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In just a few moments we're going to be celebrating with
seventeen people who'll be...sixteen are actually here, I believe...they'll be newly
commissioned Stephen Ministers
and three Stephen Leaders
and i want you to know a little bit about Stephen Ministry.
I believe it is one of the most powerful ministries in the life of the church.
These are people who have studied and worked and will continue to do so
to do exactly what i've been talking about:
taking the Body of Christ out into the world to other people.
You'll hear more about them; there's an insert in the bulletin the tells
more about them.
And we want to celebrate with them now
this very special part of our service which is the commissioning of our
Stephen Ministers.
I would invite you all to come.
I say to you now Stephen Ministers:
Dear brothers
and sisters
you have been equipped to serve
as Stephen Ministers at Collierville United Methodist Church.
Listen now to the words we find in 2nd Corinthians,
Chapter One, verses three through four:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion
and the God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our troubles,
so that we can comfort those
in any trouble
with the comfort we ourselves
have received from God.
Brothers and Sisters,
each of you has been comforted by God
but the good news of Jesus's life, death,
resurrection for you.
We ask you now to join in serving our Lord and those in our congregation
and neighborhood
who need to be comforted.
As the Spirit of Christ has given you gifts for service,
we ask you to use your skills
and talents to help those whom you serve
and to pray for them.
I'm going to ask you two vows;
your response is 'yes, with the help of God.'
Are you prepared to make these requests that we ask of you?
Are you prepared to nurture the skills you have to learn and used in in service
to others
to support, encourage,
build up, and comfort people and all their needs?
I will now be addressing the congregation
and your response will also be 'yes, with the help of God.'
I ask you members of Collierville United Methodist Church to open your hearts to
the ministry of these people and to pray for them
that they may be effective servants of Christ;
are you prepared to meet this request? If so answer, 'yes, with the help of God.'
We also ask you to accept their ministry when you need help
to allow these individuals to work
with you as you face struggles in your life
that you might receive support from them
from your Christian brothers and sisters.
If you're prepared to meet this request answer,
'yes, with the help of God.'
To the trainees of Stephen Ministries:
Are you prepared to serve as Stephen Ministers at Collierville United Methodist
Church?
If so would you answer, 'yes, with the help of God.'
You're here now,
if you would kneel
we invite you receive a blessing.
Nora, may Jesus be present with you in every place
as you carry his name and serve him.
Amen.
Don, may Jesus be present with you in every place as you carry his name and serve
him. Amen.
Preston, may Jesus me present with you in every place as you carry his name and
serve him.
Amen.
Jean, may Jesus be present with you in every place as you carry his name and
serve him. Amen.
Marie, may jesus be present with you in every place as you carry his name and
serve him. Amen.
David, may Jesus be present with you in every place as you carry his name and
serve him. Amen.
George, may Jesus we present with you in every place as you carry his name and
serve him. Amen.
Lori, may Jesus be present with you in every place as you carry his name and
serve him. Amen.
John, may Jesus be present with you in every place as you carry his name and
serve him.
Amen.
Kirby, may Jesus be present with you in every place as you carry his name and
serve him. Amen.
Benjamin, may Jesus be present with you in every place as you carry his name and
serve him. Amen.
Mary Lynn, may Jesus be present with you in every place as you carry his name and
serve him. Amen.
Carol, may Jesus be present with you in every place as you carry his name and
serve him. Amen.
Sara, may Jesus be present with you in every place as you carry his name and
serve him.
Amen.
Ruth, may Jesus be present with you in every place as you carry his name
and serve him. Amen.
Stephen Ministers, if you would rise.
Would you all pray with me, please?
O God, we ask you to take our sisters and brothers into your care.
You have blessed them with particular gifts and talents
and had provided them with the opportunity to learn more about helping
people.
May they serve you with the power of the Holy Spirit.
May they be quick to serve,
patient and listening,
willing to share themselves with people.
Give to us thankful hearts for them,
and show them in times of stress
and satisfaction a special measure of your mercy
and you're joy.
Keep them strong in the faith you have given them for the sake of Jesus,
who cares for all of us in every way
forever. Amen.
Some of you have heard this story, but
Carol was a fairly new member of this church when I came here as the Senior
Pastor a year and a half ago or so,
and one of our first conversations was about starting a Stephen Ministry,
and I had come from a church that had a wonderful Stephen Ministry and I wanted
Collierville to have one.
So carol worked hard with me.
She recruited Celeste
and she recruited Kristofer to work with her. They both went through training
in Saint Louis.
Carol had already been trained.
And then together they have trained these wonderful Stephen Ministers,
who will be your ministers to serve with you and this entire community. The
universality of Christ; we'll take Christ wherever he's needed
May god bless all of you
and you
and bless you and everything that you do in his name. Amen.