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1. PROCESSIONAL HYMN:
2. THE GREETING (Congregation stands)
Moderator: Grace and peace to you from God who was and is, and is to come, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, and the sovereign of the rulers on earth.
People: To God, be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen
3. PRAYER
3.1 Prayer of Adoration
Praise and glory to you, mighty Lord God! You created this universe, and care for it.
Praise and glory to you, God our father! You love us with a love that has no limits; you have given your son, Jesus Christ, to reconcile us to you and to one another.
Praise and glory to you from every part of your dominion from the church in heaven and on earth from our voices and our lives!
ALL: We bless you; we adore you through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
3.2 Prayer of Repentance and Forgiveness
Let us confess our sins to God:
§ Our actions that have broken his commandments and injured his children; (Silent prayer)
§ Our words that have betrayed Christ our Lord and hurt or hindered those he came to save; (Silent prayer)
§ Our thoughts that have been unworthy of him; (Silent prayer)
§ All the wrong we have done, and the good we have left undone. (Silent prayer)
Moderator: Lord, have mercy on us.
Response: Christ, have mercy on us.
Moderator: Lord, have mercy on us.
Response: For the sake of your son, Christ, our Lord, forgive us all that is past, and grant that we may serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your name.
3.3 Assurance of Pardon
Moderator: Beloved in Christ, receive the assurance that God pardons all that repent and turn to him in faith. The Apostle John declares: If we confess our sins, he is just, and may be trusted to forgive our sins and cleanse us from every kind of wrong. Your sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake.
Response: Thanks be to God!
4. CHURCH CHOIR
5. PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
You have taught us, Lord God that we cannot live on bread alone, but on every word you utter. May your Holy Spirit so opens the scriptures to us that we may see Jesus and hear your word made flesh in him, receiving his good news with joy, so that we may live to your glory forever.
6. SCRIPTURE READING:
Old Testament:
Reader: This is the Word of God
Response: Thanks be to God
New Testament:
Reader: This is the Word of God
Response: Thanks be to God
Gospel:
Reader: This is the Good News of Christ
Response: Praise to Christ our Lord
7. HYMN:
8. STATEMENT BY THE MODERATOR
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the king and head of the Church and by the authority of the Assembly of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, we have come together to ordain to the ministry of the Word and the Sacraments, and by authority of the KwaZulu Natal Regional Council to induct him/her to the pastorate of this church.
A minister is called to proclaim the Word of God, to teach and encourage the congregation, and to call them to repentance to God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
A minister serves the congregation in the administration of the Sacraments. He/she cares and loves his/her congregation in such a way that they may grow in grace, and in the knowledge and love of the Lord, and become a light in the world. Ordination to this holy service rests on God’s calling, which is acknowledged and confirmed by the Church of Christ. We come now to set apart ..... to this holy calling, to hear from the ..... Church how they have called / decided in consultation with the.... Region to extend a call to /accept his/her placement to labour among them, to hear from .... of his/her assurance that God has called him/her to this charge, of his/her faith and of his/her intention to be a faithful pastor to this congregation
9. STATEMENT BY THE ORDINAND
The ordinand will give a short account of his/her journey leading to this occasion.
10. AFFIRMATION BY THE ORDINAND
(The Moderator addresses the ordinand, who stands):
Moderator: My brother/sister ...... seeing that through grace God has called you to be a minister, that you have already given proof of your call to ministry, that this church has been led to call /accept you to its pastorate, and that now we about to commit its charge to you,
I ask you in the name of the Church:
Are you persuaded that God has called you to be an ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and are you ready with the help of God to enter this ministry and to serve faithfully in it?
Response: I am.
Moderator: Do you believe in the one Triune God, and in Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord?
Response: I do.
Moderator: Do you believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments contain all things necessary for eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ?
Response: I do.
Moderator: Do you believe that you are truly called by God to the ordained ministry and the pastoral oversight of this congregation?
Response: I do.
Moderator: Do you reaffirm your assent to the constitution of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa and do you undertake to exercise your ministry in accordance with it?
Response: I do.
Moderator: Do you promise as a minister of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa to continue to be subject to its government and to take the part entrusted to you in the administration of its affairs?
Response: I do.
Moderator: May God, our heavenly Father, who has called you into this holy ministry, grant you his Spirit, strengthen you, and so direct you that you may serve him faithfully and fruitfully, to his praise and glory, and to the furthering of the kingdom of Jesus Christ, his Son. Amen.
11. HYMN:
12. ACT OF ORDINATION
12.1 The Ordination Prayer
The ordinand kneels while ministers gather and lay hands on him/her.
Moderator: We praise and worship you, O God, for your great love shown to us in Jesus Christ, our source of great blessing and joy. We praise you that through his death and resurrection he has conquered death and opened up your kingdom for all who believe in him. We thank you that through the gifts of your Holy Spirit you enable us to help in the work of being the body of Christ here on earth.
We thank you for your servant ..... who has heard and accepted your call. Fill him/her with your Holy Spirit, as we ordain him/her to the ministry of Christ’s church.
12.2 Declaration of Ordination
Moderator: In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and on behalf of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, I declare you ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament in the Church of Jesus Christ.
And may our God of all grace, who has called you through Jesus Christ to share in his everlasting glory, strengthen and confirm you in this holy calling.
The congregation is seated.
12.3 Presentations
The ordinand is presented with a Bible from the Denomination, as well as a certificate of Ordination, signed by the Moderator and other participating ministers of the denomination.
12.4 Vesting with the Robes
The ordinand is robed.
13. ACT OF INDUCTION
13.1 Introduction by the Moderator
Let us now hear from the members of .....Church how they have been led by the Holy Spirit to call (accept the placement) of .... as their minister.
13.2 Statement by Local Church
A representative of the local church gives a short account of events leading to this day.
13.3 Questions to the minister and the Local Church
Leader: My brother/sister do you affirm your sense of call to the ordained ministry and accept your call to this congregation?
Response: I do
The members of the local church stand and the moderator says to them:
Moderator:
Do you, the members of the CHURCH, acknowledge as your minister, and do you receive him/her in the name of Jesus Christ? Do you promise to share with him/her in the ministry of this church, and at all times to encourage him/her and loyally support him/her?
Response: We do.
13.4 The Promises of the Minister and the Local Church
Commitment to the Word of God
The moderator conducts the Minister to the lectern
Moderator: Hear the words of Paul: every inspired scripture has its use for teaching the truth and refuting error or for the reformation of manners and discipline in right living, so that the man who belongs to God may be efficient and equipped for good work of every kind.
Moderator: My brother/sister will you diligently study the scriptures? Will you read and expound them to the people?
Response: With God’s help, I will.
Moderator: People of this church, will you read and meditate on the scriptures, so that you may grow in the knowledge of God and in obedience to his word?
Response: With God’s help, we will.
The presiding minister conducts the Minister-elect to the pulpit.
Moderator: Hear the words of Paul: “Before God, and before Christ Jesus who is to judge men living and dead, I charge you solemnly by his coming appearance and his reign, proclaim the message, press it home on all occasions, convenient or inconvenient, use argument, reproof, and appeal, with all the patience that the work of teaching requires.”
Moderator: My brother/sister will you proclaim God’s word with boldness? Will you teach the truth, and banish error?
Response: With God’s help, I will.
Moderator: People of this church, will you hear what is preached? Will you apply it to your lives, and by word and deed commend the gospel to others?
Response: With God’s help, we will.
Commitment to Worship and Prayer
The presiding minister conducts the Minister-elect to the body of the church
Moderator: Hear the words of Paul: I urge then petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be offered for all people. Such prayer is right that all people should find salvation and come to know the truth.
Moderator: My brother/sister will you be faithful in prayer? Will you help the people to persevere and to grow in the life of prayer? Will you lead them in worship, and order the services in God’s house with reverence and care?
Response: With God’s help, I will.
Moderator: People of this church, will you be faithful in daily prayer? Will you come together regularly, to worship almighty God, and to pray for the needs of the whole world?
Response: With God’s help, we will.
Commitment to the sacraments
The presiding minister conducts the Minister-elect to the baptismal font.
Moderator: Hear the words of our Saviour Christ: go forth therefore and make all nations my disciples; baptise men everywhere in the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all that I have commanded you, and be assured, I am with you always, to the end of time.
Moderator: My brother/sister will you joyfully administer the sacrament of baptism, and instruct the people in it?
Response: With God’s help, I will.
Moderator: People of this church, will you honour your commitment to Christ through your baptism, and faithfully care for all who are baptised into this fellowship?
Response: With God’s help, we will.
The presiding minister conducts the Minister-elect to stand in front of the communion table
Moderator: Hear the words of Paul: “When we bless ‘the cup of blessing’ is it not a means of sharing in the blood of Christ? When we break the bread, is it not a means of sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, many as we are, are one body; for it is one loaf of which we all partake. For every time you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord, until he comes.”
My brother/sister will you joyfully celebrate the Lord’s Supper with your people, so that Christ’s saving death and resurrection may be proclaimed, and his body, the church, may be built up in love?
Response: With God’s help, I will.
Moderator: People of this church, will you come with joy and thanksgiving to take part in the Lord’s Supper, preparing yourselves in faith and penitence?
Response: With God’s help, we will.
Commitment to Christ and to one another
Moderator: My brother/sister, and you, the people of this church, you are the body of Christ in this place; through you God continues his work today.
Make full use of the varied gifts with which the Holy Spirit richly bestows on each of you for the common good.
Support one another in prayer and fellowship. Witness to Christ in your work, in your leisure, and in your homes.
Strive for justice in society. Be instruments of Christ’s peace and love.