Service of Ordination and Installation of Mark Peters Ward

Ordination Prayer

The Reverend Cynthia Ward (Mark’s mother)

Parish Minister and Minister of Religious Education (retired)

Naples, Florida

Gracious spirit divine, flowing in all creation and in all of us,

We come together in joyous recognition of ministry of the particular ministry of Mark Peters Ward and the melding of that ministry with that of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville.

We come together now in prayer reaching deep within ourselves toward that holy energy which breathes through our days and sustains us.

How humble, how joyous is our reaching deep.

How aware our consciousness of the infinite connections this ministry makes to the miracle of life: life past, life present and life future.

We invoke the virtues of courage, of honesty, of listening deep to abide in this ministry.

Let truth and faith and hope be woven gently in ever strengthening threads, creating a rich tapestry of ministry.

Let this ministry be evolving: asking and answering itself and recognizing the wisdom of others.

Let this ministry gather to the fullness of all our prayer here today and from this day forward.

Blessed be.