Founding Pastors
Randy Harden & SandyHarden
August 5th, 2007
Ordination is of Christ, through the church which acts in the name of Christ.
The service of ordination is an act of the whole church rather than of an individual. By accepting ordination, individuals are accepting both their divine call and its affirmation by a larger community. It is a service of praise and thanksgiving for the gifts of ministry. The service expresses the unity of the church and celebrates Gods continuing care for the church and the world, through the anointing of Gods servants. It includes solemn covenants, the laying on of hands, prayer invoking the Holy Spirit and the celebration of the Lords Supper. It is time to give witness to our wholeness in God and the unity of the Church.
Cowboy Church acknowledges and honors
Randy & Sandy Harden
For using their God given gifts,
Nurturing the Church and Passing on a legacy of faith
Ordination is predicated upon the Call of God, the consent of the Responder, and the authentication of the Church.
Outline for Ordination Service
Call to Worship .. .............................................................................................. .. Kevin Vincent
Cowboy Church Review .. ............................................................................................... ..Mark and Gina Tant
Host Family . ................................................................................................ .Bill and Wilma Harden
Praise and Prayer . .. ............................................................................................... .Ricky Taylor
Praise Team (Offering)
Reading from the Gospel ........................................................................................................... ........... . Cathy Taylor
Message/Sermon ................................................................................................ . ... Donny Trammell
Opening Ordination Prayer ................................................................................................ .. ..Hank Garner
Presentation of Candidates ................................................................................................ Nick Jones
Ordination Covenant ................................................................................................ . .. Hank Garner, Jim Coles
Henry Saylors, Skip Heptinstall
Promise of the People ............................................................................................... ... Cowboy Church
Statement regarding Laying on of Hands ................................................................................................. Kevin Vincent
Ordination Prayer ...................................................................................................... Jim and Janice Jones
Presentation of the Signs ................................................................................................. .Nancy Christensen/Angie Tobias
Service of the Lords Supper ............................................................................................... . Randy and Sandy Harden
Closing of Service (Celebration) .................................................................................................. .. Leon Rhinehart
Escorts..............................................................................................................................................................Trina Coulter/Dusty Harden
Reception Following
Blessing of the food ................................................................................................ .... Stephen Long
Ordination Covenant
My sister/brother in faith, do you believe that you are truly called by God and the Church to the life and work of ministry in the name of Jesus Christ?
We Do.
Paul the Apostle testified, It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. Will you endeavor to be diligent in your practice of the Christian life: reading the Bible, continuing steadfastly in prayer, and taking up your cross daily to follow Christ?
We will, with the help of God
Scripture teaches that the Church was devoted to the apostles teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Will you endeavor faithfully to fulfill your calling among the people committed to your care: by overseeing the preaching the word of God and by presiding at the celebration of baptism and the Lords Supper (communion)?
We will, with the help of God
In scripture, ministers are exhorted to tend the flock of God committed to their care, not by constraint but willingly, not for selfish gain but eagerly, not by domineering over those in their charge but by example. Will you endeavor to care for the people of God: nourishing, teaching, and encouraging them; giving direction to the life of the congregation; counseling the troubled; declaring Gods forgiveness of sin; and proclaiming victory over death?
We will, with the help of God
The Spirit of God led Jesus to preach good news to the poor, proclaiming release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, setting at liberty the oppressed, and proclaiming the time of Gods good favor. Will you endeavor to lead the people of God in their obedience to the global mission of the Church: guiding their concern for justice, peace and freedom for all people; and taking a responsible place in the governance of the Church and in service to the community and world?
We will, with the help of God
The apostle Paul proclaims the Church to be one body with many members. Will you endeavor to live and work in unity with all Christians: witnessing to the visible unity of the Church; cooperating with colleagues in the ministry of the Church; and leading the Church in fulfilling its ministry of reconciliation?
We will, with the help of God
Paul also wrote, For me to live is Christ. Will you endeavor to conduct yourself so that your life is shaped by Jesus Christ, who took the form of a servant for our sake; and will you, with the help of the Holy Spirit, continually rekindle the gift of God that is in you, to make known to all people the Gospel of the Grace of God?
We will, with the help of God
May God who has given you the will to do these things give you Grace to perform them. Randy and Sandy, our God who called you is faithful and will not fail you.
Mini-Teaching
July 8, 2007
Ordination commences with the call of God. God calls all of humanity to receive the good news of the Gospel and to accept their call to be Gods people. Those who accept this good news and are baptized are drawn into the fellowship of a new community, the church. In this body, the Holy Spirit unites those who follow Jesus Christ and sends them as witnesses into the world.
The members of the Body of Christ are given forms of witness, service and ministry. Technically it is possible to be a Christian without the participation in church; however, God does want us to assemble. In Hebrews (10:25) he says let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.
Ordination is of Christ, through the Church which acts in the name of Christ. The Church is one. It is present in each gathered, worshipping, and serving congregation. Many different denominational traditions exist within the one body of Christ. Cowboy Church is in the on-going process of identifying and establishing our own traditions both as a way of affirming our own history and as a way of enriching the larger body of Christ.
Our own congregation is a community of believers sharing life in day-to-day and face-to-face relationships. In this shared life and faith, the power of God transforms life most directly. The basis of membership is a voluntary commitment to a covenant with Christ and with one another.
Within the ministry of the whole people of God there is, and has been since the early church, representative or ordained ministry called by God and set apart by the church for distinctive functions. Authority and blessing to perform this ministry are celebrated in ordination
No matter what the form of church government, the Pastor should be the spiritual leader of the congregation. (1 Peter 5:1-3), (Hebrews 13:7), (1Thesalonians 5:12), and (1 Timothy 3:5) all seem to indicate this. There are many areas within the church organization where gifted men and women will exercise better leadership than the pastor, but the flock should always be under the pastors direction.
How do you become a Pastor and who would want to be one?
Most would agree that the best spiritual leaders are those called directly by God.
People who are God-called will know it, if they are sincerely yielded to Gods will; nothing else will satisfy them but to do the will of God. The call is deeply personal, but it is not a private affair. It is both a profound inner conviction and the testing of the conviction by the Church.
(John 15: 16) Jesus said, Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit.
.It is important to remember that while we as the Church celebrate the Ordination of our leaders, the Church does not make the Pastor the leader; God does (2Cor 4:5)
I have shared with Randy and Sandy that we must also remember that Gods call and empowerment match. (Jeremiah 1: 4-10) When God calls you to do something, he always provides the empowerment to fulfill that calling. If God calls you, heed the call, He will also give you the resources to accomplish the work.
Without the vision and support of those serving in pastoral roles, the ministry of the congregation will flounder. The vitality of the congregation is in direct proportion to the quality of its leadership.
People are energized by a picture of a better tomorrow. Vision is an essential part of healthy leadership. (Zechariah 3:1-10) Good leaders feel moved by God-given dreams and visions regarding the future.
In fact, Scripture teaches that without a visionpeople perish. (Proverbs 29:18)
Leaders know what it takes to win in the end. (Zechariah 14:16-21) No one practices the law of victory quite like the Lord Himself. God predicts victory and gives the people direction on how to live, motivation to persist, and hope for a better tomorrow.
Next week I will be discussing the Ordination service itself. It is a combination of the most joyous of celebrations and the most holy of ceremony.
Continue to study God Bless
Mini-Teaching
July 15, 2007
Authority and blessing to perform the ministries of Cowboy Church will be celebrated in ordination.
Why Ordination -- now?
We must remember that the Church does not make the Pastor the leader; God does (2Cor 4:5). However, the service of ordination is an act of the whole Church rather than of an individual.
Paul warns church leaders Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands. (1 Tim 5:22) In ordination -- through prayers invoking the Holy Spirit and the laying on of hands the church confirms in women and men the call of god, acknowledges in them the necessary gifts and graces, and accepts this ministry in and for the church. We have not been hasty with the confirmation by this ceremony.
Before the church lays hands on you for ordination, you must be sure God has laid his hand on you for a lifetime of service (Phil. 3:12-14) Sugden & Wiersbe says, Its better to be patient and certain than to be impetuous and embarrassed. Through the trials and tribulations of the making of our own history and the public acceptance of the Divine Calling by Randy/Sandy we can now be sure about the Pastoral Leadership of this Church.
Gods usual plan is to let his servants prove themselves faithful over a few things before he makes them rulers over many things (Matthew 25:21). For those of you with the privilege of being here since the beginning, I believe you will agree that the few things it took to make the Church on that Mothers Day in 2004 now pales in comparison to the many things that it takes to make the Cowboy Church today.
Ephesians 2:10 indicates that God prepares us for what he has prepared for us; so, if were called of the Lord, he has a place chosen where we can serve successfully. As for Randy and Sandy I believe that someplace is The Cowboy Church of Lafayette.
In ordination the church confirms in women and men the call of god, acknowledges in them the necessary gifts and graces, and accepts this ministry in and for the church.
By accepting ordination, individuals are accepting both their divine calling and its affirmation by a larger community. It is a service of praise and thanksgiving for the gifts of ministry. It includes solemn covenants, the laying on of hands, prayer invoking the Holy Spirit, and the celebration of the Lords Supper.
Mini-Teaching
July 29, 2007
We have talked about the calling to Pastoral Ministry, the meaning of Ordination, the ceremony and celebration of the Ordination, and even asked the question why are we Ordaining now. The final question to be answered can be done so in a very succinct way.
The question----why do we ordain at all?
The authority to issue ministerial credentials belongs solely to a church or religious body. Therefore, individuals cannot ordain themselves. Whenever and wherever one may experience a calling, and whatever dimensions the experience may have personally, the Church remains the only authenticating voice. This required legitimization by the Church is an affirmation of the role which the Church historically and theologically continues to occupy in Gods order of ministry in the world.
On August 5, 2007 you will be participating in an historic event for The Cowboy Church. It is true that in the future, the church will exercise its responsibility of Ordination. However, never again will The Cowboy Church of Lafayette experience the joys and reflect on the sanctity of the Service of Ordination for the Founding Pastors.
Lets talk about those elements of the Ordination:
Solemn Covenants: The covenants are public pledges made by Randy/Sandy to both God and the Church. Hebrews (10:23) says let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering. God takes these covenants seriously as they are the binding that ties the leadership to the Church. Deuteronomy (29:9) says keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.
The Laying on of Hands: The laying on of hands with prayer is attested in scripture as a sign of reconciliation, empowering, and sending forth. The church uses this prayerful act to be a visible sign of the gift of the Holy Spirit, to affirm the churchs confirmation of this persons vocation, and to entrust to them the power and authority to do the work of God in our midst.
Prayer Invoking the Holy Spirit: Lord, through your Holy Spirit you have given a variety of gifts, making some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some teachers and pastors, to equip the saints for the work of ministry and for the building up of Christs body, the Church. We pray that you will send your Spirit upon Randy and Sandy whom we ordain to the ministry of your Church. Make them a faithful pastor, a patient teacher, a wise counselor and a bold witness. Confirm in Them the Grace and power to proclaim the gospel and celebrate worship, to lead the church in its faith, life and mission, and to be an example to your people in love, patience, and holiness of life. Grant that through this ministry your name will be glorified in all the earth and your people strengthened.
Elements of the Lords Supper: For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "Take eat; this is my body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me. In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.
The Pastors of Cowboy Church accept ordination as a gift of the Holy Spirit at work in the community of faith. This Ceremony meets both the legal and Ecclesiastical standards which have been discussed since the first Church. Randy/Sandy can and will perform the necessary rituals and rites of the Church while remembering the words written by John (15: 16) Jesus said, Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit.
This Ordination service expresses the unity of the church and celebrates Gods continuing care for the church and the world, through the anointing of Gods servants. It is time to give witness to our wholeness in God and the unity of the Church.