TRURO PRESBYTERY

Welcome to Truro Presbytery of the United Church of Canada. Founded on August 2, 1786, it is the oldest presbytery in Canada, and it traces its roots to the first Presbyterian ministers who came to our area from Scotland. Today, it oversees 29 pastoral charges, containing 58 separate churches, and extends across much of central Nova Scotia. Its logo on the bulletin cover is dominated by the Celtic Cross, a reminder of our Scottish heritage.

ABOUT THIS SERVICE

Ministers bring to pastoral charges the gifts of Word, Sacrament, and Pastoral Care; and some also a focus on education. We celebrate the coming of those gifts in a Covenanting Service that proclaims the Word, celebrates it at the table, and uses symbols for the pastoral care and interaction that should emerge from the new relationship between minister and people.

As a party to that covenant, Presbytery exercised a ministry of care and oversight that it inherited from individual bishops some 450 years ago. The service thus celebrated ministry of Christ’s church in all its fullness – by clergy, pastoral charge, and presbytery.

As your minister’s time with you draws to a close, it is necessary to release the three parties from their covenant – clergy, pastoral charge, and presbytery – and to see the symbols of ministry returned to the care of the congregation.

THE RITUAL FOR RELEASE OF COVENANT

The Ritual for Release of Covenant used in this service brings formal and meaningful closure to the relationship that has existed between your minister, the pastoral charge, and the presbytery. All three parties undertake to respect the termination of that covenant, to remember each other in prayer, and to look to continued ministry for your pastoral charge as it takes new shape and new direction.

R eturning the Symbols of M inistry and R elease of Covenant

[Name] Church[Name] Pastoral Charge

Truro PresbyteryThe United Church of Canada

Service for the Release of Covenant withRev. [Name]

[Date]

WE GATHER IN GOD’S PRESENCEWords in bold are said by all – words in regular type,if not otherwise indicated, are said by the presider

Prelude Please stand as the chair and officers enter the sanctuary

IntroitYou may choose an introit to be sung, or the service

proceeds directly to the Call to WorshipCall to WorshipMinister: Our God welcomes and invites us to share in the joy of this occasionPeople: We come to experience the wonder of love and acceptance.Minister: Let us rejoice and be glad.People: Alleluia! Praise be to God.

Hymn Here a hymn of your choosing is to be sung

Minister: O God, hear the prayers of your people, as together they pray, saying:

Opening Prayer (unison, by those of this pastoral charge)Gracious God, we ask your blessing on all

gathered here. Open us to your presence; enable us to accept your strength and guidance, as we change the relationship between our

pastoral charge and minister. Touch our lives that we may live to your glory in all that we say and do.

Amen.

Hymn Here a hymn of your choosing may be sung

Scripture ReadingHebrew Scriptures:Christian Letters:Gospel Scriptures:

Hymn Here a hymn of your choosing may be sung

ReflectionsAt this stage in the service, members of the congregation may speak about moments in the ministry that is coming

to an end.Anthem

An anthem or other musical item may be performed.

Offering our GiftsMinister:

You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ:though he was rich, yet for our sake he became poor,so that by his poverty you might become rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9Your Offering will now be received.

Prayer of DedicationMinister:

Let us pray, saying together:In dedicating our gifts to the work of Christ’s

churchwe dedicate also ourselves; and we pledge to

live in the service of Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Communion

If Communion is not to be celebrated, the service proceeds

directly to the Returning of the Symbols of Ministry

Invitation:

Presider:As we come to this table, we are reminded that this is the table

of Jesus Christ, the family feast of the whole people of God. All

who seek to be nourished and sustained in the journey of faith,and long to live justly and in peace with their neighbour, are welcome here.Let us eat and drink together for our strengthening in the faithand for the sake of the world.

The PeacePresider: The peace of Christ be with you.People: And also with you.Presider: We are one in Spirit with each other and with friends

and followers of Jesus in all times and places. Let us ` stand and greet one another with signs of reconciliation and peace.

Communion Hymn A hymn of your own choosing is sung

The Great Thanksgiving:–

[You may use any Communion service that is customarily used in your Pastoral Charge. It ends with the Post-Communion Prayer]

RETURNING THE SYMBOLS OF MINISTRYMinister:

Friends in Christ, you called me into your midst, to serve with you in the ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Pastoral Care. I now come to the end of my time with you, and I return the symbols with which we began our time together.

Bible [Name of layperson or elder][Minister by name]: You have been among us as one who teaches and proclaims the Word.Minister:

I return this Bible to you. May you continue to seek God’s challenge and Good News in the scriptures, and find hope and nourishment in Word, and Wisdom.

All: We will continue to seek the living presence of God, as we read, study, listen,

and pray with the Bible. Thanks be to God!

Baptismal Bowl [Name of layperson or elder][Minister by name]: You have been among us as one who celebrates God’s presence in the Sacrament of Baptism.Minister:

I return this Baptismal Bowl to you. May you continue to welcome new members through the living waters of our faith.All: We will continue to celebrate new life in

Baptism; the font of blessing welcomes all. Thanks be to God!

Bread and Chalice [Name of layperson or elder][Minister by name]: You have been among us as

one who celebrates God’s presence in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.Minister:

I return this bread and chalice to you. May you continue to be nourished and sustained by Christ’s love, shown in these symbols.All: We will continue to break bread and share the

cup. We will continue to taste, and see that God is good. Thanks be to God!

Basin and Towel (or other symbol of service and pastoral care) [Name of person or elder][Minister by name]: You have been among us, as one who serves.Minister:

I return this / these symbol/ s of service to you. May you continue to love and serve

others in your varied ministries.All: We will continue to be Christ’s servants in this

community, and the world at large.

RITUAL OF THE RELEASE OF COVENANTPresbytery representative: ]Name]

On [Date], [Minister by name] was called to serve [Name] Pastoral Charge. This Charge, the minister, and Truro Presbytery made a covenant to work together in faithful and compassionate ministry. As of [date], that covenant is no longer binding. I charge those of you who formed the covenant to release [the minister by name] and carry on in your various lay ministries, both in this church and in the wider community.

The congregation will please stand.

Congregation: [Addressing the minister by name], we thank you for the ministry we have shared. Though you remain a friend, we will no longer look to you as our minister of Word, Sacrament, and Pastoral Care.

All: As we part, may we know God’s grace and peace.

Presbytery representative: Will you, the members and friends of [Name]

Pastoral Charge, release {minister by name] from the duties of Word, Sacrament, and Pastoral Care?People: We will, with God’s help.Presbytery representative:

Will you respect the new relationship that now begins, and offer encouragement and prayers on your minister’s departure?People: We will, with God’s help.Presbytery representative:

[Addressing the minister by name], will you release the people of {name} Pastoral Charge from their dependence on you as a minister of Word, Sacrament, and Pastoral Care?Minister: I will, with God’s help.Presbytery representative:

[Addressing the minister by name], will you respect the new relationships [Name] Pastoral Charge will have with a new minister, a pastoral charge supervisor, and with all who

offer the ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Pastoral Care during the time of vacancy? Will you respect their new relationship with the person who will be called into

ministry with them? Will you offer encouragement and prayers for their continued ministry, as it takes new shape and new direction?Minister: I will, with God’s help.

The congregation will please be seated.

Members of Truro Presbytery, please standPresbytery representative:

Will you, the members of Truro Presbytery, as covenant partners in this ministry, release [the minister by name] and the [Name} Pastoral Charge, from their covenant? Will you remember them in your prayers, and support them in their

separate ministries?Presbytery members:

We will, with God’s help.Presbytery representative:

On behalf of the Truro Presbytery, and the United Church of Canada, I bear witness to the words spoken, words of thankfulness, and release.All: To God be the glory, thanks, and praise.

Hymn, Anthem, or other musical item of choice

Prayer [and Lord’s Prayer, if Communion was not celebrated]

Closing Hymn [A hymn of your own choosing is to be suing]

Commissioning and Blessing [Presbytery Representative]

Postlude The Offertory prayers are adapted from Uniting in Worship: Leader’s Book (Melbourne, Australia: The Uniting Church Press, 1988). The offering received at this service goes toward the work of Truro Presbytery. Thank you.

Everyone is invited to stay after the service and enjoy fellowship and refreshments.