The Dedication of a Parsonage
The Call To Worship
The congregation being assembled either at the church or at the parsonage to be consecrated to God’s service, the minister shall begin the service by saying:
Dear Friends in Christ, throughout the ages, God’s people have not only erected buildings to the glory of God for divine worship but also houses for His ministers, who have been separated and ordained to His special service. Let us rejoice that He has enabled us now to do this holy work; and let us pray that His blessings shall be upon us as we dedicate this parsonage to His glory and to the service of His Church. “Except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it.” Blessed be the name of the Lord forever and ever. Amen.
The Invocation
Then shall the minister offer this prayer:
All glory be to You, O Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Graciously pour out Your blessing upon us as we dedicate this parsonage to Your service and for the use of Your ministers and their families. Illuminate it with Your presence, defend it and those who shall inhabit it from evil, and hallow it with Your grace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading
Hymn
The minister or someone whom he shall appoint shall read a lesson of his selection from the Scriptures.
Special Music
Sermon or Meditation
Act of Dedication
Then shall the trustees or church board stand before the altar or at some other convenient place, and one of them shall say to the minister:
In behalf of this congregation, we present this building to be dedicated to the glory of God as a parsonage to be used as a residence for our ministers. May His blessings be upon our undertakings.
Then shall the minister say:
Dear Friends in Christ, it is fitting that buildings erected for service in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ should be devoutly set apart for their special use. For such a dedication we are now assembled. We give praise to Him who has put it into our hearts to prepare a parsonage for the use of the ministers of this congregation and their families, and we ask Him to receive it as our offering, all to His glory and for the honor of His Church.
Prayer of Dedication
Scripture Reading
Then shall the following prayer be offered:
Almighty God, Your ears are always open to the prayers of Your people, and we rejoice that You are present with us now in the service You have enabled us to complete. Graciously accept this parsonage, which we offer to You and to Your service, and pour out Your blessing upon it and upon Your servants who shall dwell within its walls. And since our acts here are vain without the devout consecration of our hearts and minds to You in holiness and service, we also give ourselves anew to You and to the work to which You have called us. Renew us in the likeness of our Lord,
use us in whatever way that shall best bring glory to You, and bring us at last to dwell with You forever in heaven, Now, O Lord, we dedicate this parsonage to You and to Your service as a dwell-ing place for the ministers of this congregation. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Then may be offered The Lord’s Prayer in unison:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Hymn
Benediction
Then shall the minister dismiss the congregation with this blessing or some oth-er that he may choose. through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the flock, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ: to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.