AN ORDER FOR THE INSTALLATION OR RECOGNITION OF CHURCH SCHOOL WORKERS

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This order may be included as a Response to the Word or at some other appropriate place in a service of congregational worship.

During the singing of a hymn, the church school staff may gather in front of the congregation.

Following the hymn, the chairperson of education or the pastor introduces the staff. The pastor then says to the congregation:

Dear friends,
let us recognize those who have responded to the call of God
to become workers in the church school.
To teach, to administer the work of teaching,
and to support the work of teaching
are ministries of Christ among us.
Those called to these ministries need our loyal support and our prayers.

The pastor prays the following or another prayer:

Let us pray.

Eternal God, you have entrusted us with the message
of your power, grace, justice, and love.
Provide for us your guidance,
that we may be teachers and learners together.
Believing that you are in our midst,
we set apart those who would serve in our church school.
May they serve you in nurturing the spiritual growth
of all who are entrusted in their care.
Bless each one gathered before us,
enabling them to be channels of your grace.
We pray through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Pastor to church school staff:

You have recognized God's call in your lives.
Will you endeavor to develop your gifts for teaching
so as to continue to pass on the Christian faith?
Will you be faithful to the task,
taking seriously the commitments of time and talent?
Will you take seriously your role as learner,
studying diligently the Scriptures and traditions of the faith?

Church school staff:

We have heard God's call to teach
and have responded to that call.

We teach, trusting in God's promises
to support, sustain, and encourage us
through gifts sufficient for the task.

We teach, relying on prayer and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

We teach, inviting others to recognize and respond
to God's call in their lives.

We teach, depending on this congregation to uphold us in this task.

Congregation:

We pledge ourselves to pray for you
and for the educational ministry of this congregation.

We pledge ourselves to enable, encourage, and love you in this ministry.

We pledge ourselves to be learners with you,
diligently studying with you the Scriptures and traditions of the faith.

The pastor may greet the church school workers individually.

A hymn may be sung and a blessing given. Suggested hymns from UMH:

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Copyright: “An Order for the Installation or Recognition of Church School Workers” Copyright © 1964, 1965 by Board of Publication of The Methodist Church, Inc.; © 1984 by Abingdon Press; Copyright © 1992 UMPH; renewal © 1992 UMPH.