Liturgy for the Service of Installation of Olav Fykse Tveit as WCC general secretary

Installation Service for Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
Ecumenical Centre, Geneva 23 February 2010

(stand)

Processional

Prelude and hymn: The church’s one foundation
(1st and 2nd stanza in English, 3rd and 4th in French)

L: In the name of the Father, and of the son and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen

(sit)

Welcome (Moderator of WCC Central Committee Rev. Dr Walter Altmann)

Opening
L: Praise to God for the gifts of the past:
All: For the witness of the people of God who went before us.

L: Praise to God for the gifts of the present:
All: In all our struggles to be true to Christ.

L: Praise to God for the gifts in our future:
All: In the Spirit we are led on into crucifixions and resurrections.
Amen.

♪ Psalm of Repentance: So much wrong and so much injustice
(in English; verses by soloist, refrain by all)

Bible Reading
1 Corinthians 2: 1-5

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

(stand)
Song: El mensaje que hoy proclamamos (in Spanish)

Gospel Reading
Matthew 5: 1-10

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

(sit)

Song: Dong-tian yi wang / Winter has passed (solo)

Dongtian yi wang, yushui yi zhi, bai hua kaifang bai niao ming ti,
Hebi dengdai hebi chiyi, “Wo di jiaou yu wo tong qu.”
Refrain: Yesu wo Zhu wo ai suo gui,
Wo shen wo ling yong shu yu ni
You gu zhi zhong si ni xin qie,
Yu ni tong qu jin you chun hui.

1. Winter has passed, the rain is o’er, earth is abloom, songs fill the air.
Linger no more, why must you wait? “Rise up my love, come follow me.”
Refrain: Jesus, my Lord, my love, my all, body and soul forever yours,
In dale so dark I long for you, abide with me in spring anew.

2. O Lord, your face I long to see, your still small voice reveal to me.
Your tender care, your joy so dear, “O precious dove, with me be near.”

3. O my beloved, I’ll follow you, far from the rocks, the hills and sea.
Midst all the song and blossoms new, in your firm step, I’ll follow you.


Sermon: Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit


L: Let us affirm our faith:

(stand)

All: We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven;
by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate
form the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried;
on the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven.
He is seated at the right hand of the Father,
he will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father;
with the Father and the Son
he is worshiped and glorified;
he has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in the holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed

Song: Vi rekker våre hender frem
(1st stanza in Norwegian, 2nd to 6th stanza in English)

2. Alt godt, til vårt ig andres vel,
er dine gaver.
I svakhet fremmer du ditt verk,
vår bare kvist skal skyte knopp!

3. Vi løfter våre hender opp
i bønn for verden.
La dem som lider, finne vern
mot kalde hjerters is og sne!

4. La våre henders nakne tre
få blomst og blader.
La våre liv få bære frukt
til legedom for andres sår!

5. Vi venter, efter smertens vår,
din nådes sommer.
Og sorg og glede blir til vekst
med frukt vi ikke selv kan se.

6. Din nådes skaperverk skal skje
i tomme hender.
O Gud, all godhets giver: Kom,
ta bolig i vår fattigdom!

2. What good and blessing you bestow
is freely given.
Your power will make the weakest strong
and barren branches start to bud.

3. We lift our hands to you, o God,
our world upholding.
Let those who suffer shelter find
from human hearts of ice and snow.

4. O make our barren trees to grow
our hands to blossom,
and let our lives bring forth such fruit
that heals our neighbour’s grief and pain.

5. As summer follows springtime’s rain,
so grace to sorrow
and grief and joy shall bear much fruit,
though hidden from our eyes.

6. Through grace your new creation lies
in open, empty hands.
God, giver of all goodness, come,
dwell with us in our earthly home!

(sit)

Act of Installation

Rev. Dr Altmann:
We all pray for you, and for your ministry.
As you assume this important task at this historic moment in the life of the World Council of Churches,
may the Triune God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
bless you and guide you in all your journeying.

All:
Almighty God: you have established one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, and you invite us into communion. We give you thanks for calling your servant Olav to leadership within the ecumenical movement. Give him the gifts he needs to accomplish this work. Fill him with the Holy Spirit; and give us the grace, courage and discipline to support and accompany him in the service of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Words of blessing from the WCC regions by members of WCC Executive Committee

Song: Before your cross (3x, in English)

Intercessions

L: With faith and love and in union with Christ,
let us offer our prayer to the Father.
Lord, we come to the cross.

Sung response: Hør vår bønn!

L: With faith and love and in union with Christ,
let us offer our prayer to the Father.
Lord, we come to the cross.

Sung response: Hør vår bønn!

L: Have mercy on your people,
for whom your Son laid down his life.
Bring healing and wholeness to people and nations,
and have pity on those torn apart by division:
Lord, we come to the cross.

Sung response: Hør vår bønn!

L: Strengthen all who are persecuted for your name’s sake,
and deliver them from evil.
Look in mercy upon all who suffer,
and hear those who cry out in pain and desolation:
Lord, we come to the cross.

Sung response: Hør vår bønn!

For the leaders of the nations,
that you will guide them in the ways of mercy and truth.
For the needy, that they may not be forgotten,
nor the hope of the poor be taken away:
Lord, we come to the cross.

Sung response: Hør vår bønn!

L: For the sick in body, mind and spirit,
that they may know your power to heal.
For the poor in spirit, that they may inherit the kingdom of heaven
and see you face to face:
Lord, we come to the cross.

Sung response: Hør vår bønn!

L: Let us commend the world, for which Christ died,
To the mercy and protection of God.

All: Amen

The Lord’s Prayer (each in his or her own language)

(stand)

Sending Forth

L: God, in your grace, you have allowed the formation of the Ecumenical Movement
to serve you in this turbulent world.
Now, we humbly ask you to guide and strengthen the World Council of Churches
and its new General Secretary
to serve you in these difficult times.
Let the Cross of Christ, the symbol of humiliation and self-sacrifice
always be the mast of the ecumenical ship as it sets sail for its service.

All: We are confident that God is calling us to go on our way together.
We share a common pilgrimage as people who hope in the resurrection.
We set out obediently on the path with Christ,
with ears and hearts attuned to hear, and our senses open,
to choose anew the way of the pilgrim.
Obedient to the vision we have received,
we give our time and gifts, strength and love,
in the service of the Prince of Peace and a life of hope.

♪ Blessing: May the road rise to meet you (in English)

Please remain seated for words of greetings.

This service was put together by Sabine Udodesku and Hannelore Schmid of the WCC worship and spirituality. Copyright WCC where not otherwise indicated