I asked friends and colleagues to contribute commissions for my ordination service.
Their words are below, along with the sending and blessing I wrote, are below.

Rev. DeLyn Celec: Jo, we have laid our hands on you and ordained you for life. We have consecrated you to the ministries you will serve in this season of your life. Now, we commission you to the good work that is laid out before you.

Rev. Ethan Shearer: We commission you to break bread with the unloved and uphold human dignity wherever it is lacking.

We commission you to dance in the rain and sing recklessly in all seasons.

We commission you to remember how absurd it is that you are a bunch of stardust that is aware of itself, and to rejoice in the silliness of being.

And in all things we commission you to remain grounded in the truth, that the truth may spread forth through you.

We commission this of you in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Written by Nick McMichael

Adam Marshall: We commission you to disrupt outdated power structures with enthusiasm and righteous purpose; to dismantle obstacles holding back the transformation of this world.

Written by Chris Johnson

Bethany Printup-Davis: We commission you to lead us in worship, from the front of the sanctuary and from in front of your keyboard, creating and leading liturgies that both humble and embolden, that bend knees to God and hearts toward justice.

Written by Rev. Victoria Larson

Rev. Vicki Woods: We commission you to live the questions—
questions that get to the heart of the matter,
that bring people into conversation,
that open new possibilities,
and that inspire everyone to keep asking, “What the hell is a pastor?”

Written by Rev. Diane Kenaston

Grace Kreher: We commission you to face the world’s suffering, to see it and bear witness, and to meet it with Christ’s compassion.

When there is temptation to crush yourself for societal approval into the minister you think others expect you to be, we commission you to be genuine and honest, integrated and authentic. We commission you to laugh, to be joyful, and to take delight in God’s world.

Written by Rev. Dr. Keith Menhenick

Rev. Ian Urriola: We commission you to seek out forgotten places and discarded people, to offer them a hope that's free from judgement or shame.

Written by Chris Johnson

Sarah Herbein: As you live into your calling
may you flourish - and thus
encourage, equip, and empower
those with you into the Holy Dream -
fullness of life for all.

Written by Rev. Dr. Sarah Agnew

Blessing

Written and led by Jo Schonewolf

Friends, I gladly receive your commission.

As we prepare to leave from this moment and this place, I give you all this blessing and commission of your own:

Go from this place in the knowledge that
Every thought you think can be holy,
Because Holy Love hears it,
And everything you do can be worship,
Because Holy Love sees it.

May you go and live in robust love:
Love that welcomes the stranger,
Love that celebrates the outcast,
Love that relentlessly pursues justice,
Love that priorities the lost and the least,
And love that does all that it can
to bring about abundant life for all.

This is our ministry.
This is our work.
The work continues.

Amen.