In all my years working with churches, I have never been commissioned before I started working with a congregation. The pastor at Mayfield Central Presbyterian Church prepared the following Commissioning Service, which I gladly participated in.
Pastor Bonnie Orth: Jim, the grace bestowed on you in baptism is sufficient for your calling because it is God’s grace. By God’s grace we are saved, and enabled to grow in the faith and to commit our lives in ways that serve Christ. God has called you to particular service. Show your purpose by answering these questions.
Who is your Lord and Savior?
Jim Hundt: Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.
Will you be Christ’s faithful disciple, obeying his Word and showing his love?
I will, with God’s help.
Do you welcome the responsibility of this service because you are determined to follow the Lord Jesus, to love neighbors, and to work for the reconciling of the world?
I do.
Will you serve the people of the Mayfield Central Presbyterian Church with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love, relying on God’s mercy and rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit?
I will, with God’s help.
Do you, members of Mayfield Central Presbyterian Church, confirm the call of God to our brother, Jim as architect for our new church in the service of Jesus Christ?
We do.
Will you support and encourage him in this ministry?
We will.
COMMISSIONING PRAYER
Faithful God, in baptism you claimed us; and by your Holy Spirit you are working in our lives, empowering us to live a life worthy of our calling. We thank you for leading Jim to this time and place. Establish him in your truth, and guide him by your Holy Spirit, that in your service he may grow in faith, hope, and love, and be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.
Jim, you are commissioned to service as our architect for this congregation. Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God through him.
This service was reported in The Recorder.