About This Resource
"Guidance for a Service of Word and Table for a Charge Conference" combines resources from A Service of Word and Table II, The Baptismal Covenant IV, and An Order for the Installation and Recognition of Leaders in the Church from The United Methodist Book of Worship, with particular adaptations for use by the district superintendent or another authorized presider at a gathering of several congregations for the annual charge conference. The use of this service presumes that each congregation has previously completed its paperwork and met in separate church conferences, church councils, or corporation meetings as appropriate to approve the reporting offered and the actions celebrated in this service. This service serves as the charge conference, for the purpose of gathering several congregations to celebrate their common mission and unity in Christ, established and reaffirmed in the baptismal covenant and realized in the shared offering of Holy Communion. It is recommended that lay leadership from each congregation be selected to read the Scriptures, lead the prayers, collect the offerings, and bring forward the gifts. It is also recommended that financial offerings collected at this service be dedicated to a mutually agreed ministry of compassion or justice beyond the local churches.

Abbreviations key:
UMH = The United Methodist Hymnal
BOW = The United Methodist Book of Worship
TFWS = The Faith We Sing

GREETING
Our Risen Lord is sending us into the harvest fields!
Thank you, Lord! Put us to work!

HYMN OR SONG OR SONG SET OF PRAISE
Hymns and songs appropriate to this occasion will focus on God's mission in the world. Suggested hymns from The United Methodist Hymnal include: "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing"/"Mil Voces Para Celebrar" (57/59), "Maker in Whom We Live" (88), "Praise and Thanksgiving Be to God" (604), "Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven" (66), "All People That on Earth Do Dwell" (75), and "Stand Up and Bless the Lord" (662). Suggested songs from The Faith We Sing include: "Praise the Source of Faith and Learning" (2004), "When We Are Called to Sing Your Praise" (2216), and "Now Praise the Hidden God of Love" (2027).

PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE

First Reading: I Samuel 3:1-10

HYMN OR SONG
"Here I Am, Lord" (UMH 593) or
"Would I Have Answered When You Called" (TFWS 2137)

Second Reading: Romans 6:1-11

HYMN OR SONG
"Come, Let Us Use the Grace Divine" (UMH 606) or
"Baptized in Water" (TFWS 2248)

GOSPEL LESSON (all standing):
John 20:19-25

Brief Reflection On the Word and Our Worship Today

(Baptismal Covenant IV, UMH 50 ff., with the following adaptations)

Add to the Introduction to the service:

Through the recommendation, recognition, and installation of leaders in our churches,
we embody our commitment to offer ministry in Christ's name.

RENUNCIATION OF SIN AND PROFESSION OF FAITH (see UMH pp. 50-51)

Before the Apostle's Creed, the district superintendent or presider calls for all who have been recommended for certification as candidates for ordination, certification as lay speakers, local church lay speakers, and persons selected by the committees on lay leadership (nominations and personnel) to come toward the font as they are able. The presider uses an adapted version of the "Order for the Installation or Recognition of Leaders in the Church" (UMBOW pp. 599 ff.) as follows:

Use the introduction to the service (pp. 599-600) as is, except that the distrct superintendent says before the questions:

Today we recommend, recognize, or install each of you in your ministries or ministry status for your assigned terms.

Use the questions (p. 600) as they are.

Omit the prayer, but use the congregational response (see bottom of 600-601).

Then resume the baptismal liturgy (UMH p.50) with the call to profess the Christian faith in the words of the Apostle's Creed.

Offer the Thanksgiving over the Water as printed, with this modification to the Epiclesis over the Water:

After the first sentence (Pour out your Holy Spirit…) say:

For you have washed away our sins,
   taught us to be your servants,
   and continually send us forth as ambassadors in your name.

Then complete the congregational response (All praise to you…) as printed on page 52, UMH.

REAFFIRMATION OF FAITH

The district superintendent calls all to the font to use the water in ways that help them remember their baptism with thankfulness. The district superintendent, assisted by the appointed clergy of each charge represented, may also anoint with oil those who have been recognized, recommended or installed with these words:

The Holy Spirit work within you, that you may be faithful in the ministry to which God has called you in Christ Jesus.

The district superintendent then addresses all those reaffirming the baptismal covenant in the words printed on UMH 52, "The Holy Spirit work within you…. The congregation responds with the Amen as printed.

THANKSGIVING (as printed p. 52, UMH)

CONCERNS AND PRAYERS
See "Word and Table I," UMH 7, for suggestions. The prayers are appropriately led by a layperson from one of the congregations present. Given the length of the service, it may be most helpful to use a call-and-response or litany of prayer, such as UMBOW 495).

INVITATION

Christ our Lord invites to his Table all who love him,
   who earnestly repent of their sin,
   and seek to live in peace with one another.
Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.

CONFESSION AND PARDON

Merciful God,
   we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have failed to be an obedient church.
We have not done your will,
   we have broken your law,
   we have rebelled against your love,
   we have not loved our neighbors,
   and we have not heard the cry of the needy.v Forgive us, we pray.
Free us for joyful obedience,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

All pray in silence.

Hear the good news:
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners;
that proves God's love toward us.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

Glory to God. Amen.

THE PEACE*
The peace of the Lord be always with you!
And also with you.

Let us offer one another signs of reconciliation and love.

All exchange signs and words of God's peace.

OFFERING

As forgiven and reconciled people,
let us offer ourselves and our gifts to God.

Representatives of the congregations bring forward the completed documentation from their meetings prior to this charge conference, along with the bread and wine and the other gifts. Offerings and reporting are placed on a side table, while the bread and wine are placed on the Communion Table.

HYMN
"All Things Come of Thee, O Lord" (UMH 588)

THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION TAKING THE BREAD AND CUP
See 27-28, UMH.

Lay leaders or clergy from the congregations present may assist in preparing the Table. All who assist in preparing should wash their hands prior to handling the bread and cup. For rubrics describing gestures to be used while offering this prayer, see "Word and Table I" in The United Methodist Book of Worship, pages 36-39.

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

By your power, we were created.
By your grace, we are sustained.
By your calling, we have come to follow Jesus.
By your mercy, we are forgiven when we fail.
By your Spirit, we are empowered for ministry.
By your wisdom, we are organized and sent forth
   to be effective witnesses of your kingdom in Christ's name.

And so,
   with your people on earth
   and all the company of heaven
   we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
   Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
   Hosanna in the highest.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.
By your power, he healed the sick.
By your grace, he proclaimed the good news that your kingdom was at hand.
By your calling, he gathered at table with those the world called outcasts,
   and fed them the bread of life.
By your mercy, he forgave sinners.
By your Spirit, he demonstrated courage to live your Truth,
   even at the cost of his own life.
By your wisdom, he taught and sent his disciples into fields of ministry
   to offer your love to all the world.

By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection
you gave birth to your Church,
delivered us from slavery to sin and death,
and made with us a new covenant
by water and the Spirit
to continue his ministry through our varied gifts
as living signs of your coming kingdom.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us,
he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread,
gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."

When the supper was over, he took the cup,
gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Drink from this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me."

And so,
   in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
    we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
    as a holy and living sacrifice,
   in union with Christ's offering for us,
   as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ,
redeemed by his blood.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
one with each other,
and one in ministry to all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory
and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father,
now and for ever. Amen.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

And now, with the confidence of children of God, let us pray:

(The form of the Lord's Prayer should be that most commonly used by the gathered congregations.)

BREAKING THE BREAD

The district superintendent breaks the bread and lifts the cup, in silence or with appropriate words.

These are the gifts of God for the people of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ lived for you, died for you, was raised for you, and sends you forth in ministry in his name. Come and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

GIVING THE BREAD AND CUP

The bread and wine are given to the people, with these or other words being exchanged:

The body of Christ, given for you. Amen.
The blood of Christ, given for you. Amen.

The congregation sings hymns while the bread and cup are given. When all have received, the Lord's Table is put in order. The district superintendent or congregation may then give thanks after Communion. See Word and Table I (UMH 11) for an example of an appropriate prayer of thanksgiving.

HYMN OR SONG
"Now Let Us from This Table Rise," UMH 634, or
"Go, Make of All Disciples," UMH 571, or
"The Spirit Sends Us forth to Serve," TFWS 2241

DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING*

Go forth to work in the harvest fields, sustained by God's peace!
And may the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Be with you and remain with you always. Amen.

GOING FORTH

Copyright © 2005 The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church, PO Box 340003, Nashville TN 37203-0003. The text of Word and Table II is copyrighted 1972, 1984, and 1989 by the United Methodist Publishing House and is used by permission.

This resource may be printed, copied, distributed, reprinted in church bulletins or newsletters, or otherwise used for nonprofit local church worship or education with the inclusion of the copyright citations above and General Board of Discipleship as its source. This resource may not be used for profit or republication without prior permission. Materials referenced from The United Methodist Book of Worship, The United Methodist Hymnal, and The Faith We Sing may be reproduced only for worship and educational purposes by congregations (not the district office) for one-time use, as in a bulletin, special program, or lesson resource, provided that the copyright notice and acknowledgment is included in the reproduction.

This resource was developed by the staff of the Center for Worship Resourcing of The General Board of Discipleship. If you would like to suggest ways to make this resource more helpful, please send a comment to Taylor Burton-Edwards.

Posted 11-15-05