When you’re a pastor, you’ve got a lot on your plate. You’re looking after the spiritual needs of your congregation, making sure community members are taken care of, and doing everything in your power to make sure that everyone is safe and healthy.
It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day of being a pastor, but if you don’t take some time to take care of yourself, you won’t be able to keep doing what you do best: caring for others! That’s why we’re here: we want to help pastors like yourself make sure they’re taking care of themselves so they can continue helping their communities thrive. Discussed: Charge to the church pastor installation, Words of Encouragement for Pastor Installation.
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Installation Service For A Pastor
When you’re a pastor or chaplain, you’ve got a lot on your plate. Helping with the spiritual and emotional needs of your congregation, making sure community members are taken care of, and doing everything in your power to make sure that everyone is safe and healthy – it all falls on YOU.
As a pastor, you have a lot on your plate. You’re responsible for the spiritual needs of your congregation, making sure community members are taken care of and doing everything possible to ensure that everyone is safe and healthy.
We’re here to help pastors like yourself make sure they’re taking care of themselves so they can continue helping their communities thrive.
A pastor has a big job. Not only are they responsible for looking after the spiritual needs of their congregation, but they’re also taking care of the people in their church and community. It’s easy to get caught up in daily tasks and forget to take time out to care for yourself. That’s why we created Pastors On Call – to help ease the burden of caring for others by offering professional services that are designed to support pastors like you.”
Looking after a flock of people is no easy task. And if you’re not careful, it can take its toll on you. If that happens, you won’t be able to continue performing your spiritual duties to the best of your abilities. That’s why we’re here: to help pastors like yourself reach their full potential and make sure that they keep themselves safe and healthy throughout their careers.
An effective pastor must prioritize their own health, so that they can best meet the needs of the church. We want to help pastors like yourself thrive while you prioritize your congregation’s spiritual life.
A pastor’s life is a busy one. You spend countless hours working to make sure that your congregation is taken care of and that their spiritual needs are met. You might also be involved in outreach and community engagement programs, not to mention all the administrative paperwork you’ve got on your plate!
Pastors and religious leaders are increasingly taking to the internet to address the needs of their communities and followers. In today’s digital world, it’s not enough to just be on-hand to take care of the physical needs of your community — you also need a strong online presence that meets those digital needs, too.
By signing up for our free account, you’ll receive access to a free Pastor’s Self-Care Taskforce that helps you identify areas of self-care where you may be lacking. You’ll also be connected to a network of other pastors who understand exactly what you’re going through!
As a pastor, you’re responsible for the well-being and spiritual growth of your congregation. At the same time, you’re also responsible for maintaining a safe work environment for your staff and managing important day-to-day administrative tasks.
A significant aspect of the work environment is a pastor’s job. The church should be safe and comfortable, making sure that people under your authority are taken care of and maintaining high moral values.
Pastors Installation Service Program
The call to worship
A call to worship is a short, formalized introduction of the service. It sets the tone for what will follow and helps guide people as they come into worship. The purpose of a call to worship is to:
- Guide people into a reverential mindset
- Direct their focus toward God through prayer and scripture reading
- Establish an expectation for quiet reverence during the rest of the service
Prayer of invocation
A prayer of invocation is a high-energy, upbeat prayer that calls forth the presence of God. It usually comes at the beginning of a service and opens up with an energetic praise song. The pastor or worship leader may offer this prayer.
The purpose of a prayer of invocation is to call forth the presence of God in order to welcome him into your service with an open heart. This prayer also serves as a reminder that we are all called to serve others as he has done for us by sacrificing himself on our behalf.
Words of Encouragement for Pastor Installation
The installation of a pastor is an important time in the life of a church and of the new pastor. It is a time to celebrate, but also a time for you and your family to stand in front of the congregation and receive words of encouragement from those who are pleased with God’s choice for your new ministry.
Below is a list of some things that you may want to include in your charge to the church pastor installation:
- Welcome them into their new calling as pastors of this church.
- Thank them for their willingness to serve as pastors in this church.
- Thank them for their willingness to follow God’s calling on their lives, even though it may mean leaving positions that they have held elsewhere or moving away from family and friends that they love dearly.
- Encourage them by letting them know that you will be there with them every step of the way in this new season of ministry at this church, even if they need someone who can just listen when they need someone who will listen when they feel overwhelmed by everything that is happening right now in their lives right now as they prepare for this new season with our congregation here at _ Church!
Hymn (optional)
A hymn is a song of praise for God. The pastor or another leader of a church service should choose a hymnal because it contains many songs of praise. The lyrics and melody are in the hymnal, along with chord progressions for guitar players who want to add their own style to a song. Hymns are usually sung at church services.
A reading from the Bible
It is important to note that the readings should be short and powerful, yet not too long. The readings are meant to give a summary of what will be discussed during the installation service. It is also helpful to include how it relates to the theme of your installation service, as well as a scripture reference for those who would like more information about what was read. For example: “This reading from Genesis 1:1 gives us an understanding of how we came into being as humans and reminds us that God created everything in its entirety.”
Words taken from the church’s Constitution or by-laws (optional)
If the church has a constitution, or if the pastor is part of a church that uses the Presbyterian Church in America, then these words may be taken from their governing document. The words should include the history of your church and its vision for the future.
The person who reads this scripture should do so with authority. It’s not enough to read it as if you were just reading it off a piece of paper; he or she needs to convey what they believe these words mean and how they apply to your congregation now that they’ve been put into practice by them.
Statement of purpose for service
In this statement, you will describe the purpose of the service. This is an important item because it helps people to know what to expect and who will be involved in it. In addition, the location of your service should be described here so that everyone knows where they need to go on Sunday morning.
Finally, you will include a schedule for how things will proceed during your worship service: when prayer time begins, when scripture reading occurs and so on. Be sure not only to include these items but also explain why they’re important parts of worshiping God together as a congregation; this will help make clear why everyone needs to attend these events!
Charge to the church pastor installation
A charge to the church pastor installation is a formal address given to a new minister on his induction. The charge is usually delivered by another clergyman or layman, and it serves as a reminder of the duties of the office and the pastoral responsibilities of the minister. In addition to discussing these matters, the charge may also include words of encouragement to help the newly installed pastor feel more at home in his new position.
The term “charge” comes from its use in legal proceedings; when someone is charged with an offense, they are accused of having committed it. When delivering a charge to a new minister, you might refer to your words as an accusation—but only in jest; don’t actually accuse him of anything!
A Charge to the Church Pastor installation should be brief and concise. If you’re nervous about speaking in public or if you’re not used to giving speeches, consider writing out your speech beforehand so that you’ll have time to rehearse it before delivering it at the ceremony. You don’t have to memorize every word — just read over what you’ve written so that you can be confident about saying it aloud — but make sure that everything flows together nicely and has a consistent tone throughout.
Introduction of the pastor and family, with formal presentation of them to the congregation
- Who should introduce a pastor?
- What should the introduction say?
Response of welcome by pastor and family, acknowledging their acceptance and commitment to leadership in the congregation. Wording should be pastoral in nature and prepared ahead of time. It is appropriate for this response to include a look ahead to priorities, emphases, etc., as well as an expression of gratitude for the warm welcome.
Whether you are a brand-new pastor or have been serving your congregation for many years, you should prepare ahead of time some brief comments to make at this moment. These comments should express gratitude for the invitation to serve and commitment to lead in the church. You might also share your vision for future priorities and emphases as well as excitement about the opportunity before you.
For example:
“I am grateful that you have invited me into this new role as pastor of this congregation. I look forward to working together with all of you as we continue God’s mission in our community.”
Prayer of dedication by the church or presbytery leader; prayer should focus on the theme of unity and hope in Christ, calling upon God’s blessing upon all involved in leadership.
Prayer of dedication by the church or presbytery leader; prayer should focus on the theme of unity and hope in Christ, calling upon God’s blessing upon all involved in leadership.
It is also important that this day be spent with your family, so you can make it a special occasion for them as well. This can include visiting relatives or friends who are not able to attend your ordination ceremony at the church itself.
This outline provides a guide for churches who wish to install a new pastor.
An installation service is a formality to mark the beginning of a new pastor’s tenure. The installation service is not the same as ordination, but it can be an opportunity for members of the church to hear from their new pastor about his vision for their future together.
A successful installation service requires careful planning.
Churches typically appoint someone from within their congregation as an interim minister before putting out an advertisement for a permanent appointment. It may be helpful for them to have someone who can assist with this process and provide pastoral care until a replacement arrives.
Pastor Installation Service Scriptures
Biblical text and holy words are an important part of the rite of installation. Giving the ceremony both context and history, no installation would be complete without installation scripture and especially a dedicated prayer.
Scripture
Finding bible verses dedicated specifically to installation is a difficult task, as the spiritual ceremony is a mostly modern exercise. However, there are many verses about pastoral encouragement and spiritual leadership. Below is a partial list of relevant texts from the King James Bible online:
2 Timothy 4:1-5 – I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.
Acts 20:28 – Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
2 Timothy 4:2 – Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
1 Peter 4:11 – If any man speak, [let him speak] as the oracles of God; if any man minister, [let him do it] as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Romans 13:1-14 – Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Ephesians 4:11-12 – And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Isaiah 52:7 – How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Hebrews 13:17 – Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.
2 Timothy 4:1-2 – I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.
Joshua 21:45 – There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.
John 1:1-51 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Acts 16:5 – And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Romans 10:15 – And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
1 Timothy 5:17 – Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
Installation Prayers
Every church will interpret its installation service slightly differently. Some churches mark installation during a special service; others celebrate the rite of passage within a traditional Sunday service. One of the consistent elements of installation involves prayer. The message of most prayers geared toward honoring installation is to offer support to a new pastor, elder or minister. These prayers ask for guidance and blessings for the individual being installed.
Kathleen Rolenz collaborated with the Unitarian Universalist Association to write this installation prayer.
Spirit of Life, known to us in beginnings and endings,
possibilities and promises
We give thanks for all that has led to this moment.
And all that is yet to come.
We give thanks for those who mentored us.
The women and men in our lives who were our teachers,
Who said the turning words of encouragement?
When we needed them the most,
We give thanks for this church that has seen and embraced so much change.
And for all those who have sustained this community of faith for many years past and
For generations to come.
We give thanks for this minister and all that she has given and will give
to the living tradition we share.
May the words we have spoken and the dreams we have shared and the faith we have renewed this afternoon give this minister wisdom, comfort, and courage for all the days ahead, for the way is often hard, the path is never clear, and the stakes are very high.
But deep down there is another truth,
She is not, we are never alone.
Bless us in that knowledge, O Spirit of Life,
and let the congregation say
Amen.
The style of installation prayer varies greatly from parish to parish. Here’s a very different approach with much less structure. This YouTube video shows an installation prayer used in the installation of Pastor Andrew Arrowood as Pastor of Chapel North.
Words of Encouragement For Pastor Installation
1. Let Them Know What You Learned
You can learn something from every situation and every sermon. Your pastor probably hears ample praise when they preach a beautiful message, but what about those instances when the sermon is average, or less than?
Chances are, there is still plenty to learn from an “average” message.
Follow-up with your pastor and let them know about a detail of the sermon that resonated with you. Focus on the message the pastor was trying to convey and share that you received the message (after all it’s about the Word, not always about the performance).
2. Say “Thank You”
A simple “thank you” can go a long way. Saying “thank you” in passing might be forgotten, instead, thank your pastor for something specific they did for your family, or for something they mentioned during a sermon.
Your pastor probably hears “thank you” often, but a heart-felt thank you can go a long way with letting a leader know they are impacting those they interact with. Pastors know their purpose is to lead others closer to Christ, but the feeling of doubt is common even in the strongest Christians.
If you feel called, send a letter to your pastor with words of encouragement. A hand written message will usually be read in private which allows for a more personal “thank you” than saying so in the hallway on a Sunday afternoon.
3. Inform Your Pastor Their Prayer Resonated With You
Have you ever felt that a pastor was praying directly to you, even though the prayer was in front of an entire congregation?
How many of us have let our pastor know just how much the prayer meant to us? More than likely, only a few.
Prayer is a major part of a pastor’s day. Whether it’s a prayer at a wedding, at church, at a community event, or in the solitude of their home, a pastor is constantly praying.
We know that God hears all prayers and answers all prayers. But it’s very common for others to hear a pastor’s prayer too.
If you hear your pastor give an exceptional prayer, let them know! Chances are, a pastor might be curious whether their prayers are resonating with those who hear. A pat on the back after a great prayer can go a long way, and it may inspire more powerful prayers in the future.
4. Ask To Assist Their Family
Has your pastor helped your family in faith or other areas of life? If so, return the favor by offering to help their family.
People in the church have a diverse set of skills. There are musicians, business leaders, teachers, and athletes.
Encouraging your pastor with the words “let me help you” can go a long way in lifting your pastor up in good and challenging times.
Assisting your pastor’s family might help during a stressful time at church. It could take pressure off in certain areas of their life so they can focus on navigating the tough time.
5. Remind Them, Let God Take Control
If you sense your pastor is struggling, or if your pastor has shared a tough situation with the church, let them know you’re there for support. More importantly, let them know that God is always there.
Sometimes a pastor may feel overwhelmed as the leader of the church. It’s an understandable feeling. There are church members to lead and mentor, leadership meetings to facilitate, community obligations, and weddings and funerals to attend.
Your pastor may feel overwhelmed. Remind them that God is the one in control. A pastor shouldn’t carry the weight of the church on their back, rather, the blessings and challenges can be given to God so we can focus on the minor tasks of days, weeks, and months.
6. Share With Them They Improve With Each Sermon
Has your pastor made a conscious effort to improve their leadership in the church. Have they shared the areas they intend to improve (sermons, financial leadership, delegation etc.).
If your pastor is putting forth the effort, their hard work is likely paying off. Instead of telling your pastor “great sermon” let them know how far they’ve come.
- “Wow, I can’t believe how much you’ve improved since you arrived”
- “You seem to get better with each sermon”
- “The Church board recognizes the effort and progress you’ve made in leading our church”
A comment about growth and improvement goes a lot farther than a “great job” or “nice work today”. Although both comments are uplifting, choose words of encouragement that will also inspire continued growth.
7. Share A Second Hand Compliment
Last week I heard my neighbor make a comment about his church pastor. He was impressed with the sermon and told me the story he heard. I must admit, it sounded like a great message.
Chances are, that pastor will never know that a member of their congregation was paying them a complement behind their back (when talking behind someone’s back is a good thing).
You don’t need to report to your pastor about everything you discuss with your neighbors, but sharing a story or two would certainly provide words of encouragement to your pastor.
8. Complement Their Preparation
Like every profession, leading a church takes preparation. Your pastor prepares for meetings, for outreach activities, baby dedications, and for preaching.
If you’ve witnessed your pastor working hard, compliment them on their preparation. It’s a different angle than letting them know they had a good sermon and will probably appreciate a fresh take.
A compliment on you pastor’s preparation lets them know you considered all the work the put in throughout the week and not just the final product.
9. Appreciate Their Family and Children
Showing appreciation for a pastor’s family is an indirect route for giving words of encouragement to your pastor. Imagine your pastor coming home to their family and hearing about a thoughtful message they received.
There are few things that can inspire a pastor more than family. Consider doing something nice for them and it will encourage your pastor.
10. Remind Them, God Chose Them To Lead
Share words of encouragement from God. After all, God brought your pastor to your community and God has a plan for them.
Remind your pastor the reason they are in their position. It’s not about an individual or a small group of people. God is behind decisions of faith and God chose them to lead!
11. Say “We Trust You”
Few things can be more encouraging than the words “we trust you”. For any leader, those three words give assurance and encouragement. To a pastor, those words can be uplifting in any situation.
Your pastor is bound to make mistakes here and there. Your pastor should always have the trust of the community, but they might not hear those words often. “We trust you” can go a long way!
12. Inquire, How To Help
If your pastor needs help they may ask for it. Many people however, internalize the need for help or keep it between God and their family.
They might open up and take you up on the offer. Don’t be surprised when your pastor puts you to work removing the old tree stump in their yard.
13. Share A Prayer With Your Pastor
Prayers have been mentioned several times in this article, however, there’s another way to encourage your pastor without having to speak with them directly.
Write a prayer for your pastor and mail it to them. A hand-written letter is great, but a pastor may appreciate it even more if it includes a prayer.
I prayer can be uplifting and motivational. It’s a great way to encourage your pastor even if it’s not a prayer in the traditional spoken form.