Blessing for a Pastor’s Departure

May 20, 2021

For everything there is a season,
and a time for every purpose under heaven.
There’s a time to arrive, and a time to go.
A time to work, and a time to rest.
A time to be called, and a time to say good-bye.
There is a time for pastoral ministry:
a time to visit the sick and grieving,
a time to lead worship and preach sermons,
a time to officiate at funerals and weddings,
a time to gather people together in meetings,
a time to lead and shepherd in all circumstances,
in the hurly-burly of congregational life….

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Visualizing Kindness Guided Prayer

May 20, 2021

In this prayer, I invite you to close your eyes (if you are comfortable doing that), and picture things during some short times of silence. Rather than forming sentences in your mind, just create a picture. These pictures will be our prayer.

Picture in your mind how someone was kind to you this week.  Thank God for that person.   [10 seconds of silence]

Picture in your mind someone in the congregation who is grieving or sick, and picture how the kindness of the community is helping them through this time. Thank God for kindness.  [12 seconds of silence]

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Baptismal Service

May 19, 2021

Dearly beloved:
Baptism is a ritual of the church in keeping with the example of Jesus,
who himself was baptized as a sign of faithfulness.

Baptism is a symbolic act that is rich with meaning
for the believer and the congregation.
The church baptizes us upon the confession of our faith
when we acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.
We confess our sins, and our desire to give our lives to Jesus.
Baptism symbolizes dying to self,  being cleansed of sin
and being born to new life through the grace of God.
Baptism symbolizes the anointing and receiving of the Holy Spirit.
Baptism is the choice of an individual, but it is not an individual act.
It takes place in community,
for through baptism we enter fully into life in the body of Christ.

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Over and Over Offering Prayer

May 19, 2021

Before the offering:  
This is the time where we make our love visible
through the giving of our tithes and offerings.
Let’s give with cheerful hearts.

After the offering:
Generous God;
Over and over your grace sustains us,
over and over your love provides for us,
over and over your arm steadies us.
We give you these gifts,
with gratitude and joy,
thankful that you are God over all.
Amen.

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True Allegiance Offering Prayer

May 15, 2021

God, the action of this offering
is a public sign of our allegiance to you:
we proclaim you ruler of our lives,
of our families,
of our finances.
of our future.
We give you thanks for all you have given us,
and all we have the privilege to give.
Use these gifts for the work of your church,
we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Sermon: Praying for Fire and Brimstone – Jonah 4

May 14, 2021

An interactive sermon where I invite people to take on different characters in the story: “Jonah means dove, a book that brings an olive branch of good news to all people, especially in dark times. This morning we sat in Nineveh’s chair. We sat in Jonah and Israel’s chair. We are invited to sit in God’s mercy seat, to feel God’s compassion. As followers of Jesus, we are called to carry that olive branch of peace, that message of hope and good news, no matter what the cost.”

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Sermon: Overthrown–God’s Power to Change – Jonah 3

May 14, 2021

Wholesale change is sometimes what we need.  If you have seen wholesale change, if you have seen God hapak someone’s life, then you know how dramatic this can be. I was with someone when God hapaked their heart. It wasn’t anything I said, I was just there to witness it. It was just a sudden shift in thinking, a sudden realization, a moment of clarity, and they were…overthrown! This person had spent years putting up defenses, so they wouldn’t have to face the destructiveness of their own actions. And suddenly in an hour, all the defenses just fell away, and the person crumbled. Their past was laid open to them, and they saw with new clear eyes the trail of destruction behind them…

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About Carol Penner

I am a Mennonite pastor currently teaching theology at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ontario. I’ve served congregations in Ontario and most recently, Alberta.

I love to write and to lead worship! If you are finding my writing helpful, I would love to hear from you! Feel free to use or adapt the material here, it is all written by me. If printing material, please credit “Copyright Carol Penner www.leadinginworship.com” (and say whether you modified it). If publishing, please contact me for permission. Contact me at carol@leadinginworship.com

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