We were grateful for the opportunity to celebrate with Polly the 35th anniversary of her ordination (which also happened at WCUC!).  Polly shared a testimony about her call to ministry and how she has carried it out. Then, she renewed her covenant with the church, local and universal:

Shirley: Polly, 35 years ago you stood here in West Concord Union Church and, with prayer and the laying on of hands, you were ordained as pastor and teacher in the United Church of Christ.

Ellie: Standing here once again, will you now renew your covenant with this congregation, and with the wider church, serving God in partnership with others, showing love and justice to all people, without exception, while advocating for a peaceful world and a safe and healthy planet.

Polly: With the help of God and in the presence of this congregation, I will.  I celebrate our mutual ministry within these church walls and in all the places where we serve God and our sisters and brothers.

All:  Polly, we celebrate our partnership with you as ministers of Christ’s church.  We promise to support you and join with you in our mutual ministry, that together we may be a faithful church both here and beyond these walls.

Blessing: Holy God, wise beyond our wisdom, we give you thanks for the great gift of Polly: for her insight, her compassion, her openness to your inspiration; for her skill with words, and the generosity of her heart; for her service to you and your church, here in this congregation and beyond. We pray that today you might once again fill her with your Holy Spirit, Blessing her with peace and with holy power, that she may be encouraged and enlivened as she continues to act as a part of the body of Christ in the world, in all things hoping to bring your kingdom closer. We pray in the holy name of Jesus: Amen.