Litany of Farewell

Printer Friendly Version

 

Leader:                   A church family is constantly changing. Loved ones come to the end of their lives. Individuals come and go in our church life. It is important and right that we recognize these times of passage, of endings and beginnings. Today we share the time of farewell with Pastor ________ whose time as our pastor ends.

 

Pastor:                    I thank ______________ Lutheran Church, its members and friends, for the

                              love, kindness and support shown me these last ____ years. I ask your

                              understanding and forgiveness for mistakes I have made and for expectations

                              unmet. I am grateful that my leadership has been accepted. With joy I recall

                              the many things we have been able to accomplish together and with sadness

                              the many things we were not able to accomplish.

 

Congregation:       We receive your thankfulness, and we offer our forgiveness for any failures, and our thanks for all accomplishments. We accept that you now conclude your ministry among us. We express our gratitude for your time with us and ask your forgiveness for our shortcomings and sometimes wavering faith. Your influence on our lives will not leave us.

 

Pastor:                    I forgive you your failures and accept your gratitude, trusting that our time together and our parting are pleasing to God and to the Christ we are called to serve.

 

Leader:                   Do you, the members and friends of __________ Lutheran Church now release Pastor ________ from the duties of pastor?

 

Congregation:       We do, with the help of God.

 

Leader:                   Do you offer your encouragement for Pastor _______’s (continuing ministry?) (faithfulness in retirement?)

 

Congregation:       We do, with the help of God.

 

Leader:                   You were called to be among us to baptize, to teach and to forgive sins.

 

Pastor:                    You entrusted to me the Baptismal Font.  I now return this responsibility back to you, the children of God.

                              (A shell, baptismal towel or pitcher of water is taken from the font and handed to a council member.)

 

Leader:                   You were called to be among us to proclaim the good news.

 

Pastor:                    You entrusted to me the responsibility of proclaiming God’s loving presence through preaching.  As I leave this pulpit, I encourage each member of ____________ Lutheran Church, you the people of God, to share the responsibility of proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ through all your words and deeds.

                              (A Bible is taken from the pulpit and handed to a council member.)

 

Leader:                   You were called to be among us to lead worship, and to preside at Holy Communion.

 

 

Pastor:                    You entrusted to me the oversight over this holy table.  I now return that responsibility to you, the disciples of Christ.  You have been blessed to be a blessing.

                              (A chalice is taken from the altar and handed to a council member.)

 

Leader:                   Do you, Pastor ________ release  __________ Church from turning to you and depending upon you?

 

Pastor:                    I do with the help of God.

 

Leader:                   Do you offer your encouragement for the continued ministry here at _________ Church?

 

Pastor:                    I do with the help of God.

 

Leader:                   Let us pray:

 

Congregation:       God, whose everlasting love for all is trustworthy, help each of us to trust the future which rests in your care. The time we were together in your name saw our laughter and tears, our hopes and our disappointments. Guide us as we hold these cherished memories but move in new directions, until that time to come when we are completely one with you and with each other, in the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

 

Leader:                   Go now, Pastor ________, surrounded by our love and led by the promises of God, the presence of Jesus Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Amen.