say together:

Our Father, who art in the heavens, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven so upon the earth.

Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

 

 

THE FIRST DEGREE.

The Candidate still kneeling, the Bishop standing shall lay on his hands, and shall say:

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I do hereby ordain thee a Priest of the New Church, in the first degree of the office of the Priesthood.

The Bishop shall then say:

The Lord bless thee and keep thee; the Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Amen.

The Minister rising, the Bishop shall say to him:

By this act of ordination thou art authorized to preach the Doctrines of the New Church, to lead in public worship, and to administer the sacrament of Baptism; and so to teach men the way to heaven, and lead them therein.

The Bishop placing the stole shall say:

By this sign it shall be known that you are furnished and prepared to perform the duties pertaining to the first degree of the priestly office.

The Bishop may then say:

You have been introduced into the first degree of the Priesthood of the New Church, and I now recognize you as a Minister in the General Church of the New Jerusalem.

 

THE SECOND DEGREE.

The Minister still kneeling, the Bishop standing shall lay on his hands, and shall say:

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I do hereby ordain thee a Priest of the New Church, in the second degree of the office of the Priesthood.

The Bishop shall then administer the Blessing as above.

The Minister rising, the Bishop shall say to him:

In addition to the duties already conferred, thou art by this act of ordination authorized to administer the Holy Supper, to consecrate marriages, to preside over a Society of the Church; and so to enter more fully into the use of teaching men the way to heaven, and of leading them therein.

The Bishop placing the stole shall say;

By this sign it shall be known that you are furnished and prepared to perform the duties pertaining to the second degree of the priestly office.

The Bishop may then say:

You have been introduced into the second degree of the Priesthood of the New Church, and I now recognize you as a Pastor in the General Church of the New Jerusalem.

 

 

THE THIRD DEGREE.

The Minister still kneeling, the Bishop standing shall lay on his hands, and shall say :

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I do hereby ordain thee a Priest of the New Church, in the third degree of the office of the Priesthood.

The Bishop shall then administer the Blessing as above.

The Minister rising, the Bishop shall say to him:

In addition to the duties already conferred, thou art by this act of ordination authorized to ordain ministers, and to preside over a general body of the Church; and so to enter still more fully into the use of teaching men the way to heaven, and of leading them therein.

The Bishop placing the stole shall say:

By this sign it shall be known that you are furnished and prepared to perform the duties pertaining to the third degree of the priestly office.

The Bishop may then say:

You have been introduced into the third degree of the priesthood of the New Church, and I now recognize you as a Bishop in the General Church of the New Jerusalem.

The Bishop may then say to the Minister, Pastor or Bishop, newly ordained:

By this act of inauguration you are introduced (more fully) into our use of charity among men ; and as a man is regenerated by his use of charity, when he shuns evils as sins, so the priest by the faithful performance of the duties of his function, and by a loyal obedience to the laws of order as applied to his use, is led in the path of heaven and eternal life; even as we read in the Heavenly Doctrine concerning charity in the priest: — If he looks to the Lord and shuns evils as sins, and performs sincerely, justly, and faithfully, the work of the Ministry, he does the good of use continually, and becomes charity in form. And he does the good of use, or the work of the Ministry, sincerely, justly, and faithfully, when the salvation of souls affects him; and as this affects him, so truths affect him, because by them he leads souls to heaven; and he leads souls by truths to heaven when he leads them to the Lord. His love then is to teach truths diligently from the Word, because when he teaches them from the Word, he teaches them from the Lord. For the Lord is not only the Word, but He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and also the Door; wherefore he who enters by the Lord as the Door into the sheepfold is a good shepherd; but he who does not enter by the Lord as the Door into the sheepfold is an evil shepherd, who is called a thief and a robber.

In this teaching of the Heavenly Doctrine concerning charity in the priest, we learn that he is to look to the Lord, and he is to shun evils as sins. This is the sum of the law and the prophets, the sum of all Divine Truth, the two universals of salvation and eternal life. When this is done by a priest in his use, he then performs his use sincerely, justly, and faithfully, and is a good shepherd providing for the welfare of the sheep; and he is affected by the love of the salvation of souls, which is from the Divine Love, and the Divine End, of the salvation of the human race, and the formation of an angelic heaven; and he is affected by the love of the salvation of souls when he is affected by truths, for truths are what save souls. He therefore looks to the Lord when he looks to the truths of His Word, and follows those truths, without regard to the allurements of the world, and with- out fear of any consequences to himself; for he knows that the Lord will protect and provide for everyone who faithfully performs the work of his use, and the duty of his calling.

The duty of the priest then, as the duty of all men, is given in sum in the Divine injunction to look to the Lord, and to shun evils as sins; the application of which is left to every ne, according to the illustration that is given him, and the spiritual discernment in the duties of his use.

And now may the Lord go with you in all your walks, and by the Spirit of truth lead you into all truth. Amen.

A Hymn or Psalm of Praise may be sung, and the Benediction may follow.