This litany was written by Paul Ericksen and Ned Lenhart at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls, WI in April, 2005.  Used on a Communion Sunday, we placed this piece after the Song of the Day.  It is followed by the Sharing of the Peace and the Prayers of the People before the communion celebration.

New Member Litany

	Pastor:  	We are here this morning to welcome these new members into the community which is Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church.  We are not a building, but the gathered family of God.  We are brothers and sisters in Christ, given this new identity through our baptism into Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Today we welcome you as members of this family in the larger body of Christ.

		And so we ask, do you desire to join the membership of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church?  If so please answer: “We do.”

		I ask the congregation to stand and join in confessing our faith.

		Do you believe in God the Father?

	All:	I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

	Pastor:	Do you believe in Jesus Christ?

	All:	I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son our Lord.
		He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
		He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.
		He descended into hell.
		On the third day he rose again.
		He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
		He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

	Pastor:	Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?

	All:	I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
		the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
		the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.  Amen

	Pastor:	Having together confessed our faith in the Triune God, we now welcome you into the family of our congregation and into the ministry of the church.  As active followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to spread his Good News.  We encourage you to accept that call through your involvement in the church.

	Youth: 	We welcome you as children of God, growing closer to God and each other through worship and learning, laughing and playing.

	Boards: 	We welcome you as fellow workers in God’s kingdom, inviting you to grow with us in our faith, reaching out to others with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

	Musicians: 	We welcome you as active participants in the arts: singing, ringing, playing, painting, quilting and baking as your talents and interests lead you.

	Congregation:  	We welcome you as brothers and sisters in Christ, and thank God for this unique opportunity to serve God and one another.  May the God to whom we belong equip us for every good work that we do together in his name.
 
	New Members:	We welcome and accept your invitation and commit ourselves to using our time and talents for the good of the congregation.  We will strive to live lives worthy of the title “Christian” and will work with you to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.

	Pastor:	Let us pray.  Heavenly Father, as you called James and John, Simon and Andrew to fish for people, so you have called us to serve you with our own talents and resources.  We thank you for bringing to us these new members of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church.  You have told us that wherever two or more are gathered in your name, there you are with them.  Help us, we pray, to see and feel that presence and that others may come to know you through their interactions with us.

	All:	Amen