Greetings,
We are about to take a turn into a new church year as we enter into the season of Advent, reminded that this season is about “the church’s continual prayer that God will come (The root of the meaning of ‘advent’) to us, bringing life to a dying world.” (Keeping Time: The Church’s Years, Augsburg Fortress, 2009). Themes of watchfulness, preparation and hope infuse this season.
We are called to ponder myst'ry and await the coming Christ,
to embody God's compassion for each fragile human life.
God is with us in our longing to bring healing to the earth,
while we watch with joy and wonder for the promised Savior's birth.
“Unexpected and Mysterious,” ELW 258, stanza 3
Text by and © 2002 Jeannette M. Lindholm, admin. Augsburg Fortress.
I hope that you can find time to ponder the mystery that draws us through Advent season into Christmas. Amid a busy and chaotic world, the church continues in worship of the one who is and who was and who is to come. Blessings on your worship participation, planning and/or leadership this Advent and into the new church year.
In peace,
Deacon John E. Weit
Interim Assistant to the Presiding Bishop / Executive for Worship
At the 2019 Churchwide Assembly, the ELCA amended its constitution to name ordination as the entrance rite for ministers of Word and Service. New rites for ordination and installation of ministers of Word and Service, as well as minor updates to the rites for Word and Sacrament, have been authorized by the Church Council as the appropriate forms to be used in the ELCA beginning in January 2020. Visit the ELCA Worship page and click “Worship Resources” to find newly updated rites on the Ministry Rites tab, for:
- Ordination to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament
- Ordination to the Ministry of Word and Service
- Installation of a Pastor
- Installation of a Deacon
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