pat loughery

In order to help with preparation for a funeral service that I’m leading this week (and that I’ll blog about in a bit), I picked up a copy of the Book of Common Prayer. As I was orienting myself with the depth of resources in the book I found something very interesting.

In the Episcopal/Anglican churches, there is a ceremony for the celebration of a new ministry – specifically a new minister in a church. The congregation’s representatives, and the clergy of the diocese gather to dedicate the service of the new minister to the Lord’s glory. It’s a wonderful service, describing both the commitment of the movement to the church and to its new minister; the commitment of the minister to his or her new church; and the commitment of the church to its new minister.

In that ceremony, the newly assigned minister prays this prayer:

O Lord my God, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; yet you have called your servant to stand in your house, and to serve at your altar. To you and to your service I devote myself, body, soul, and spirit. Fill my memory with the record of your mighty works; enlighten my understanding with the light of your Holy Spirit; and may all the desires of my heart and will center in what you would have me do. Make me an instrument of your salvation for the people entrusted to my care, and grant that I may faithfully administer your holy Sacraments, and by my life and teaching set forth your true and living Word. Be always with me in carrying out the duties of my ministry. In prayer, quicken my devotion; in praises, heighten my love and gratitude; in preaching, give me readiness of thought and expression; and grant that, by the clearness and brightness of your holy Word, all the world may be drawn into your blessed kingdom. All this I ask for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

I think that we all hope to fulfill this prayer – be we liturgical church ministers, emerging church planters, or members of the priesthood of believers in any other form.

The Book of Common prayer is available online in several formats linked from this location. I highly recommend spending time delving into it.