This reading and commissioning originally appeared in "Growing in Grace—Week 2: The Joy of Spiritual Maturing and Commissioning Service."
A Dramatic Reading and Commissioning Liturgy Based on Luke 8:5–15
A Sower Went Out
| Leader: | A farmer went out to sow his seed. |
| Voice 1: | Full of hope and dreams, the farmer prayed for a bountiful harvest. |
| Voice 2: | The seed is the Word of God that God plants in the hearts of listeners. |
| Voice 1: | We are full of hopes and dreams, we pray for a bountiful harvest. |
| Leader: | As the farmer was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. |
| Voice 1: | Full of hopes and dreams for a bountiful harvest, the farmer mourns this loss. |
| Voice 2: | The seeds along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the Word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. |
| Voice 1: | Full of hopes and dreams for a bountiful harvest, we mourn this loss. |
| Leader: | Some seed fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. |
| Voice 1: | Full of hopes and dreams for a bountiful harvest, the sower mourns this loss. |
| Voice 2: | Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. |
| Voice 1: | Full of hopes and dreams for a bountiful harvest, we mourn this loss. |
| Leader: | Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. |
| Voice 1: | Full of hopes and dreams for a bountiful harvest, the sower mourns this loss. |
| Voice 2: | The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. |
| Voice 1: | Full of hopes and dreams for a bountiful harvest, we mourn this loss. |
| Leader: | Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown. |
| Voice 1: | The farmer's hopes and dreams are fulfilled and prayers answered, so the farmer rejoices in the bountiful harvest. |
| Voice 2: | The seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the Word, retain it, and by perseverance produce a crop. |
| Voice 1: | Our hopes and dreams are fulfilled and prayers answered, so we rejoice in the bountiful harvest produced by the goodness of the Lord. |
The Commissioning
| Leader: |
Today we honor those who have committed themselves to sowing the seed of God’s word in the soil of our congregation’s hearts: the leaders of the teaching and nurturing ministries in this church. We now ask the teachers and leaders of these groups to stand as we name the ministries: (list all the ministries in your church that are committed to nurturing faith). You have been asked to use your gifts to sow the seed of God’s Word in hearts, and to nurture its maturity. How do you respond to this call? |
| Teachers/Leaders: | We commit ourselves, with God’s help, to work for a bountiful harvest. |
| Leader: | Go and work in the fields with God’s grace. Learn from the Master Sower, who prayed and loved and taught and gave his life for others. May he equip you with every good gift so that the harvest is bountiful. |
| Teachers and leaders are seated. |
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| Leader: | Congregation, please rise. We have had the seed of the Word of God planted in our hearts. We are all learners who have yet to grow into full maturity. Do you commit yourself to learning and growing in faith this year? |
| Congregation: | We commit ourselves, God helping us, to weed and feed the seed of faith that has been planted in us. |
| Leader: | God has provided us with gardeners to nurture the seeds. Do you receive them as gifts from God, and do you commit yourself to supporting them in their work? |
| Congregation: | We commit ourselves, God helping us, to do so. |
| Congregation may be seated. |
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| Leader: | May the God of the bountiful harvest bless us in our growth this year. May we bear much fruit for the kingdom of God. Let us pray for this commitment and for God’s blessing on our endeavors. |
Song of Commitment
“Here I Am, Lord” Schutte
