ORDINATION


ORDINATION: August 5, 2006
(Speech for Ministerial
Candidates, prior to their being anointed, at Pathways of Light: Kiel, Wisconsin).

....
(KATHY):
TO BE A MINISTER IS,
TO BE AN ASSISTANT TO OTHERS.
.
YOUR ANOINTING TODAY
 IS A SACRED ACT,
SYMBOLIZING YOUR DEVOTION
 TO GOD,
BY THE DEDICATION OF YOUR LIFE, TO SERVING AND ASSISTING, OTHER PEOPLE.
.
ALL IN THIS ROOM ARE WITNESSES, OF YOUR VOWS, HERE TODAY, OF ACCEPTING THIS HOLY OFFICE.
.
EACH, OF THE EIGHT OF YOU , EXEMPLIFIES THE PATHWAYS GOAL OF, "HELPING PEOPLE ACCESS INNER WISDOM."
.
IN YOUR ASSISTING EACH OTHER,
TO ACCESS INNER WISDOM,
YOU HAVE ALSO ACHIEVED
INNER WISDOM FOR YOURSELF.
------------------------------------
BOB
YOUR COMPLETION, OF THE PATHWAYS OF LIGHT CURRICULUM FOR ORDINATION, IS A PINNACLE OF ACHIEVEMENT,
A GIGANTIC, STEPPING STONE,
TO GREATER SELF-AWARENESS,
AND A REFLECTION
OF YOUR LIFELONG COMMITMENT
TO SERVE HUMANITY.
.
THIS ORDINATION CEREMONY IS YOUR OFFICIAL APPOINTMENT, A PUBLICLY PROCLAIMING,
IN HOLY CEREMONY,
OF YOUR LIFE'S DEVOTION,
IN SERVICE TO OTHERS.
.
EACH OF YOU,
HAS COMPLETED ALL THE INNER WORK NECESSARY, TO HAVE HOLY ORDERS CONFERRED UPON YOU.
YOUR AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT RELIGIOUS SERVICES COMES FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND IS LEGALLY ENDORSED, THROUGH THE PATHWAYS OF LIGHT CHURCH.
.
ALWAYS REMEMBER, THAT AS A MINISTER, YOU ARE AN ATTENDANT, ACTING AS GOD'S ASSISTANT.
.
YOU ARE HERE, ONLY, TO BE TRULY HELPFUL.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
KATHY:
AS A PATHWAYS OF LIGHT MINISTER, YOU COUNSEL PEOPLE TO ACCESS THEIR OWN
INNER WISDOM,
HELPING OTHERS,
FIND THEIR OWN ANSWERS,
AS, EACH OF YOU,
HAS ALREADY DONE.
.
THESE INNER ANSWERS
ARE A GIFT FROM THE DIVINE, GIVING,
TO THE OPEN AND WILLING,
THEIR OWN PERFECT ANSWER.
.
BOB:
.
THIS IS A POWERFUL LEARNING,
AND, AS YOU HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED,
IT IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE.
.
ALL IT TAKES,
IS A LITTLE WILLINGNESS
TO BE OPEN TO THE DIVINE,
AND HOLY SPIRIT, PROVIDES,
THE PERFECT ANSWER,
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
(KATHY)
THIS PATH THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN, TO BE A MINISTER, IS ONE THAT HAS EXISTED FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
YOU ARE NOW PART OF A SPIRITUAL TRADITION THAT GOES BACK TO THE BEGINNINGS OF HUMAN HISTORY.
WHEN GROUPS OF PEOPLE,
SELECTED SOMEONE TO SERVE THEM IN THEIR NEED.
.
THOSE WHO HAD SURVIVED
THEIR OWN
LIFE-SHAKING EXPERIENCES,
WERE THE ONES BEST QUALIFIED
TO HELP OTHERS,
WHO WERE EXPERIENCING THEIR OWN LIFE'S CHALLENGES.
.
THINK OF YOUR LIFE,
DOES THIS SOUND IN SOME WAYS LIKE YOU?
.
AND SO,
IN THE DAWNINGS OF HUMAN HISTORY,
THOSE ANCIENT ONES,
LIKE EACH OF YOU,
ACCEPTED A LIFE OF SERVICE,
AND BECAME THE HEALERS,
THE MEDICINE-WOMEN,
THE SHAMANS,
THOSE WHO SERVED A HOLY OFFICE. .
EACH OF YOU,
IS NOW A PART OF THAT SPIRITUAL TRADITION, THAT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK,
TO THE BEGINNINGS OF THE HUMAN RACE.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
(BOB)
.
O.M.C., ORDAINED MINISTERIAL COUNSELOR,
MEANS THAT,
YOU ARE ORDAINED AS A DIVINELY AND LEGALLY ESTABLISHED MINISTER, WITH AUTHORITY
TO PERFORM NEEDED SERVICES TO OTHERS.
.
YOUR ORDINATION AS A PATHWAYS OF LIGHT MINISTER, IS NOW LEGAL, IN ALL OF OUR 50 STATES.
.
YOU ARE NOW ENTITLED TO USE THE WORD REVEREND, WHICH COMES FROM THE
WORD REVERE.
.
REVERE.
TO REGARD WITH RESPECT AND AFFECTION.
.
YOUR REVERENCE,
Y0UR DIVINELY INSPIRED AWE,
IS A HEAVENLY BLESSING,
THAT WILL PERMEATE ALL OF YOUR MINISTERIAL ACTS, AND MAKE THEM HOLY.
.
EACH OF YOU, IS NOW HOME.
.
HOME, THE AWESOME, INDESCRIBABLE, ETERNAL, WITHIN EACH OF YOU, WHEREVER YOU ARE.
SOMETIMES, PERHAPS,
MAKING YOU TEARFULLY AWARE, THAT THE DIVINE, IS ALWAYS, IN RESIDENCE, WITHIN YOU.
.
EACH OF YOU,
LIKE THE AMERICAN POET, ROBERT FROST, CAME TO A FORK IN THE ROAD OF LIFE,
WHERE YOU MADE A CHOICE.
.
THAT GREAT POET, SPOKE FOR EACH OF YOU, WHEN HE CLOSED HIS WORLD FAMOUS POEM,
BY SAYING:
"AND I,
I TOOK THE ROAD
LESS TRAVELED BY,
AND THAT,
HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE."
(ANNOINTING)
NOW, WE ASK A PREVIOUSLY ANOINTED MINISTER TO STEP IN FRONT OF ONE OF THE CANDIDATES TO DO A GROUP ANOINTING:
....
EACH OF YOU WILL ANOINT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF YOU, BY PUTTING YOUR FINGERS ON THEIR FOREHEAD.
....
REPEAT AFTER ME: "I anoint you as an Ordained Ministerial Counselor of Pathways of Light." (Leave time for them to repeat.)
....
Now ask for a word or sentence from Spirit and share it with the new minister. (Pause)
....
Anointing ministers, when you are finished, congratulate them with a hug and return to your seat.
....
When everyone is finished,
"Congratulations! You are now Pathways of Light Ordained Ministerial Counselors."
....
"Let's give them a hand as they move out to the hall to form a receiving line." (A facilitator will lead them to form a receiving line in the hall.)
....
Everyone please remain seated until they leave the room.
....
We invite you to join us in honoring the new ministers in the receiving line.
....
(Revs. Bob and Kathy Thompson)
Saturday, August 5, 2006
Powered by MSN TV