Last night at UDTS we installed my friend and colleague, the Rev. Dr. Timothy Matthew Slemmons, as Associate Professor of Homiletics and Worship.
I was honored to be asked to offer a prayer in the service. I thought I would share it with you, especially since many of you who know him could not be there in person.
Gracious Triune God
we thank you for the Word–
the Word who was with you before the beginning,
making all that is true, and good, and beautiful,
ordering all things according to Your will.
We thank you for that same Word
incarnate, Jesus Christ, born of Mary,
being good, and true, and beautiful;
being The Good One, The Truth, and Beauty itself among us.
We thank you for this Word,
this Good News of your love which you have entrusted to us all
and to your servant Timothy,
and for the ways your Word in him is good, and true, and beautiful.
We thank you for the promise
that the Word you have sent forth will not return you empty–
but that it will do its good and true and beautiful work,
its saving work in the world you so love.
Fulfill that promise anew in this next season of Tim’s life and ministry,
as he relishes and revels in the whole breadth and depth of your Word.
Make good his invitation to all of us to embrace it in its fulness.
As he creates tools and resources for preachers and liturgists,
use him to draw your people into a rich and transforming encounter with your Word,
in sermon, in prayer, in song, and in devotion.
As he invests his life in a new generation of your servants,
use him well to help them to discover their role
as your servants
stewards of your mysteries.
As he teaches, as he writes, as he preaches,
give him a double portion of your Wisdom
to equip us all to serve your Word.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
If you are a pastor, a preacher, or a leader of worship, you should get to know Tim’s work. His commitment to preaching the whole of Scripture prompted him to create an entire fourth year of the lectionary, made up of texts omitted by the Revised Common Lectionary. You can nab a copy on Amazon by clicking the photo (no affiliate links here) or read about it on his blog, The Year D Project.
Generous soul that he is, he also has published a volume of liturgical resources for every Sunday in Year D — Calls to Worship, Prayers of Confession, all kinds of goodies richly rooted in the texts of the day.
And even as he has called the Church to steep itself in more of Scripture than the Revised Common Lectionary provides, he has produced three more volumes of liturgical resources for the Sundays of Year A, Year B, and Year C of the Revised Common Lectionary!
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I’d love to hear from you in the comments: Feel free to share a classroom memory of Tim, or a word of congratulations — I’ll make sure he sees it.
It is with great delight to hear of Dubuque’s selection of Dr. Slemmons in this new position. I distinctly recall a “selfie” video lecture he did last semester while driving. A busy man no doubt, to consider it necessary to do the lecture in this manner. Having learned so much in both his Worship and Sacraments class simultaneously with Intro to Preaching, I count it a privilege to have served under his Godly-inspired leadership. Also Dr. Hansen, your prayer on his behalf was most gracious as the Lord blessed you through Word and Spirit.
I was blessed to enter UDTS with a great class of seminarians and seminary professors which included Dr. Slemmons. He facilitated our Junior Spiritual Formation group and this group of fine individuals continue to journey with me. Well done, good and faithful servant! UDTS is a much richer place with you as part of it.