Saturday, February 09, 2013

In Memory of the 10th Anniversary of My Ordination

Liturgy at  the Ordination
of Clint Schnekloth
February 9th, 2003

The Word

Prelude  Praise to the Lord, the Almighty       C. Phillips
Welcome
Opening Hymn LBW #230:  Lord, Keep Us Steadfast
Apostolic Greeting                                           LBW, p. 57
Kyrie
Prayer of the Day                                 
First Reading: Romans 11:25-32
Psalm 95 (sung responsively, cantor begins)    LBW, p. 260
Gospel:  John 21:15-17 
Sermon                                                  Pastor Andris Sedlins
Apostle's Creed                                                            LBW, p. 65
Hymn of the Day LBW #396: O God, O Lord

The Ordination

P:  I present for ordination to the holy ministry of Word and Sacrament Clint Allan Schnekloth, who has been prepared, examined, and certified for this ministry and who has been called by the Church to the office of pastor.
C:  Thanks be to God.

Sit

P1:  According to apostolic usage you are now to be set apart to the office of Word and Sacrament in one holy catholic Church by the laying on of hands and by prayer.
P2:  Our Lord Jesus Christ says:  "Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.  Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."  (John 20:21-23)

P2:  And again: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.  (Matt. 28:18-20)

P3:  St. Paul writes:  I receive from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you.  Do this in remembrance of me."  In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new testament in my blood.  Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.  (1 Cor. 11:23-26)

B:  Before almighty God, to whom you must give account, and in the presence of this congregation, I ask:  Will you assume this office, believing that the Church's call is God's call to the ministry of Word and Sacrament?
O:  I will, and I ask God to help me.

B:  The Church in which you are to be ordained confesses that the Holy Scriptures are the Word of God and are the norm of its faith and life.  We accept, teach, and confess the Apostles', the Nicene, and the Athanasian Creeds.  We also acknowledge the Lutheran Confessions as true witnesses and faithful expositions of Holy Scriptures.  Will you therefore preach and teach in accordance with the Holy Scriptures and these creeds and confessions?
O:  I will, and I ask God to help me.

B:  Will you be diligent in your study of the Holy Scriptures and in your use of the means of grace?  Will you pray for God's people, nourish them with the Word and Holy Sacraments, and lead them by your own example in faithful service and holy living?
O:  I will, and I ask God to help me.

B:  Will you give faithful witness in the world, that God's love may be known in all that you do?
O:  I will, and I ask God to help me.

B:  Almighty God, who has given you the will to do these things, graciously give you the strength and compassion to perform them.

Stand
Prayers of the Church
B: ... Lord, in your mercy,
C:  Hear our prayer.

Ordinand kneels
B:  The Lord be with you.
C:  And also with you.
B:  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C:  It is right to give him thanks and praise.

B:  Holy God, mighty Lord, gracious Father, we bless you for your infinite love in Christ our Lord, in whom we have redemption and forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace.  We thank you that by his death your Son has overcome death and, having been raised by your mighty power, has ascended far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.  We praise you that Christ has poured out his gifts abundantly on the Church, making some apostles, some prophets, some pastors and teachers, to equip your people for their work of ministry for building up the body of Christ.

B:  Eternal God, through your Son, Jesus Christ, pour out your Holy Spirit upon Clint and fill him with the gifts of grace for the ministry of Word and Sacrament.

B:  Bless his proclamation of your Word and administration of your Sacraments, O Lord, so that your church may be gathered for praise and strengthened for service.  Make him a faithful pastor, a patient teacher, and a wise counselor.  Grant that in all things he may serve without reproach, that your people may be renewed and your name be glorified in the Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever.

O:  Amen.

Stole is placed over shoulders of ordinand

P1:  Receive this stole as a sign of your work, and walk in obedience to the Lord Jesus, serving his people and re and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  (Matt. 11:28-30)

Ministers Address the Newly Ordained

B:  The God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever.
C:  Amen.

Ministers and newly ordained face the congregation
B:  Will you, assembled as the people of God and speaking for the whole Church, receive Clint as a messenger of Jesus Christ sent to serve God's people with the Gospel of hope and salvation?  Will you regard him as a servant of Christ?
C:  We will.

B:  Will you pray for him, help and honor him for his work's sake, and in all things strive to live together in the peace and unity of Christ?
C:  We will.

B:  Let it be acclaimed that Clint is ordained a minister in the Church of Christ.  He has Christ's authority to preach the Word and administer the Sacraments, serving God's people.

C:  Amen.  Thanks be to God.membering his promise:  "Come to me, all who labor

The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C:  And also with you.

Sharing of the Peace
Sit

The Lord's Supper

Offering Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ  J.S. Bach

All offerings at this service will be donated to
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services

Stand

Offertory hymn, Let the Vineyards                   LBW, p.67
Prayer    Merciful Father...                                           
The Great Thanksgiving
Words of Institution                                        
The Lord’s Prayer                                            LBW, p. 71

Sit

Distribution of the Lord's Supper
Prayer
Blessing & Benediction
Dismissal
Postlude                        “Fugue in G Major”  J.S. Bach
 you are invited to remain seated for the postlude
---
Please join us in the Commons for coffee, cake & ice cream following the liturgy!


A heartfelt thank you to everyone present here today.  Some of you traveled many miles to be here, and that gift alone makes it a special day.  Thank you to Pastors Peter Marty, Ron Huber, and Jennifer Henry for hosting and assisting; to Pastor Andris Sedlins, our preacher; to Bishop George Carlson of the South Central Wisconsin Synod, our ordinator; to Melanie Moll, our organist; to Hans Schnekloth and Dave Holtz, our offering collectors; to Harris Schneekloth for setting up the reception space; to Karin Hanson as well as the women’s circle, who graciously volunteered to help with the reception; to the members of St. Paul Lutheran Church who have continued to support me in preparation for ordained ministry in the Church of Christ; to the members of St. John’s Lutheran Church who have called me into the ministry; and finally, to my family, John & Cynthia Schnekloth, who gave the beautiful gift of a red stole symbolizing Pentecost and used at ordinations, Mildred Schnekloth who helped in many ways with the reception, and Amanda Grell, for input and constant support.  Much more could be said here by way of thanks.  “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit” (Philipians 4:23).


1 comment:

  1. Continued Blessings on your ministry.

    Peace,
    Janet

    ReplyDelete