Dear Lord in heaven, we come as your people (website only)
A hymn for ordination services
Dear Lord in heaven, we come as your people,
made in your image, our weakness you know.
Now may your Spirit both bless and transform us
into the body of Christ here below.
We thank you, Lord, for the gifts of these people,
called as disciples to kneel in this place.
Now may your Spirit both bless and transform them,
ordained Christ’s agents who minister grace.
We thank you, Lord, for these gifts of creation,
made bread and wine, to sustain everyone.
Now may your Spirit both bless and transform them
into the body and blood of your Son.
Bread, wine, these servants, ourselves as your people,
we offer now and receive them once more,
joined in Christ’s body and called in his service,
filled by your Spirit to love and adore.
Words: © Ken Howcroft 2014
Metre: 11.10.11.10.
Suggested tune: “Spean” (StF 227) (“Brightest and best of the sons of the morning”)
More information
From the hand of past-President, the Revd Ken Howcroft, a hymn intended for used in the service of ordination for presbyters and deacons – one of the highlights of every Methodist Conference. He writes:
"I have been aware for years that we do not have contemporary hymns – in fact we do not have many hymns of any age – that refer to ordination. Most of what we end up using are hymns about a general calling to discipleship. There is nothing wrong with using some of those hymns, in that the general call to discipleship is what creates the ministry of the whole people of God, in which we all share. A call to ordination is a particular aspect or focussing of that general call to discipleship.
"But I began to long for something which recognised that specific calling of some within the general calling of all.
"I was also aware that we sing whilst people are receiving communion at an ordination service, but it is hard to find hymns or songs which tie together the ordination theme with that of communion. Eventually, I sat down and after many false starts began to write my own hymn."