Sending ...

This past Sunday our church had a commissioning service.  We commissioned Rev. Norm Prenger for service as interim pastor in the Terrace CRC and the Ringmas for service with CRWM in Sierra Leone.  It was meaningful to us, to the Prengers and to our church family.  It is humbling to think of ourselves as 'sent' (in co-mission) with many others in BC.  And we aim to be in co-mission not only with the CRC in Sierra Leone, but with others there from Zambia, Nigeria and other parts of North America.  Of course, we are all sent, ultimately, by the sending God.  He who sent his one and only Son also sends us all in His name. 

 A recent photo of the Terrace CRC

(on the occasion of the beginning of her 60th year, December 18, 2011).



I reflected with Ella that it is a rare thing to be commissioned for service elsewhere by one's own calling church (knowing that we'll be returning to continue our calling to serve with the church in Terrace).  There were many moments in the service that warmed my heart (and I don't think I could've made it through preaching!):  Three elders did a wonderful job of leading various parts of the commissioning.  Various symbols of ministry were 'paraded' and described.  The parting blessing consisted of both Pastor Norm and I blessing the congregation (and each other) with the words of Psalm 121.  It was New Year's Eve, and congregants shared stories of God's faithfulness and/or longing for God's kingdom to come in the year ahead.  One of our suitcases was used as a prop and we were given 'homework' to photograph parallel photos in an already-started photo album (like: "Our house in Terrace ... Our house in Sierra Leone ..."). 

But I 'melted' when the service of commissioning culminated in many folks from the congregation coming forward to lay hands of blessing on us and the Prengers.  I couldn't help but notice my children, also with hands laid upon them, dwarfed by the tree-like cloud of witnesses around them.  One of our children later said to me, "Mrs. Voogd was wearing a watch.  We were up there praying for, like, 15 minutes!"  We laughed heartily.  And then I hoped that my child would remember that on the last day of 2011, with parties and fun and Olli Bolen waiting, our church deemed it important to spend 15 minutes in prayer.  I hope I remember that.

While we didn't sing the following song at the commissioning, I couldn't help but think about it this afternoon, as we prepare to fly out of Vancouver tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon:

Faith begins by letting go, giving up what had seemed sure,

Taking risks and pressing on, though the way feels less secure:

Pilgrimage both right and odd, trusting all our life to God.

Faith endures by holding on, keeping mem’ry’s roots alive

So that hope may bear its fruit; promise-fed, our souls will thrive,

Not through merit we possess but by God’s great faithfulness.

Faith matures by reaching out, stretching minds, enlarging hearts,

Sharing struggles, living prayer, binding up the broken parts;

Till we find the commonplace ripe with witness to God’s grace.

Copyright 1996 Hope Publishing Company

Written by Carl P. Daw and Charles F. Gounod