Prayers from GS 30 Worship 

Blessing for Geoffrey Black  
Based on 2 Kings 2: 1-14
(followed Holy Communion on Sunday)

Song	 			Spirit of the Living God   		         	    by Daniel Iverson

Ritual of Blessing						
Let us all raise our hands in a gesture of blessing 
over Geoffrey Black.   
Spirit of the living God, 
as we gather to bless our brother and servant leader, 
the Rev. Geoffrey Black, 
as he sets aside the mantle of leadership,
we ask that you would fall afresh upon him and us 
in this hour:

Fall fresh, O God,  
and grant him a double portion of your anointing! 

We thank you for Geoffrey’s labor and leadership of this body 
through times of joy, growth and challenge;
bless all that lies ahead of him in life and in ministry: 

Fall fresh, O God, 
and grant him a double portion of your anointing! 

Let us join our hands to form a circle of community with Geoffrey 
and in so doing, take up the pieces of his mantle. 
Now as your church we recommit ourselves 
to take up the mantle of justice and peace 
throughout this world, 
in places of despair and places of hope, 
in places of conflict and places of peace, 
in places familiar and unexpected:  
as you lead us, we will follow; 
as you send us, we will go.

Fall fresh, Oh God, 
and grant us all a double portion of your anointing!

This we pray in the name of the One 
who is our Truth, Way and Life 
and in the name of all 
that is Holy, Compassionate and Just – Amen

Sunday Service of Worship at General Synod 30 was written by The Rev. Ann Jefferson, Pastor, and Director of Community Life and Pastoral Care, Pacific School of Religion and member of City of Refuge UCC in Oakland, CA.

Copyright 2015 United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH  44115-1100.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.