On Sunday we will ordain and install into church office our new classes of elders and deacons.  This is a remarkable moment in the life of the church.  Men and women we know, those who sing in the choir with us or sit next to us in Bible Study, who travel to Brazil or teach Sunday School with us, will take on the role of "leaders who serve and servants who lead" in the life of our church.  The ordination questions (those asked of the new officers and those asked of the congregation) will be printed in Sunday's bulletin.  Each question is vitally important. 

Question 8 asks the new officers "Will you serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love?"  It is a wonderful question and the Book of Order suggests that the new elders and deacons answer, "I will, with God's help."  With God's help our servant leaders will be able to do what God has called them to do.  We will pray that God's Holy Spirit will infuse them with all the energy, intelligence, imagination and love they will need to accomplish his good purposes during the year to come.  

You may know that there are two questions that will be asked of the congregation.  They, too, are powerful impossible to keep but by the power of the Holy Spirit:

1.       Do we, the members of the church, accept the brothers and sisters in Christ as elders or deacons, chosen by God through the voice of this congregation to lead us in the way of Jesus Christ?

2.       Do we agree to encourage them, to respect their decisions, and to follow as they guide us, serving Jesus Christ, who alone is Head of the Church?

Add accept, encourage, respect and follow to energy, intelligence, imagination and love and you just may end up with something amazing.  The new officers will say, "I will with God's help!"  And all of us need to add a strong "We do!"  And then, keeping our promises, let's be prepared for the all the places to which this restless, wild Spirit may take us.