Our choir was commissioned at church today for the coming year. We had 24 of our 25 singing, even got a very enthusiastic round of applause from the congregation. I'm always encouraged by the seriousness with which the "ministry of choristers" is taken in our church. Here's how the commissioning goes:

The Celebrant says:
Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, we are all baptized by the one Spirit into one body, and given gifts for a variety of ministries for the common good. Our purpose is to commission these persons in the Name of God and of this parish to a special ministry to which they are called.

The Celebrant asks the sponsor:
Are these persons you are to present prepared by a commitment to Christ as Lord, by regular attendance at worship, and by the knowledge of their duties, to exercise their ministry to the honor of God, and the well-being of his Church?

Sponsor: I believe they are.

The Celebrant then says:
You have been called to a ministry in this parish. Will you, as long as you are engaged in this work, perform it with diligence?

Candidates: I will.

Celebrant: Will you faithfully and reverently execute the duties of your ministry to the honor of God, and the benefit of the members of this parish?

Candidates: I will.

Sponsor: I present to you these persons to be admitted to the ministry of Chorister in this parish for the year 2006-2007.

Antiphon
Sing to the Lord and bless his Name; proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day.

V. Come let us sing to the Lord:
R. Let us shout for joy to the Rock of our Salvation.

Let us pray.

O God, who inspired David the King both to write songs and to appoint singers for your worship: Give grace to the choristers in your church, that with psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, they may sing and make music to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

In the Name of God and of this parish, I commission you as Choristers for the year ahead.