For all that has been in these full years of ministry we say thank you.
All: Thank you God who holds us gently.
For all funerals led, people visited, lives mourned,
For all new lives welcomed, thanksgivings and baptisms celebrated,
For all new relationships blessed and marriages marked,
For new members welcomed, elders ordained, churches and communities sustained,
For all sermons and prayers written, songs and hymns chosen, liturgies crafted, connections with news and everyday life woven together,
For all communities and organisations supported, stories listened to and held with care and confidence, for kindom work unnoticed and hard to measure,
Leaving Minister: I give thanks.
People: We give thanks.
For cross words, unspoken grudges and power play, for forgetting and failures, for all that is left undone and incomplete we say sorry, let go of and set down saying thanks to God trusting in the work of others.
Leaving Minister: I ask forgiveness and I let them go.
People: We ask forgiveness and we water seeds of ministry work planted.
For all faith companions who have inspired and nurtured [name of leaving Minister] we give thanks.
For all who have been ministered to, with and alongside we say thank you to God who continues to call us in Jesus to share Good News.
All: We hear the call of Jesus to be and share Good News.
Written for the departure of Revd. Bob Day by Revd. Kate Gray, Manchester UK
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- Photo by Ben Ulrich
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- photo by Ben Ulrich
