Tear in the Garden

One Voice:       Out of the depths we cry to You, O Lord.

All Voices:       Lord, hear our voice; let Your ears be attentive to our cry  for mercy.

One Voice:       If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, who could stand?

All Voices:       But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.

One Voice:       Create in us a clean heart, O God.

All Voices:       Renew a right spirit within us.

One Voice:       Though we have hidden from You,

All Voices:       You call us still.

One Voice:       Though we have listened to other voices, 

All Voices:       Your Word remains true.

One Voice:       Let us worship the Lord, who seeks us even when we wander.

All Voices:       We come to the God who is merciful and gracious. Amen.

Call To Confession:

The Word of the Lord says:

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)

And again:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts. See if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23–24)

Trusting in the mercy of God, let us confess our sins before Him.

Gracious and holy God, You created us for life with You, yet we have listened to voices that were not Yours. We have doubted Your goodness, questioned Your Word, and desired what You have not given.

Like Adam and Eve, we hide among the trees. We cover our shame. We blame others for our choices. We are quick to excuse ourselves and slow to confess.

Forgive us, O Lord. Search us and know us. Bring into the light what we would rather keep hidden. By Your mercy, cleanse us from sin and restore to us the joy of Your salvation. 

Through Jesus Christ, who bore our shame and calls us back to You. Amen.

Hear the good news:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)

In Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Be at peace.

Ordination:

BEN:There are different gifts and different ways of serving, but the same Spirit, the same Lord, and the same God is at work in all. Each person is given a gift for the common good.

Together, we are the body of Christ—members of Him and ministers of reconciliation under the risen Lord. We pray and labor so that Christ’s church may serve the world, calling all people to faith until every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Within this shared ministry, some are called to particular service as Elders and Deacons. In their ordination and installation, we recognize Christ’s example: true greatness is found in serving others.

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JIM: Mr. Moderator: Speaking for the people of the church, I bring Fred Hofing to be installed as Elder, and Terri Clark to be installed and ordained as Deacon.

BEN: Fred, and Terri God has called you by the voice of the church to serve Jesus Christ in a special way. Thus, I ask you to answer:

Do you believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and do you boldly declare Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, acknowledging Him as Lord of all and Head of His Church? DO YOU?

Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God and, inspired by the Holy Spirit, the unique witness to Jesus Christ and the authority for Christian faith and life? DO YOU?

Will you receive, adopt, and be bound by the "Essential Tenants of a Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians" as a reliable exposition of what Scripture teaches us to do and to believe, and will you be guided by them in your life and ministry? WILL YOU?

Relying on the Holy Spirit, do you humbly submit to God's call on your life, committing yourself to God's mission and fulfilling your ministry in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture and guided by our confessions? DO YOU?

 Will you be governed by the polity and discipline of "A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians?" Will you be accountable to your fellow Elders, Deacons, and Pastors as you lead? WILL YOU? 

Do you promise to be faithful in maintaining the truth of the Gospel and the peace, unity, and purity of the church? DO YOU?

Will you pray for and seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love? WILL YOU? 

Finally—Fred—will you be a faithful Elder, watching over the people in their worship, their nurture, and in their service to God? WILL YOU? 

Terri—Will you be a faithful Deacon, serving the people, urging concern for all, and directing the people's help to those in need? WILL YOU?

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BEN: Deacons and Elders:

Do you welcome the work for which you have been chosen? Will you serve faithfully, relying on God's mercy and rejoicing in God's promises through Jesus Christ our Lord? DO YOU AND WILL YOU? 

JIM: (to the Congregation): Do we, the covenant partners of this Congregation—by common consent—accept Terri Clark as Deacon and Fred Hofing Elder, chosen by God through the voice of this Congregation to lead us in the way of Jesus Christ according to the Word of God and the Constitution of A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians? DO WE?

JIM: Further, do we agree to pray for them, to encourage them, to respect their decisions, and to follow as they guide us, serving Jesus Christ, who alone is Head of His church? DO WE?

BEN: Terri please kneel on the kneelers as we lay hands on you and pray over you to officially ordain you as a Deacon in this church.