Evangelism: Transforming Congregations – Engaging Communities Commissioning Service Saturday, Nov. 5 – 11:30 AM

Silent Meditation God, Divine Friend of us all, call us forth to respond to all that we have head and learned. Continue to speak to us when we return home with a new energy to do Your work. You empower and bless us with the Holy Spirit. Give us grace to use that power and our gifts wisely – to build Your community.

Gathering Music Rev. Yvette Flunder and Gideon Lawson

Call to Worship Leader: From the past we reap rich, time-tested wisdom from sacred Scriptures and from faithful saints. Congregation: Praise be to God for the heritage of the old! Leader: For the future we need fresh inspiration and broadened insights. Congregation: Praise be to God for the hope of the new! Leader: In the present we live in the power of the Spirit between Christian heritage and Christian hope. C Congregation: Praise be to the eternal God of the old and of the new!

Called as Partners in Christs Service Called as partners in Christ's service, Called to ministries of grace, We respond with deep commitment Fresh new lines of faith to trace. May we learn the art of sharing, Side by side and friend with friend, Equal partners in our caring To fulfill God's chosen end.

Called as Partners in Christs Service Christ's example, Christ's inspiring, Christ's clear call to work and worth, Let us follow, never faltering, Reconciling folk on earth. Men and women, richer, poorer, All God's people, young and old, Blending human skills together Gracious gifts from God unfold.

Called as Partners in Christs Service Thus new patterns for Christ's mission, In a small or global sense, Help us bear each other's burdens, Breaking down each wall or fence. Words of comfort, words of vision, Words of challenge, said with care, Bring new power and strength for action, Make us colleagues, free and fair.

Called as Partners in Christs Service So God grant us for tomorrow Ways to order human life That surround each person's sorrow With a calm that conquers strife. Make us partners in our living, Our compassion to increase, Messengers of faith, thus giving Hope and confidence and peace.

Invocation

Words of Thanks

Gospel Scripture Matthew 9: 35 – 38 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples,The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

Commissioning Leader:Truly we are standing at the futures threshold, poised to share the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with the world. Go forth to proclaim all that you have seen, all that you have heard, all that you touched and all that has touched you concerning the Word of life. Continue to listen for the Still Speaking God. Prepare yourself to transform your congregations and engage your communities. For it is in your going forth and in your proclamation that your joy will be complete.

Commissioning Go forth from this place in peace. Go forth; knowing your faith is the assurance of things you hope for and the conviction of that which you have yet to see with your eyes. Go down from this mountaintop, setting out like Abraham, not knowing where God is leading. Leave this service, not yet knowing where God is leading. Leave this service, not yet having received all the promises of God, but seeing them in the distance. Press on in faith. Step back into the everydayness of your life desiring to see God in heaven, not ashamed to be called Gods people. Let us go out committed to breaking through walls that divide the children of God, willing to be open to differences among us, but yet covenanted by sameness with brothers and sisters of faith, whoever and wherever they may be.

Commissioning All: We came expecting and we received. We came and seen visions of new life and new ministries. We have hears stories of hope. We have been touched by the power of the Holy Spirit. We have been transformed and engaged.

Commissioning Leader: May these visions and stories empower you to live your lives in bold unimagined ways. May the power of the Holy Spirit keep you and uphold you, now and forever. All: We go into the world empowered by faith. We go embraced by Gods love. We go knowing that our joy will be complete. We go knowing that God has answered our prayers. We willingly accept the challenge to transform congregations and engage communities.

Act of Commissioning Write on commitment cards Write your commitment of what you are going to do as you go forth from this event in your congregation, community, family, workplace in your life. Write it on two cards and sign it. Bring both with you to the front for the Offering of Commitments

Benediction

Guide My Feet Guide my feet while I run this race. Guide my feet while I run this race. Guide my feet while I run this race, for I don't want to run this race in vain! Hold my hand while I run this race. Hold my hand while I run this race. Hold my hand while I run this race, for I don't want to run this race in vain!

Guide My Feet Stand by me while I run this race. Stand by me while I run this race. Stand by me while I run this race, for I don't want to run this race in vain! I'm your child while I run this race. I'm your child while I run this race. I'm your child while I run this race, for I don't want to run this race in vain!

Guide My Feet Search my heart while I run this race. Search my heart while I run this race. Search my heart while I run this race, for I don't want to run this race in vain! Guide my feet while I run this race. Guide my feet while I run this race. Guide my feet while I run this race, for I don't want to run this race in vain!