2016 Wesleyan Discipline:Church buildings: Dedication, ritual

5950. Order of Dedication of a Church Building.

Call to Worship

(The pastor or other appointed minister shall give the call to worship:)

“Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name” (Ps. 100:2–4).

Invocation

(Then the pastor or other appointed minister may pray an extemporaneous invocation or use the following:)

O God, eternal and ever blessed, who delights in the assembling of your people in the sanctuary; receive us graciously as we come into your house, and grant that peace and prosperity may be found within its walls, that the glory of God may be the light thereof, and that we may be satisfied with the goodness of your house; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn

(Then the congregation shall join in singing a hymn, such as one of the following: “2016 Wesleyan Discipline:All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name,” “2016 Wesleyan Discipline:O Worship the King,” “2016 Wesleyan Discipline:The Church’s One Foundation,” “2016 Wesleyan Discipline:I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord.”)

Scripture Reading

(Then the pastor or other appointed minister shall read a scripture lesson, such as one of the following: 2 Chron. 6:1–2, 18–21, 40–42; 7:1–4; Ps. 24; Ps. 84; Heb. 10:19–25.)

Sermon

(The General Superintendent, the district superintendent or other appointed minister may be asked to deliver a message on the nature and task of the church.)

Offering

(It is much to be desired that all money required for the erection and completion of a house in which to worship God shall be fully provided before the day of dedication; but where this is not done, appeals may be made either just before or following the sermon. No building shall be dedicated to God until approved as financially secure and properly deeded as specified in The Discipline.)

Presentation of Building for Dedication

(Then the district superintendent or representative shall stand at the pulpit facing the trustees of the church. The chair of the trustees shall address the district superintendent, saying:)

On behalf of the trustees, the members, and this congregation, I present you this building to be dedicated to God as a place of worship and of service in His kingdom.

Acceptance of Building for Dedication

(Then the district superintendent shall respond, saying:)

Dear friends, for countless centuries people have erected buildings for the public worship of God, and have separated these buildings from all unhallowed uses in order to increase their reverence for God and for those places in which they commune with Him. We rejoice that God has put it into the hearts of His people to build this house in this place to the glory of His name. I now accept this building, to be known as the ____________ Wesleyan Church, to dedicate it and to set it apart for the worship of Almighty God and the service of all people. Let us therefore, as we are assembled, solemnly dedicate this place to its proper and sacred uses.

Litany of Dedication

(Then the district superintendent shall cause the congregation to stand and to join in the responsive litany of dedication:)

Leader: To the glory of God the Father, who has called us by His grace; to the honor of His Son, who loved us and gave Himself for us; to the praise of the Holy Spirit, who illumines and sanctifies us;

Congregation: We dedicate this house.

Leader: For the worship of God in prayer and praise;

Congregation: For the preaching of the everlasting gospel;

Leader: For the celebration of the holy sacraments;

All: We dedicate this house.

Leader: For the comfort of all who mourn;

Congregation: For strength to those who are tempted;

Leader: For light to those who seek the way;

All: We dedicate this house.

Leader: For the hallowing of family life;

Congregation: For teaching and guiding the young;

Leader: For the perfecting of the saints;

All: We dedicate this house.

Leader: For the conversion of sinners;

Congregation: For the sanctification of believers;

Leader: For the promotion of righteousness; for the extension of the kingdom of God;

All: We dedicate this house.

Leader: In the unity of the faith; in the bond of Christian brotherhood; in charity and goodwill to all;

Congregation: We dedicate this house.

Leader: In gratitude for the labors of all who love and serve this church; in loving remembrance of those who have finished their course; in the hope of a blessed immortality through Jesus Christ our Lord;

Congregation: We dedicate this house.

All in Unison: We now, the people of this church and congregation, surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, grateful for our heritage, aware of the sacrifice of our fathers in the faith, confessing that apart from us their work cannot be made perfect, do dedicate ourselves anew to the worship and service of Almighty God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication

(Then the district superintendent shall give an extemporaneous prayer of dedication, or use the following:)

Almighty God, we are not worthy to offer unto You anything belonging unto us. We humbly acknowledge that “except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.” Yet we ask that in Your great goodness you would accept the dedication of this place to Your service. Prosper this our undertaking. Receive the prayers and intercessions of all your servants who shall call upon You in this house. Give them grace to prepare their hearts to serve You with reverence and godly fear. Affect them with a solemn apprehension of Your divine majesty, and a deep sense of their own unworthiness. May they always approach Your sanctuary with lowliness and devotion. May they always come before You with clean thoughts and pure hearts, with bodies undefiled and minds sanctified. May they always perform a service acceptable to You, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn

(Then the congregation shall join in singing a hymn, such as: “2016 Wesleyan Discipline:Lead On, O King Eternal.”)

Benediction

(Then the pastor or other appointed minister shall pronounce the benediction:)

May You, O Lord our God, make this house Your abiding place from this day forth, and let Your ministers be clothed with salvation, let Your saints rejoice in goodness all their days, as the blessings of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit rest and abide upon them. Amen.