Kevin’s Ordination Proceedings
Prelude — “Be Thou My Vision” by Joan J. Pinkston, arr.
Convening of the Presbytery by Rev. Roz Presby
Call to Worship led by Dave Bower
A love that never ceases,
A creativity that designed the universe,
A hope that cannot be quenched,
A pursuit of reconciliation no matter the cost:
These are the things that are of God,
Then let us worship God.
Hymn — #721, “Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore”
Prayer of Confession led by Rev. Bruce Humphrey
O God, we long to co-create with you the Beloved Community, which looks to the common good, privileges all equally, and celebrates the humanity and gifts of all.
And yet we focus on our differences, envy each other’s gifts, devalue manifestations of you, O God, that are not like our own.
To build with God the Beloved Community seems impossible, and we grow weary.
We cry, “Peace, peace,” but there is no peace within us or around us.
Lord, have mercy.
Assurance of Pardon read by Rev. Bruce Humphrey
Our righteousness is found in Christ alone,
a gift of God by faith.
Beloved people of God, believe the good news:
through the grace of Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Special Reading read by Rev. Bruce Humphrey
Since Christ is the one at work in creation as well as in redemption, then the created world is immeasurably enhanced, not relegated to some inferior status by the work of reconciliation. Salvation is not rescue from a totally evil world but the claiming of the rightful possession of this world by the one who was an agent in its creation. The scope of salvation is as broad as life and as vast as the cosmos.
The effect of such a belief should be to make redeemed humans more fully human. It should enable them to appreciate the creation and to work to transform the structures of this world rather than to produce a private piety or spirituality that attempts to cut itself off from the body, ignores the natural environment, and disdains culture. If reconciliation of all things in Christ is at the center of God’s purposes, then the pursuit of peace and acts of reconciliation by Christians serve those purposes. Working for a fair distribution of the world’s resources, being concerned for animal welfare, and struggling to prevent the collapse of the ecosystem through the pollution of air, soil, and water have everything to do with [the] celebration of cosmic reconciliation.
Prayer for Illumination read by Claire Folts
Holy One,
To you belongs all wisdom and knowledge.
As we hear your Word,
enlighten our minds and soften our hearts.
Allow us to hear your voice and discern your will for us
individually and collectively.
Send your Spirit so we may know your truth.
Reveal your path so we may pursue your kin-dom.
Amen.
Special Reading read by Claire Folts
Christian hope is rooted in reality, but it is also a ‘hope against hope’, a hope which often flies in the face of reality because it is based on the faithfulness of the God who surprises us in ways which enable us, in the end, to say ‘Amen’. Indeed, our text declares that it is a vision that only God can bring to reality. Although we are called to participate with God in the struggle for justice and peace, in the end it is God who will surprise us all by the way in which the new world is born. For it is God who finally creates the ‘new heavens and a new earth’.
Scripture Reading — Isaiah 65:17–25 read by Kevin Burrell
For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating;
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress.
No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;
for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity;
for they shall be offspring blessed by the LORD — and their descendants as well.
Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
but the serpent — its food shall be dust!
They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the LORD.
Gospel Reading — John 14 & 15 passages read by Beth Alwine
[Jesus said] “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.”
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
“I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
“I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”
Reflection — “A Tiny, Precious Thing” by Kelly Wiant [appears as its own post]
Hymn — #840, “It Is Well With My Soul”
Offering
Prayer of Dedication read by Rev. Allison Smith
All the blessings we enjoy are divine deposits, committed to our trust on this condition, that they should be dispensed for the benefit of our neighbors. Amen.
Community Prayers by Rev. Dr. Robin Carden
God of All Life,
You create us to live with You, with one another, and with all Creation.
Thank you for this opportunity to celebrate the gift of vocation. As we participate in the sacred event of Kevin’s ordination, we recognize we are all called to follow in The Way of Jesus Christ. You invite us to do what we can with what you’ve given us to promote life-transforming ministries of love, justice, mercy, and peace.
We pause in silence to offer thanks for the gifts you give and the opportunities we have to use them through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for people whose examples inspire us; people who have encouraged us and rejoiced as we’ve explored and embraced what it means to be Christ followers. We’re grateful for those who have been part of Kevin’s journey to this place today. For Deloy and Pearl and Norma and Ben, his grandparents who gave faithfully of their time and resources to serve their communities. For Joe and Lynne, his parents who live into their mantra, “church comes first,” setting an example of faith-filled priorities and first fruits living. For the Sunday School teachers and mentors and friends and clergy and seminary professors and cohort members and colleagues and Intertwined Sojourners . . . for Jennifer and Olivia who have been there for him every step of the way on this vocational journey . . . the list of people for whom to give thanks is long because your amazing grace joins us together to live and serve and love in families of faith and communities of care.
We pause in silence to call to our own mind’s eye people in our lives who love us so well and accompany us on Christ’s Way.
Thank you for the gift of creation, for the air we breathe, the food we eat, the resources that give life, and all the beauty there is to behold. We ask for courage to embrace the call to care for all you create and to nurture it and act on its behalf. Thank you for the ministry of the Intertwined community. Please guide Kevin as he leads these sojourners in critical ministries of environmental justice and peace for all creation.
We pause in silence, listening for your still small voice to reveal ways each of us can be part of bringing life, restoration, and hope to one another and all creation.
This is the day you have made and we are rejoicing and give thanks for it.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Ordination and Commissioning
Presentation of the Ordinand by Rev. Allison Smith
Questions for the Candidate by Rev. Roz Presby
Questions for the Community by Randall Hayes
Questions for the Presbytery by Rev. Roz Presby
Welcome and Greetings by Rev. Roz Presby
Laying on of Hands
Prayer and Declaration of Ordination by Rev. Roz Presby
Charges
Investiture of Symbols by Dave Bower, Rev. Allison Smith, and Kevin’s wife and daughter
Hymn — #39, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
Benediction by Rev. Kevin Long
Sisters, brothers, siblings in Christ:
May you experience the blessings of our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.
Be filled with the Spirit,
giving you patience in the face of frustration
understanding in the face of conflict
love in the face of apathy
peace in the face of chaos
and determination in the face of injustice.
Amen.
Postlude — “Wonderful Grace of Jesus” Lillenas; Stamper, arr.
Ordination Commission and Other Participants
Rev. Roz Presby, Moderator of Carlisle Presbytery
Rev. Bruce Humphrey, Teaching Elder
Rev. Jennifer McKenna, Teaching Elder
Rev. Allison Smith, Teaching Elder
Rev. Kelly Wiant, Teaching Elder
Beth Alwine, Ruling Elder, Pine Street Presbyterian
Dave Bower, Ruling Elder, Christ Presbyterian
Kevin Burrell, Ruling Elder, Market Square Presbyterian
Claire Folts (NWC Commission member)
Randall Hayes (Intertwined Sojourner)
Rev. Dr. Robin Carden (Kevin’s sister)
Organ and piano: Lynne Long (Kevin’s mom)
Special thanks to Eli McCulloch Cappel for managing the livestream, audio, and other on-site logistics
I’m extremely grateful to all of those who supported this journey, including the staff, faculty, and my classmates at Lancaster Seminary; our church family at Market Square; the staff and members from Christ Presbyterian who supported me during my internship; my CPE supervisors and colleagues from Hershey Med; my team at Verizon, who made it possible to leave work early on Fridays so I could attend seminary; the members of my clergy support groups; my fellow sojourners from Intertwined; everyone who is and was part of the NWC working group/commission; my colleagues in ministry; the leaders and fellow apprentices from 1001 New Worshiping Communities; those who helped form my faith foundation; my advisory team; my sister, who somehow knew I would one day reach this point; my unfailingly supportive parents. And to Jennifer and Olivia, with whom I missed too many Friday nights — I love you dearly and will always be grateful for your support as I’ve pursued this path. — Kevin
References in order of appearance
Call to Worship: Beth Merrill Neel — “Hold Fast to What is Good”, https://holdfasttowhatisgood.com/liturgy/call-to-worship, accessed July 9, 2020
Prayer of Confession: Adapted from Lancaster Theological Seminary worship team, February 16, 2019
First Special Reading: Andrew T. Lincoln. “Colossians,” in New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume X. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015.
Second Special Reading: John W. De Gruchy. “A New Heaven and a New Earth: An Exposition of Isaiah 65:17.” Journal of Theology for Southern Africa 105 (November 1999) 65–74.
Prayer of Dedication: John Calvin
