ORDINATION OF PROTESTANT DEACONS AND OTHER NON-CLERGY PERSONS

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

PHOTO: Transformation Ministries First Baptist Church
Charlottesville, VA—Ordination Service—July 13, 2008

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Michelle Riley Jones, Lectionary Team Liturgist

Worship Planning Notes

“We can teach the greatest commandments for years, but we will make little progress unless we have a group of dedicated, volunteer SERVANTS willing to march for the Master on a daily basis. These servants do not care who gets the credit because they want to give honor and glory to their MASTER Jesus Christ. They have learned to deny themselves and daily take up the cross of Jesus. They have reached a level of spiritual maturity and are more interested in giving than in receiving, and more interested in what is best for the entire church than what they would individually want for themselves. There is nothing in leadership more powerful than a servant example.”
                                                                                                                         —Ray Fulenwider

The Church recognizes that individuals have leadership skills, abilities, wisdom, and a commitment to ministry that deserve recognition. In recognition of gifts for service, the laying on of hands and special prayer have become the church’s way to publicly affirm these individuals during ordination. Ordination involves being selected/recognized by the church for having completed a training/preparation process whereby Christian commitment, loyalty, and desire to serve have been tested.

Persons in most African American faith communities are familiar with the ordination of deacons. There is much less familiarity among African Americans concerning the ordination of Christian Education Directors and other lay leaders. However, given that Ephesians 4:11 includes teachers among those who are specially set aside for ministry, we want to teach churches to begin to think accordingly and to value the work of these persons. Christian Education undergirds all other ministries of the church. Acknowledgment of the critical importance of Christian Education would begin with the ordination of the person who directs Christian Education efforts in your church. The same is true for your Evangelism/Discipleship Ministry and Youth Ministry.

The Ordination Service
The ordination service celebrates the setting apart of a person for representative Christian ministry. It is performed by an ordained minister in the presence of a congregation. It is a service of praise and thanksgiving for the gifts of ministry. It includes solemn covenants, the laying on of hands, prayer and, in some cases, the celebration of the Lord's Supper. The service gives witness to God’s continuing care for the world through the Church and its leadership. It is a time to give witness to our wholeness in God and the unity of the Church. The service deserves the utmost care and preparation in order to give glory to God and to uphold sacred callings to ministry.

The ordination service generally includes five parts:

1. Charge to the Church - This reminds the congregation that they share the responsibility to be co-laborers with Christ and the newly ordained. In order for the ordinands to serve the Lord effectively, and for the congregation to know how to pray for them, the congregation needs to understand the biblical and other requirements of the respective offices. Often these responsibilities are brought to the fore by reading of the requirements and nature of the roles to the congregation.

2. Charge to the Ordinand – This reminds the ordinands of the commitment being made and the responsibilities being assumed. This charge may include Scripture reading or a series of thought-provoking questions asked in the presence of the congregation.

3. Recognition/reference to spouse and family – This underscores the role and commitment the spouse and family must have in support of the ordinand.

4. The Setting Apart – This generally consists of a Prayer of Consecration and the Laying
   on of Hands. The prayer asks God’s divine blessings, while the Laying on of Hands is a symbolic gesture bestowing the church’s blessings on those set apart for service.

5. Presentation of credentials/gifts – This commemorates this special occasion with an appropriate certificates as prescribed by a denomination or church. Bibles, flowers, or other tokens of acknowledgment may also be given.

Music is an integral and enriching part of the ordination service. Ample time should be allowed for the choir(s) and other singing units to prepare for this occasion. Hymns, anthems, and solos are to be used during the service. If special music is used, its content, style, and performance should be consistent with the purposes of the occasion.

1. Litany, Responsive Reading, or Invocation
Prelude Music
(a) Prelude. By Sergey Rachmaninov. For piano solo

Music for Invocation
(b) Let Your Glory Fill This Place. By Denise Graves

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) All People That on Earth Do Dwell. By William Kethe. Tune, (OLD HUNDREDTH), by Louis Bourgeons

(b) What Shall I Render to My God. By Samuel S. Wesley. Tune, (NAOMI), by Hans G. Nageli

(c) What Shall I Render. By Margaret Pleasant Douroux

(d) Use Me, O Lord. By Virgie Carrington DeWitty

(e) Make Me a Blessing. Text by Ira B. Wilson. Tune by George S. Schuler

(f) To Be a Servant. By David Haas. For SATB choir, worship leader, and assembly

“For I have come not to be served,
But to serve; to give my life.
If you wish to be the first
You must seek to be a servant,
To be a servant of all.”

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Here’s One. Spiritual. Arr. by Tom Fettke. For SATB

(b) Keep Your Lamps! Spiritual. Arr. by Andre Thomas. For SATB, with conga drums

(c) Lord, I Know I’ve Been Changed. Spiritual. Arr. by Larry Shackley

(d) Jesus in the Morning. African American folk song

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) It’s My Desire. By Thomas A. Dorsey

(b) Gotta Serve Somebody. By Bob Dylan

(c) For the Rest of My Life (I’ll Serve Him). By Timothy Wright

(d) Send Me I’ll Go. By Harvey Watkins, Jr.

(e) Lord Your Word Is a Lamp. By Horace C. Boyer

5. Liturgical Dance or Mime Group Music
(a) I’ll Trust You. By Richard Smallwood

(b) Great Day. By Richard Smallwood

(c) Pie Jesu from Requiem. By Gabriel Faure

6. Anthems
(a) Psalm 100. By Jarrett Baker and Justin Savage

(b) O God, Thou Art My God. By Henry Purcell. For SATB choir and organ

7. Modern Songs
(a) Majesty (Here I Am). By Stu Garrard and Martin Smith

(a) The Servant Song. By David Haas

(b) How to Know if We Are Born by the Spirit. By Jason Upton

(c) Better Is One Day. By Matt Redman

8. Song or Instrumental for the Offertory Period
(a) I Am Your Servant Lord. By Donnie McClurkin

(b) What Shall I Render? By Margaret P. Douroux

(c) Offertory. By John Ness Beck. For SATB

(d) Angel Band/Amazing Grace. By Jefferson Hascall and William Bradbury and John Newton. Arr. by Steve Kupeferschmid. This is a feel-good gospel medley of the popular bluegrass song and favorite hymn.

9. Prayer, Song, or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
Prayer
(a) Our Nets Are Empty. By Safiya Fousa

Our Nets Are Empty
We come today, O Lord,
confessing that, like the disciples,
we too have worked all night
and have precious little to show for our efforts.
Some of us have “churched” long and hard,
and still our neighbors see no good news
in either the Church or church people.
We offer you both our days and our ways.
Teach us how to live our days as servants of God.
Show us new ways to serve that benefit your mission
—and not our need to be busy for you.
Direct our strength to the deep and difficult places
where people need you most.

Reorder our thoughts, ministries and works of service
so that they truly work for your glory, we pray.
Amen.

Music
(b) Lord, Speak to Me. By Frances Ridley Havergal. Tune, (CANONBURY), by Robert A. Schumann

(c) Lord, Speak to Me. By Frances Ridley Havergal. Tune, (GRATITUDE), by A. Bost

(d) The Time for Praying. Spiritual by Howard Helvey. For SATB

(e) I Need Thee Every Hour/Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus/I’d Rather Have Jesus. By Annie S. Hawks, Louisa M. R. Stead, and Rhea F. Miller

(f) Down to the River to Pray. From the Motion Picture “O Brother Where Art Thou.” Arr. by Shelton Curry
Audio Sample: http://www.sheetmusicplus.com

(g) At the Feet of Jesus. By J. P. Morgan, Jr.

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) I Would Be True. By Harold Arnold Walker. Tune, (PEEK), by Joseph Yates Peek

(b) He Leadeth Me. By Joseph H. Gilmore. Tune, (HE LEADETH ME), by William B. Bradbury

11. Music Following Charge to the Candidate and Vows
(a) What Does the Lord Require? By Albert F. Bayly. Tune, (SHARPTHORNE), by Erik Routley

(b) Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love. Ghana Folk Song. By Tom Colvin. Tune, (CHEREPONNI), by Jane M. Marshall

(c) Now I Belong to Jesus. By Norman J. Clayton

(d) Only What You Do for Christ Will Last. By Raymond Rasberry
      See also the special section arranged by Moses Hogan. This is a commissioned    
      arrangement for the 2005 Metropolitan Baptist Church Prayer Breakfast.

(e) Make Me a Servant. By Kelly Willard

(f) All For Thee (Take My Life and Let It Be). By Frances R. Havergal. Tune, (HENDON), by Henri A. Cesar Malan. Arr. by Jack Schrader. For SATB

12. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) I’ll Be Somewhere Listening for My Name. By Eduardo J. Lango

(b) Where He Leads Me. By E. W. Blandy. Tune, (NORRIS), by John S. Norris

(c) Sign Me Up. By Kevin Yancey and Jerome Metcalfe

(d) If Today You Hear His Voice. By W. Clifford Petty
Audio Sample: http://www.wlp.jspaluch.com/download/016710-006.mp3

(e) Come Follow Me. By Joseph Martin and J. Paul Williams. Tune by Joseph Martin. For  
SATB, from the Cantata “A Time for Alleluia.” Orchestration by Brant Adams also    
available. This selection is a wonderful invitation to discipleship and challenge to follow in  
the footsteps of the Master.

13. Benediction Spoken or Sung
Spoken
(a) Prepare Us for the Work That Lies Ahead. By T. Anne Daniel

Sung
(b) Finale: The Lord Is with Us in This Place. By Fred Hammond

(c) Lord, Make Me More Holy. African American Spiritual (d) God Be in My Head. From Sarum Primer. Tune by Grayson Warren Brown. For SATB a cappella
Audio sample: http://www.ocp.org/songs/40017

(a) In addition to the names of those to be ordained, churches may also want to include in the bulletin a brief biographical paragraph about each candidate, as well as photos of his/her spouse and family.

(b) Not all of the liturgy needs to be printed in the bulletin; however, all individuals involved in executing the ordination must be fully aware of all aspects of the worship service.

15. Other Recommendations
(a) Careful attention should be given to the importance of the spouse’s responsibility in supporting the new Ordinand. This should include prior consultation with the spouse. This importance should be emphasized in the service.

(b) Churches should also give thought as to how to communicate with the children and youth of the ordination candidates regarding the role of the entire family.

(c) Arrangements should be made for special seating for family and special guests of the church and the candidates.

(d) Your church may want to host a reception following the ordination service.

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

Worship Planning Notes
Photograph of Transformation Ministries First Baptist Church, Charlottesville, VA
Ordination Service—July 13, 2008 at http://fbcmin.org/ accessed 10 October 2009.

Quote by Charles Spurgeon at http://sjbrown58.wordpress.com/charles-spurgeon-quotes/ accessed 20 April 2009

Quote by Ray Fulenwider, taken from The Servant-Driven Church: Releasing Every Member for Ministry, page 34, at http://books.google.com/books?id=Fl-B8Exzj38C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA7,M1 accessed 20 October 2009.

14. Audio Visual Suggestions

(d) Images of the Holy Spirit may be found at www.istockphoto.com and  
www.worshipphotos.com and www.faithvisuals.com accessed 20 October 2009.