The document describes a recognition ceremony for retirees, with prayers, hymns, and speeches thanking the retirees for their faithful ministry and service. The leader speaks of the retirees receiving authority to lead the church and doing so faithfully through God's grace. The ceremony concludes with a prayer asking God to continue blessing the retirees and giving them a sense of God's abiding presence.

1. Recognition of Retirees
Friday, June 17, 2016 | 11:30 a.m.

2. Come, My Way,
My Truth, My LifeUMH 164. Words: George Herbert, 1633 (Jn. 14:6);
Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1911; adapt. by E. Harold Greer
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3. Come, My way, My truth,
My life:
such a way as gives us
breath,
such a truth as ends all
strife,
such a life as killeth death.

4. Come, my Light, My feast,
my Strength:
such a light as shows a
feast,
such a feast as mends in
length,
such a strength as makes
his guest.

5. Come, my Joy, my Love,
my Heart:
such a joy as none can
move,
such a love as none can
part,
such a heart as joys in
love.

6. Go live through Opening
Remarks and Recognition of
Retirees

7. Leader:
Brothers and sisters
in Christ, you came
to us from congregations
where the Spirit of
the Lord was upon you,

8. and you answered the call
to proclaim the good news
and to give your lives in
service to Christ and
his church. This you have done
faithfully and well.

9. People:
We thank God for the
community of faith in which the
Word of God was heard and
the call of God found
response.

10. In their journeys of faith, many
persons have looked to you for
help and have not been
disappointed.

11. You have found that in
the gracious providence
of God, both joy and suffering
can be means
of healing and growth.

12. Leader:
At your licensing and
ordination, you received
authority to read the Holy
Scriptures in the church,
to proclaim the Word, to
celebrate the sacraments,

13. to order the life of the church,
and to connect the church and
the world in service. By God’s
grace, you have done these
and many things that seemed
to be beyond your power.

14. People:
We thank God for the vision
which has guided you and for
the power of God at work in
your lives to enable you to be
faithful and to give fruit for
your labors.

15. We have seen the love and
grace of God made visible in
your lives and witness. We
have been blessed by your
ministry, and we thank God for
you.

16. Leader:
Never think lightly of the great
good that God has wrought
through you. Continue to be
true to your calling. May God’s
love and power be with you
always. And now let us pray:

17. Unison:
God of grace, we give thanks
for the ministries of these, your
servants, and for the countless
ways in which you have
ministered to us through them.

18. Give them a sense of your
abiding presence, that they
may continue to love and serve
you, and ever grow in the
grace and knowledge of Jesus
Christ, in whose name we
pray. Amen.

19. Go live through
passing of the torch

20. O For a Heart
to Praise My God
UMH 417. Words: Charles Wesley, 1742 (Ps. 51:10); Music: Thomas Haweis, 1792
OneLicense.net E-801569. All rights reserved.

21. O for a heart to praise
my God,
a heart from sin set free,
a heart that always feels
thy blood
so freely shed for me.

22. A heart resigned,
submissive, meek,
my great Redeemer's throne,
where only Christ is heard
to speak,
where Jesus reigns alone.

23. A humble, lowly,
contrite heart,
believing, true, and clean,
which neither life nor
death can part
from him that dwells within.

24. A heart in every
thought renewed,
and full of love divine;
perfect and right and
pure and good,
a copy, Lord, of thine.

25. Thy nature, gracious Lord,
impart;
come quickly from above;
write thy new name
upon my heart,
thy new, best name of Love.