Installation Service, Order of Blessing, and Thanksgiving for Those Who Have Served

(All prayers © Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)

Download a Microsoft Word file of these prayers.

Installation of Leaders or Commissioning to Service

The following order for installation may be especially useful for those who are taking elected positions of responsibility within Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It may also be adapted for use by those who are being commissioned for other responsibilities or missions.

Today we recognize women who have offered themselves
for service to God through the ministry of
Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The leader announces the names of those to be installed or commissioned
and invites them to come forward.
A brief description of the responsibilities or office to which
the women are being installed may be given.

In Holy Baptism, we are called to a life of faithful service and witness.
You have been asked to serve Women of the ELCA as an officer.

Will you give yourself joyfully to this responsibility,
offering praise and thanksgiving to God?
Response: I will, with God’s help.

You have been given many gifts to build up the body of Christ.
Will you be open to receive the witness of others
and to walk with them in a journey of faith?
Response: I will, with God’s help.

May God, who has chosen you for this task,
graciously dwell in you
and give you the strength and compassion to fulfill it.

The leader then addresses the congregation or group that is gathered.

Will you, as people of God,
encourage these leaders by remembering them in prayer
and accepting them as partners in the gospel?
We will.

Order of Blessing for Women Taking Authority

The following order may be used whenever appropriate, especially when women undertake any work towards peace and justice.

Blessed is she who believed
there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.
Blessed are you among women.

May you speak with the voice of the voiceless,
and give courage to those in despair.
Blessed are you among women.

May you feed the hungry of mind and heart,
and send away satisfied those who are empty.
Blessed are you among women.

May you be strong to confront injustice,
and powerful to rebuke the arrogant.
Blessed are you among women.

May you not be alone, but find support in your struggle,
and sisters to rejoice with you.
Blessed are you among women.

May your vision be fulfilled, in company with us;
may you have brothers on your journey.
Blessed are you among women.

Blessed is she who believed
there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.
Blessed are you among women.

 

Thanksgiving for Those Who Have Served

This prayer may be offered any time a woman in honored for her work in the organization, the church, or the community.

God of grace,
we thank you for the gifts of Christian ministry
given in your servant, N.
We celebrate the years of her labor
in the fields of the Lord,
and rejoice in the blessings so many have received.
Give your servant a sense of fulfillment and completion,
a time of refreshment and rest, and new opportunities
for living the good news of your love in Jesus Christ.
Amen.