A SERVICE OF FAREWELL TO THE OUTGOING DISTRICT
SUPERINTENDENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE NEWLY APPOINTED DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT[1]
GATHERING
PRELUDE
GREETINGS
Presiding Pastor: The grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.
Presiding Pastor:
Friends, as we
gather together today to worship God, we also witness to our common faith by
celebrating the ministry our outgoing and incoming District Superintendents of
the (name of the district). To
God be all the glory, honour, and praise.
People: Thanks be to God! Amen.
+HYMN “TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE” UMH 98
To
God be the glory, great things God hath done,
So loved God the world that God gave us God’s Son,
Who yielded God’s life our redemption to win,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.
So loved God the world that God gave us God’s Son,
Who yielded God’s life our redemption to win,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Refrain:
Praise
the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear God’s voice;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice;
Come, to God our Parent, through Jesus the Christ,
And give God the glory; great things God hath done.
Let the earth hear God’s voice;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice;
Come, to God our Parent, through Jesus the Christ,
And give God the glory; great things God hath done.
Oh,
perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
Great
things God hath taught us, great things God hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Christ;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see.
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Christ;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see.
+OPENING PRAYER
Presiding Pastor: Let us pray.
People: Almighty God, by your Holy
Spirit your whole Church is governed and sanctified. Direct us with your most
gracious favour, that all our works begun, continued, and ended in you may
glorify your holy name; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON
Reader: A reading from the book of ___________ (Read
the chapter and verses). The word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God.
EPISTLE LESSON
Reader: A reading from the first letters of ____________ (Read the
chapter and verses). The word of
the Lord
People: Thanks be to God.
+GOSPEL
ACCLAMATION
Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
+GOSPEL LESSON
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: A reading from the Gospel of Jesus according to __________ (Read chapter and
verses). The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Glory to you, Lord.
SERMON
At this moment,
someone other than the district superintendent preaches or the specific responsibilities
of District Superintendent will be read (see the UMC Book of Discipline
paragraph 419).
RECOGNITION OF
THE OUTGOING DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT
Presiding
Pastor to people: Brothers
and sisters, (name of the outgoing
district superintendent) was appointed as District Superintendent of
the (name of the district) of
the (name of the Annual Conference),
for (number of years) fruitful
years from _______ until _______. Today we celebrate this
ministry and give thanks to the One who has granted the harvest and to (name of the outgoing district
superintendent), who has been a faithful and tireless labourer for the
gospel.
At this moment,
one member of the family, clergy, lay, and selected friends will briefly
express their thanksgiving for the specific spiritual gift they have seen
manifested in the ministry of the outgoing district superintendent.
Presiding
Pastor to the outgoing District Superintendent: (name
of the outgoing district superintendent), you have been a faithful in doing your ministry
as District Superintendent of the (name
of the district). In your life and ministry we have seen the work of
God.
Presiding
Pastor to the outgoing district superintendent: (name of the
outgoing district superintendent),
God’s work in your life has renewed our faith and inspired us to ministries in
the name of Christ.
Presiding
Pastor to people: We
pray that God will continue to work through (name
of the outgoing district superintendent) by strengthening the work
already begun or accomplished among us.
Will you govern to honour (name
of the outgoing district superintendent)’s ministry through
faithfulness toward God and God’s people?
People: We will so honour (name of the outgoing district
superintendent) and his ministry among us.
Presiding
Pastor to the outgoing district superintendent: Will you honour the gratitude
of these people through your prayers for them and their ministry and with other
appropriate services as the Holy Spirit may direct?
Outgoing
District Superintendent: I
will so honour these people of God and pray God’s continued blessing upon their
faith and work.
Presiding
Pastor: Let
us pray.
All: God our Parent, who created us
with good gifts, you have given each of us gifts for our season of labour in
your service. Bless and extend all your gifts, that they may glorify your name
and heal and save your people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A gift will be
presented by the chairperson of the district committee on superintendency to
the outgoing district superintendent in recognition of his ministry. Then the
outgoing district superintendent will give his statement of thanksgiving.
INTRODUCTION OF
THE NEWLY APPOINTED DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT
A designated
leader or lay will give the introduction of the incoming district
superintendent. Then the leader will say:
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
as the people called United Methodists committed to participate in the
ministries of the Church by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your
service, and your witness, will you support and uphold (newly appointed district superintendent), our newly
appointed District Superintendent, in these ministries?
The people will
response:
We welcome you. We celebrate
your appointment to the (name of the
district). We affirm your leadership. We pledge to you our support in
our mutual ministry in the name of Jesus.
At this moment,
designated lay and clergy will give their message of acceptance to the newly
appointed district superintendent. Then the message of the newly appointed
district superintendent will be followed.
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
At this moment,
the outgoing and newly appointed district superintendent will kneel down.
Deaconess: Creating God, you are the
Source of all that ever was, that is, and that is to come. Direct us that we do
what is right, just, and merciful in your sight. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lay Leader: Redeeming God, you have
created and redeemed us to be your people. Continue to guide and sustain your
Church, now and in the days ahead, that your will may be done on earth at it is
in heaven. Lord, in your mercy, hear our
prayer.
Clergy: Sustaining God, you have been
present with your people from generation to generation. Undergird your servants
(name of the outgoing district
superintendent) and (newly appointed district superintendent)
during this time of transition, and be with all who experience changes in
life. Lord, in your mercy, hear our
prayer.
Presiding Pastor: God our Parent, you have bound
us together to work for your reign on earth. Bless (name of the outgoing district superintendent) and (newly appointed district
superintendent) as they begin their new phase of ministry, and grant
that all of us, by drawing even nearer to you, may always be close to one
another in the communion of your saints, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
HYMN SOIS LA SEMILLA (You are the Seed) UMH
583
You are the seed that will grow
a new sprout;
you’re a star that will shine in the night;
you are the yeast and a small grain of salt,
a beacon to glow in the dark.
you’re a star that will shine in the night;
you are the yeast and a small grain of salt,
a beacon to glow in the dark.
You are the dawn that will
bring a new day;
you’re the wheat that will bear golden grain;
you are a sting and a soft, gentle touch,
my witnesses where’er you go.
you’re the wheat that will bear golden grain;
you are a sting and a soft, gentle touch,
my witnesses where’er you go.
You are the flame that will
lighten the dark,
sending sparkles of hope, faith, and love;
you are the shepherds to lead the whole world
through valleys and pastures of peace.
sending sparkles of hope, faith, and love;
you are the shepherds to lead the whole world
through valleys and pastures of peace.
You are the friends that I
chose for myself,
the word that I want to proclaim.
You are the new kingdom built on a rock
where justice and truth always reign.
the word that I want to proclaim.
You are the new kingdom built on a rock
where justice and truth always reign.
You are the life that will
nurture the plant;
you’re the waves in a turbulent sea;
yesterday’s yeast is beginning to rise,
a new loaf of bread it will yield.
you’re the waves in a turbulent sea;
yesterday’s yeast is beginning to rise,
a new loaf of bread it will yield.
There is no place for a city to
hide,
nor a mountain can cover its might;
may your good deeds show a world in despair
a path that will lead all to God.
nor a mountain can cover its might;
may your good deeds show a world in despair
a path that will lead all to God.
Refrain:
Go, my friends, go to the world, proclaiming love to all,
messengers of my forgiving peace, eternal love.
Be, my friends, a loyal witness, from the dead I arose;
"Lo, I’ll be with you forever, till the end of the world."
Go, my friends, go to the world, proclaiming love to all,
messengers of my forgiving peace, eternal love.
Be, my friends, a loyal witness, from the dead I arose;
"Lo, I’ll be with you forever, till the end of the world."
DISMISSAL WITH
BLESSING
POSTLUDE
References:
1.
THE
UNITED METHODIST HYMNAL. USA: The United Methodist Publishing
House, 2005.
2.
THE
UNITED METHODIST BOOK OF WORSHIP. USA: The United Methodist
Publishing House, 2002.
3.
THE
UNITED METHODIST BOOK OF DISCIPLINE. USA: The
United Methodist Publishing House, 2000.
[1] Prepared by Rev. Jeric
C. Cortado, Associate Professor, Southern Philippines Methodist Colleges, Inc.,
Mt. Apo Village, Kidapawan City, Philippines. May 21, 2018.
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