BETHEL COLLEGE MENNONITE CHURCH
February 6th, 2022
Prelude—Verlene Garber, organ
Land Acknowledgement—Florence Schloneger
Lighting the Christ Candle—Renee Reimer
Welcome and Prayer
*Hymn—Summoned by the God Who Made Us—VT 1
Children’s Conversation—Kathy Stucky
Scripture Reading—Psalm 27—Darlene Dick
Sermon—Thin Places—Kathy Neufeld Dunn
*Hymn—The Lord is My Light—VT 437
Service of Installation for Todd Schlosser, Interim Pastor—Kathy Neufeld Dunn, WDC Associate Conference Minister
*Hymn—Nothing is Lost on the Breath of God—VT 653
Prayers of God’s people—Renee Reimer
*Hymn—The Lord Lift You Up—VT 832
*Benediction—Kathy Neufeld Dunn
Postlude—Verlene Garber
Installation of Interim Minister
Todd Schlosser
Conference Minister: Introductory words.
Moderator: We are the Body of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit. We worship, nurture faith, care for one another, welcome and serve others, and proclaim God’s good news in the world. We call pastors to guide us in becoming fully devoted followers of Jesus who become the hands and feet of Christ in the world. We are grateful that Todd has heard the call to serve in an interim pastor role during this transitional time.
Conference Minister: Todd, seeing that the grace of God has called you into pastoral leadership in this church, I now ask you: Do you promise, to the best of your ability, to carry out your role and responsibilities on the Bethel College Mennonite Church pastoral team?
Todd: I do.
Conference Minister: Will you seek to be faithful in prayer, in setting forth the scriptures and in seeking the good of this congregation? And will you seek to live honestly, openly and justly with your brothers and sisters in this congregation?
Todd: I will.
Conference Minister: Will you exercise the authority that has been entrusted to you in the loving spirit of Christ; and will you build up and equip members and seekers for a deeper walk with Jesus, a stronger relationship with God, a greater reliance on the Holy Spirit and a deeper love for all people?
Todd: I will.
Conference Minister (to Todd): Renee and Nathan, do you welcome Todd as a co-worker in Christ? Will you support him with your prayers and encouragement as you seek to lead this congregation together?
Renee and Nathan: I do and I will.
Conference Minister (to congregation): Christian friends, you have heard the commitments that Todd has made in accepting the call to serve as Interim Pastor here with Bethel College Mennonite Church. Do you receive him as sent by God to provide pastoral leadership in this congregation, and do you offer your support and prayers for his ministry among you? If so, please respond, “We do.”
Congregation: We do.
Todd: [Brief words of response]
Conference Minister: Now let us join in a spirit of prayer as we ask God’s blessing on Todd. Lord of creation and of the church, we bless you for the gifts you give and call forth through your Spirit for the sake of the kingdom. Bless the covenant made this day between these pastors and this congregation. Grant Todd a discerning heart, confidence in your call, strength and joy in the tasks of ministry now set before him. Make us each partners in ministry with Todd, Renee, and Nathan –constant in support, gentle in criticism, prayerful in all things. And now, O God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, make us complete in everything good, so that we may do your will, working among us that which is pleasing in your sight. Through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
VT = Voices Together
Audio visual—Ben Lichti
Pastors—Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, and Todd Schlosser
Choral Group—William Eash, Esther Eash, Ron Garber, Barbara Thiesen, and Carol Flickinger