My Ordination

Here's what I remember about my ordination, many years ago. It was a sweltering hot day, and I was wearing a pleated black gown. I kneeled at the altar. I would guess that ten ministers gathered round and laid their hands on my head. But the prayers grew longer and longer, and the ministers' arms grew wearier and wearier, and they pressed down on my head, until the weight seemed almost too much to bear. Then there was an Amen, and I was ordained. OBSERVATION: In my experience of the Congregational Church, a future minister begins with "probation", usually a year, then is ordained, then is inducted into each ministry thereafter.