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The flowers gracing the sanctuary
are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Henry J. Zeltman, my
uncle & Leif K. Olsen, dear friend, by Lucille L. James.
We extend our deep appreciation to
Erik Ander for completing five years of service as a Deacon and to Faith
Groesbeck who completes two years of service as an elder.
Thank you!
Coming January 2003...
The Friends of Historic New Utrecht Website
www.historicnewutrecht.org
Songs of Thankfulness and
Praise
Christopher Wordsworth,
1862
SALZBURG, 77.77
D Melody by Jakob Hintze, 1678 (alt'd); harmony by J.S. Bach
EPIPHANY AND YOUTH Mt. 2:1ff; Jn. 2:1ff; Mt. 4:1ff
1. Songs of thankfulness and praise,
Jesus, Lord, to thee we raise,
manifested by the star
to the sages from afar;
branch of royal David's stem
in thy birth at Bethlehem,
anthems be to thee addressed,
word in flesh manifest.
2. Manifest at Jordan's stream,
Prophet, Priest, and King supreme,
and at Cana, wedding guest
in thy Godhead manifest,
manifest in pow'r divine,
changing water into wine,
anthems be to thee addressed,
God on earth made manifest.
3. Manifest in making whole
palsied limbs and fainting soul,
manifest in valiant fight,
quelling all the devil's might,
manifest in gracious will,
ever bringing good from ill,
anthems be to thee addressed,
God for us made manifest.
4. Grant us grace to see thee, Lord,
mirrored in thy holy Word;
may we imitate thee now,
and be pure, as pure art thou,
that we like to thee may be
at thy great epiphany,
and may praise thee, ever blest,
God for all made manifest.
ORDER FOR THE ORDINATION AND
INSTALLATION OF DEACONS AND ELDERS
The ecclesiastical duties of
elders and deacons are set forth in the Book of Church Order (Chapter 1,
Part I, Article 1, Sections 8 and 10). These shall be made known to the
congregation prior to election to office and these office holders shall
acquaint themselves therewith.
The BCO (Chapter 1, Part I, Article 2,
Section 11) directs that the names of elders- and deacons-elect shall be
published in the church on three successive Sundays preceding their
installation in order that the board of elders may consider legitimate
objections.
Elders and deacons may be reelected, but
shall not be reordained. When reelected the following order shall be used
as an installation.
After the sermon and the
prayer for blessing on the Word, as part of the Response to God, the
presiding minister shall begin:
PRESENTATION
Beloved in the Lord,
we have come to ordain and install elders and
deacons
in Christ's holy church.
Christ alone is the source of all Christian
ministry,
through the ages calling men and women to
serve.
By the Holy Spirit all who believe and are
baptized receive a ministry
to witness to Jesus as
Savior and Lord, and
to love and serve those with whom they live
and work.
We are ambassadors for Christ
who reconciles and makes whole.
We are the salt of the earth;
We are the light of the world.
Following Christ's resurrection and
ascension,
God has given the church
apostles, prophets, and teachers,
deeds of power, gifts of healing,
forms of assistance and leadership.
We stand within a tradition
where God calls and empowers
deacons, elders, and ministers of Word and
sacrament.
The elder vice president of
consistory invites the candidates forward, saying:
This congregation has elected the following
people
to the offices of deacon and elder:
Deborah Siciargo
to be ordained and installed to the Office of
Deacon;
and Pam Ander, Louise Fabiazsak and Rita Hollenga
to be installed as elder.
The candidates shall remain
standing, the presiding minister continues:
Deacons and elders are called to serve as
Christ served.
We look to them to be people of
spiritual commitment,
exemplary life,
compassionate spirit, and sound judgment.
Deacons are set apart
for a ministry of mercy,
service, and outreach.
They gather gifts and offerings,
care for them faithfully,
and
distribute them with wisdom and
compassion
to persons in need and
for purposes that advance God's kingdom
on earth.
Deacons visit and comfort
the distressed,
provide for whatever
necessities may arise, and
assist the congregation
at services of worship.
Elders are set apart
for a ministry of watchful
and responsible care
for the welfare and order of the church.
They have oversight of all members,
including one another,
the deacons, and the ministers,
equipping everyone to live in harmony
with God's Word.
They ensure the Word of God
is rightly proclaimed
and taught, and
the sacraments faithfully administered.
Elders assist the
ministers with their good counsel; and
serve all Christians
with advice, consolation, and
encouragement.
Elders and deacons,
together with the ministers,
form the consistory
to lead God's people in proclaiming
good news to the poor,
righteousness to the nations, and
peace among all.
The consistory provides
for the welfare of the church,
stewardship of property
and finance, and
the spiritual benefit and growth of all
Christ's people.
As the three offices of deacon, elder, and
minister of Word and sacrament,
are united in Christ,
so also in the church one office is not
separate from the others.
The minister of Word and sacrament does not
serve without the elder
and neither without the deacon.
Together they enable the
whole mission of the church.
Everything in the church will be done
decently and in order
when faithful persons are called to office,
and
responsibly fulfill their charge.
The presiding minister
addresses the deacons- and elders-elect:
Sisters,
before almighty God,
and in the presence of this congregation,
answer sincerely these questions:
Do you confess together with us and the
church throughout the ages
your faith in one God: Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit?
Yes, truly, with all my heart.
The presiding minister
shall invite the congregation to stand:
Let us all stand with these sisters,
confessing our faith in the words of the
Apostles' Creed.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son,
our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the
dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
The congregation is seated;
the candidates remain standing, the presiding minister addresses the
candidates:
Do you believe in your heart that you are
called by Christ's church,
and therefore by God, to this
office?
Yes, truly, with all my heart.
Do you believe the books of the Old and New
Testaments
to be the Word of God and the perfect
doctrine of salvation,
rejecting all contrary beliefs?
Yes, truly, with all my heart.
Will you be diligent in your study of Holy
Scripture and
in your use of the means of grace?
Will you pray for God's people and
lead them by your own example in faithful
service and holy living?
I will, and I ask God to help me.
Will you accept the church's order and
governance,
submitting to ecclesiastical discipline
should you become delinquent in either life
or doctrine?
I will, and I ask God to help me.
Will you be loyal to the witness and work
of the Reformed Church in America,
using all your abilities to further its
Christian mission
here and throughout the world?
I will, and I ask God to help me.
The presiding minister
shall address the candidate for the office of deacon:
As a deacon, will you faithfully, diligently,
and cheerfully
manifest Christ's love and
care,
gather and distribute the offerings of
God's people,
visit and comfort the distressed,
minister to the poor and needy, and
strive to advance God's reign of justice
and peace?
I will, and I ask God to help me.
The presiding minister
shall address the candidates for the office of elder:
As elders, will you faithfully, diligently,
and cheerfully
study God's Word,
oversee the household of faith,
encourage spiritual growth,
maintain loving discipline, and
provide for the proclamation of the gospel
and
the celebration of the
sacraments?
I will, and I ask God to help me.
ORDINATION
Those who are to be ordained shall kneel
individually before the presiding minister for prayer with the laying on
of hands. The great consistory may join in the laying on of hands during
the prayer. When all have come forward and are in place, the presiding
minister shall say:
Let us pray.
God of grace,
pour out your Holy Spirit,
gentle as a dove, burning as fire,
upon Deborah
and fill her with grace and power
for this ministry of deacon
in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
When the ordinand has received prayer with the laying on of hands, the presiding minister
continues:
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
the only head of the church,
I declare that Deborah Siciargo
is ordained to the Office of Deacon.
INSTALLATION
Elders and deacons of the
great consistory extend the right hand of fellowship to the new elders
and deacons before returning to their places. All elders and deacons
being installed face the congregation. The presiding minister addresses
them:
Elders Pam, Louise and Rita,
and deacon Deborah,
be faithful in performing
your duties,
magnify the One who has
called you to these high and holy offices,
be zealous for the church of Christ,
hospitable, prudent,
upright,
devout, and self-controlled.
Love goodness,
holding always to the mystery of the faith.
The presiding minister addresses the
congregation:
Members of New Utrecht Reformed Church,
please rise to affirm your covenant
with the elders and deacons
whom God has given us.
Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ,
do you receive in the name of the Lord,
these deacons and elders
as duly elected and ordained servants of
Christ?
We do.
Do you promise to respect them
for the sake of the offices
for which they have been chosen and ordained?
We do.
Do you promise to encourage and pray for
them,
to labor together in obedience to the gospel
for the unity, purity, and
peace of the church,
the welfare of the whole world, and
the honor of our Lord Jesus Christ?
We do.
Beloved people of God,
receive these deacons and
elders as Christ's own servants.
Support them in love, that their work may
bear fruit.
In the name and by the authority of our Lord
Jesus Christ,
I declare that these sisters
are duly installed deacons and elders in this
church.
Thanks be to God.
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