Here’s
a litany of commission for students graduating from theological studies or
seminary. It was written by Jeremy W.
Yoder, based loosely on Psalm 40 and John 20: 17-23.
Litany of Commissioning
(based on Psalm 40
and John 20: 17-23)
LEADER:
You have waited patiently for the LORD
and the LORD has heard your cry.
He has called you to be his servants
and he keeps you and blesses you
as you go out into the world to serve him.
CONGREGATION:
The LORD has lifted you up,
and drawn you out of the desolate pit.
He inspired you when you needed inspiration;
gave you rest when you needed sleep;
helped you find answers when you had questions.
He delivered you from the hard slog of “Christian Tradition”
and the ramblings of dead German theologians.
STUDENTS:
You have multiplied, O LORD my God,
your wondrous deeds and thoughts towards us;
Just as you blessed our studies, you will bless our ministries
as we embody in the world our hope of Christ's return.
LEADER:
Happy are those who trust in the LORD,
who pick up their cross and follow Jesus.
Happy are those who do not become proud,
and chase after the false gods of this age.
STUDENTS:
God, you have put a new song into our mouths,
a song of praise to you.
May the world know that you sent us
by the song of your love in our lives.
ALL:
We have waited patiently for the LORD
and the LORD heard our cry.
We are the people of God,
shaped and molded by the story of God,
freed from our sins by the blood of Christ,
who made us into a kingdom of priests.
The LORD has called us to be his servants
and he will keep us and bless us
as we go into the world to serve him.
~ written by Jeremy W. Yoder, and posted on http://mennodiscuss.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=9931
