BOOK OF OCCASIONAL SERVICES BOOK OF OCCASIONAL SERVICES A LITURGICAL RESOURCE SUPPLEMENTING THE BOOK OF COMMON WORSHIP, 1993 PREPAREDBY THEOFFICEOFTHEOLOGY ANDWORSHIP FORTHE PRESBYTERIANCHURCH(U.S.A.) PUBLISHEDBY GENEVAPRESS LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY © 1999 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), a Corporation for Congregational Ministries Division, Office of Theology and Worship. All rights reserved.No part of this publication may be reproduced without special permission, except as noted. Brief portions of this Book of Occasional Services may be reproduced without special permission for one-time use only, for worship and educational pur- poses, in an order of service for use by a congregation, or in a special pro- gram or lesson resource, provided that no part of such reproduction is sold, directly or indirectly, and that the following acknowledgment is included: Reprinted by permission from the Book of Occasional Services © 1999 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), a Corporation for Congregational Ministries Division, Office of Theology and Worship. Inquiries concerning rights and reproductions not herein authorized should be directed to Geneva Press, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396. Scripture quotations from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible are copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. and are used by permission. Grateful acknowledgment is made to the publishers for permission to quote from the following works: The prayer “Guide us waking, O Lord” (p. 183), © 1988 English Language Liturgical Consultation (ELLC). “Prayer for illumination” (p. 202) from A Service of Word and Table I,© 1972 Methodist Publishing House; © 1980, 1985, 1989, 1992 The United Methodist Publishing House. Psalm 96 (pp. 66–67) from the Book of Common Worship, © 1993 Westminster/John Knox Press. Published by Geneva Press Louisville, Kentucky This book is printed on acid-free paper that meets the American National Standards Institute Z39.48 standard. Book Design by Susan E. Jackson Interior illustrations by Aavidar Design Inc. PRINTEDINTHEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1 Cataloging-in-Publication data for this book may be obtained from the Library of Congress. ISBN 0-664-50098-6 ISBN 0-664-50107-9 (Deluxe ed.) CONTENTS PREFACE 1 ABBREVIATIONS 3 ORDINATIONANDINSTALLATION Introduction 6 Ordination and Installation of Deacons and Elders 11 Ordination to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament 45 Installation of a Pastor 83 Scripture Readings for the Ordination and Installation of Deacons and Elders 113 Scripture Readings for Ordination and Installation to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament 115 Hymns for Ordination and Installation Services 117 COMMISSIONING Introduction 120 Commissioning to Ministry within a Congregation 123 Commissioning to Ministry outside a Congregation 129 Commissioning Delegates to a Governing Body 135 DEDICATION Introduction 142 Groundbreaking 145 Order for Laying of a Cornerstone 151 Dedication of a Church Building and Furnishings 157 Dedication of the Baptismal Font or Pool 160 Dedication of the Pulpit 161 Dedication of the Pulpit/Lectern Bible 162 Dedication of the Table 162 Dedication of Communion Vessels 163 Dedication of the Organ or Other Musical Instruments 163 Dedication of the Sanctuary or Chapel 164 Dedication of an Educational Facility 164 Dedication of the Columbarium 165 Dedication of a Christian Home 180 Dedication of a Health Care Facility 184 Dedication of an Educational Institution 187 Dedication of a Community Service Agency 191 MARKINGTRANSITIONS INACONGREGATION Introduction 196 Constituting of a Congregation 199 Reception of New Members 229 Recognition of Departing Members 239 Recognition and Thanksgiving for Faithful Service 241 Dissolution of a Pastoral Call 244 Celebration of a Congregational Anniversary 249 Uniting of Congregations by a Presbytery 253 Vacating of a Church Building [Including the Dissolution of a Church] 257 INAGOVERNINGBODY Installation of Governing Body Officers and Staff 265 Receiving a Candidate under Care 270 Recognition of a Certified Christian Educator 272 Commissioning of a Lay Pastor 275 Recognition of Honorable Retirement from the Ministry of Word and Sacrament 279 INTERFAITHRESOURCES Guidelines for Interfaith Celebration of Thanksgiving 285 ADDITIONALPRAYERSFORVARIOUSOCCASIONS In the Life of a Congregation 291 In the Life of a Presbytery 294 SECTIONHEADINGCROSSES 297 PREFACE B efore the Book of Common Worship was published in 1993, a prospectus was approved for a “Book of Occasional Services” and a task force was established to develop a “trial use resource, which will include ordination and installation services, in harmony with the Study on the Theology and Practice of Ordination, together with other occasional services for use by congregations, presby- teries, synods and the General Assembly” (minutes of the Theol- ogy and Worship Ministry Unit, January 28–30, 1993). It was conceded that services for ordination and installation should not be included in the Book of Common Worshipsince the subject of ordination was under study by a special committee of the General Assembly. The preparation of such services, there- fore, would be undertaken in concert with that study. The first and perpetual issue throughout the development of this book was content. “Occasional” was the defining term. That term, however, left leeway for a large number of liturgical acts observed only occasionally. The prospectus outlined a sug- gested table of contents, and the task force received numerous additional suggestions throughout the course of its work. The problem, ultimately, was one of space—to respond to all the needs for liturgical materials presented, the resource would be unwieldy, to say the least. Ordination and installation remain the primary services pre- sented. Ordination and installation, while not sacraments, stand firmly on the foundation of baptism. The services offered here are built on the foundation of diaconal service as found in the sacra- ment of Baptism. Baptism is the basic Christian “ordination.” In PREFACE / 1 baptism, we are all claimed to be disciples of Jesus Christ and to serve him in the service of others. For this reason, the ordination and installation services begin with a reminder of our baptisms and include a reaffirmation of the baptismal covenant. The baptismal foundation extends under the other services and materials in this book as well. Acts of commissioning and recognition, even dedications and other celebrations, are ways the whole church witnesses to its common baptismal commit- ment and calling. In the full services throughout the book there are indications of appropriate liturgical roles of deacons and elders as well as ministers. These are intended to be suggestive and not exhaus- tive, to encourage the church to reclaim traditional liturgical leadership by those in all ordained offices. The structure of the book is clearly outlined in the table of contents. “Ordination and Installation” set the pace, immediately followed by a section on “Commissioning,” both clearly related to the baptismal covenant. “Dedication” includes a wide variety of resources for expression of the church’s ministry relative to the physical means employed to carry out that ministry. “Transi- tions” need to be marked in the church, and the resources offered help us see our continuity with those who have gone before and those who will follow. “Interfaith Resources” suggest that we as Christians can be faithful to the baptismal covenant even as we share in the worship of God with non-Christians. Serving on the task force to prepare this resource were Don- ald W. Stake (Chairperson), Marney A. Wasserman, Newton M. Roberts, and Brenda Brooks. Dennis J. Hughes served as staff to the task force from the Office of Theology and Worship, and later as a task force member. Also serving as staff were Gláucia Vasconcelos Wilkey and Paul Detterman. J. Frederick Holper was a consultant to the task force during the course of its work. Final editing and formatting was by Paul Detterman. The Book of Occasional Services is offered to the church as a completion of the Book of Common Worshipproject, continuing the fervent prayer for the renewal of the church’s faith, life, and worship. 2 / PREFACE ABBREVIATIONS BCW Book of Common Worship. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster/ John Knox Press, 1993. PH The Presbyterian Hymnal: Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Songs. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1990. PS The Psalter—Psalms and Canticles for Singing. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1993. . . . In prayers, indicates a pause for silent prayer. [ ] Square brackets, or horizontal brackets extending the width of the page, are used to designate optional ele- ments or sections. ABBREVIATIONS / 3 O RDINATION AND I NSTALLATION INTRODUCTION TO THE SERVICES OF ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION Occasions of ordination and installation have to do more with the ministry of the whole church than with any indi- vidual. Those ordained and installed to office fulfill a par- ticular role in the larger ministry of the church. Ordination to different forms of ministry may have dif- ferent functional emphases, though none is exclusive of the others. Consistently the ordination of deacons is named first, followed by elders and ministers of the Word and Sacrament. This is to emphasize the diaconal foun- dation of all ordained ministry as service of God and neighbor. Ordination of deacons provides for the church’s ministry of compassion. Elders are ordained to assure that the governance of the church reflects an in- tegrity of theology and polity. Ministers of Word and Sacrament are responsible for the “true preaching of the Word of God,” and “the right administration of the sacra- ments of Christ Jesus” (Scots Confession, Chapter XVII). Yet deacons, elders, and ministers are all involved in decision making, ministries of compassion, and liturgical service. It is appropriate for deacons and elders to share with minis- ters in liturgical leadership in these ordination services. Some suggestions are offered. Ordination services provide for candidates to be pre- sented at the beginning, as the whole congregation re- 6 / INTRODUCTIONTOORDINATIONANDINSTALLATION