Here is a picture of me taking my ordination vows yesterday, standing before a commission composed of ministers and elders from San Marino Community Church and other congregations in our presbytery. I was so thankful to have Heidi, Jude, and Hazel there with me--the first time we have all been in church together. And I was also happy to celebrate my call in the midst of the saints at San Marino who have nurtured us these past five years.
a. Do you trust in Jesus Christ your Savior, acknowledge him Lord of all and Head of the Church, and through him believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
b. Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal, and God’s Word to you?
c. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our church as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scripture leads us to believe and do, and will you be instructed and led by those confessions as you lead the people of God?
d. Will you fulfill your office in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture, and be continually guided by our confessions?
e. Will you be governed by our church’s polity, and will you abide by its discipline? Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit?
f. Will you in your own life seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors, and work for the reconciliation of the world?
g. Do you promise to further the peace, unity, and purity of the church?
h. Will you seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love?
i. Will you be a faithful minister, proclaiming the good news in Word and Sacrament, teaching faith and caring for people? Will you be active in government and discipline, serving in the governing bodies of the church; and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ?
I answered them all in the affirmative.
2 comments:
Congratulations Noel:)
We have been praying for both you and Heidi throughout this process. We are giving God the praise that He has faithfully shown you His will:)
You know what moving to Washington means? You might get to have some good apple cider this fall:)
Please let us know your new address when you moved. We still have some gifts we would like to send Jude and Hazel:)
Thank you for sharing the news with us:)
Belinda and Shaun
Congratulations Noel! I heard Jude and Hazel say that they were really happy too because, "He will finally give us the quality time we deserve." Little do they know what awaits for them.
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