Convocation

2021 Convocation Service August 16, 2021 10:45am (EDT)

2021 Convocation The Two Hundred and Second Academic Year

ORDER OF SERVICE PROCESSION/Prelude Call to Worship

Invocation Welcome Greetings

Rebeka Fergusson-Lutz President, Student Cabinet

Leader:

This is a time for celebrating what has been – For remembering with gratitude the One who has been our sustenance and strength in ages past.

People:

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Leader:

This is a time for celebrating what is - For embracing the now of life and love, and the here of beauty and joy, For welcoming the God who comes to us in Jesus Christ in Word and Spirit.

People:

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Leader:

This is a time for celebrating what yet will be – For anticipating new beginnings, For venturing forth in faith, hope, and love, For committing ourselves anew to the ministries of teaching, learning, and serving.

People:

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Leader:

Let us worship God. Rev. Melanie Duguid-May, Ph.D. Professor of Theology Rev. Angela D. Sims, Ph.D. CRCDS President Rev. Michael Ford, D. Min. Chair, Board of Trustees

2021 Convocation The Two Hundred and Second Academic Year *Hymn

"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"

Remarks Old Testament Reading

Genesis 2:4b-9, 15 (CEB)

Deborah J. Rogers, Ph.D. Vice President for Academic Affairs Hilary J. Scarsellag, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Ethics and Director of Gender, Sexual, and Racial Justice

New Testament Reading

Romans 12: 1-2, 9, 21 (CEB)

Convocation Address

"Medicine for Such a Time As Now"

*Hymn

"Hold to God's Unchanging Hand"

Litany and Prayer of Commitment

Faculty:

Jin Young Choi, Ph.D. Professor of New Testament & Christian Origins Baptist Missionary Training School Professorial Chair in Biblical Studies Casey Sigmon, Ph.D. Assistant Professor in Preaching and Worship and Director of Contextual Education at Saint Paul School of Theology

Rev. John R. Tyson, Ph.D. Professor of Church History and Director of Methodist Studies

We commit ourselves in all we do to witness to the good news of Jesus Christ as news of liberation and life abundant for all people and for the earth and all creatures. We commit ourselves be seekers of truth and lovers of wisdom. We commit ourselves to teaching and learning in a community of mutual respect and formation. We commit ourselves to reach out to wider and wider communities of peoples to touch and be touched, to transform and be transformed. We commit ourselves in all we do to participation in the life of God’s communion of being.

2021 Convocation The Two Hundred and Second Academic Year Students:

Staff:

All:

As students of Colgate Rochester Crozer, we give ourselves gladly to not-knowing, to reveling in curiosity and imagination and wonder. We give ourselves to diligent study and to the cultivation of our bodies and minds and spirits, so we are prepared to serve God, God’s people, and God’s reign on earth as in heaven. We give ourselves to being recreated as persons able to enact what Jesus enacted: communion with God and all life for the sake of liberating life abundant.

As members of the staff at Colgate Rochester Crozer, in support of the school’s mission, we pledge to give our energy and our expertise to the tasks we undertake. We pledge to be engaged members of the school community, exemplifying peace, service, justice in all we do.

As friends of Colgate Rochester Crozer, we commit ourselves to support and strengthen the school with time and talent and tithe. We commit ourselves to prayer without ceasing for this community, for executive leadership and staff and faculty and students and trustees. We commit ourselves to be the school’s ambassadors so Colgate Rochester Crozer may become more and more fully a school of and for the wider community as it fulfills its mission of preparing women and men for ministry.

Together, we pray: All: Most gracious God, bless and confirm our commitment to be Your people and participate in Your continuing work of creation and new creation as we support the educational mission of Colgate Rochester Crozer. Fill us with Your Spirit that we may be strengthened to heal the brokenness, deliver captives, overturn the powers that be, raise the dead to new life, as we long for connection with You and one another. Make us faithful to the legacies that are life-giving; free us to follow new pathways You open before us. Grant us courage to proclaim Your Word with conviction, and vision to move boldly into Your future. Amen.

Holy Communion

Rev. Cynthia Rasmussen, Ph.D. Director of Anglican Studies

2021 Convocation The Two Hundred and Second Academic Year

Celebrant: People:

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Celebrant: People:

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Celebrant: People:

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give God thanks and praise

The celebrant continues: We praise you and we bless you, holy and gracious God, source of life abundant. From before time you made ready the creation. You made us in your image and taught us to walk in your ways. But we rebelled against you, and wandered far away; and yet, as a mother cares for her children, you would not forget us. Time and again you called us to live in the fullness of your love. And so today we join with all creation as we proclaim your glory and sing:

Celebrant: Glory and honor and praise to you, holy and living God. To deliver us from the power of sin and death, you looked with favor upon your willing servant Mary, that she might conceive and bear a son, Jesus, the holy child of God

2021 Convocation The Two Hundred and Second Academic Year People:

Living among us, Jesus loved us.

Celebrant:

He broke bread with outcasts and sinners,

People:

He healed the sick and proclaimed good news to the poor.

Celebrant:

He yearned to draw all the world to himself,

People:

Yet we were heedless of his call to walk in love.

Celebrant:

On the night before he died for us, Jesus was at table with his friends. He took bread, gave thanks to you, broke it, and gave it to them, saying:

People:

“Take, eat: This is my Body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

As supper was ending, Jesus took the cup of wine, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them and said:

Celebrant: People:

“Drink this all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Celebrant:

Now gathered at your table, O God of all creation, as we remember Christ, crucified and risen, who was and is and is to come,

People:

We offer to you our gifts of bread and wine, and ourselves, a living sacrifice.

Celebrant:

Pour out your Spirit upon these gifts, that they may be the Body and Blood of Christ.

People:

Yet we were heedless of his call to walk in love.

Celebrant:

Pour out your Spirit upon these gifts, that they may be the Body and Blood of Christ.

People:

Breathe your Spirit over the whole earth, and make us your new creation.

2021 Convocation The Two Hundred and Second Academic Year Celebrant:

Through Christ, yesterday, today and tomorrow, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, honor and glory are yours, ever-present God, now and forever. Amen.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be 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, for ever and ever. Amen.

The celebrant breaks the bread. Silence is observed.

We break this bread to share in the Body of Christ.

We who are many are one body, for we all share in the one bread.

The gifts of God for the people of God.Take them in remembrance that Christ lives in you, and feed on him in your hearts, by faith, with thanksgiving.

All are welcome to receive communion.

Let us pray.

Eternal God, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing Officiant: The peace of God which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his son Jesus Christ our Lord: and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with us and remain with us always. Amen.

Declaration of the Beginning of the 202nd Academic Year *Benediction

Rev. Angela D. Sims, Ph.D.