Photo: Jodi Cataldo of the Dakotas Conference leads the prayer for illumination during morning worship May 19 at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

Jodi Cataldo, lay delegate Dakotas Conference, led the Prayer for Illumination at the Service of Commissioning of Missionaries at the 2016 General Conference on Thursday, May 19. 

“It was an honor to help celebrate the commissioning of the missionaries,” said Cataldo. “I was excited to be part of this big thing for our church and to connect with those being called to go out and serve the world.”

Cataldo is not a stranger to the work of missionaries. She and her husband Rev. Dr. Chet Cataldo served as missionaries in the Philippines 1985-88 and Lithuania 2000-2005. Photo: Cataldo looks on as Liberian UM Bishop John Yambasu gives an exhilarating sermon before the commissioning of missionaries at General Conference. Photo by Dave Stucke, Dakotas Conference UMC Communications.

The liturgy of commissioning, both solemn and joyful at the Oregon Convention Center, was believed to be the first as part of a United Methodist General Conference, the church’s policy-making assembly that meets every four years.

Twenty-nine missionaries were commissioned during the service. The new missionaries will serve as church developers, chaplains, teachers, health practitioners or administrators, agricultural specialists and youth workers. Six of the 29 will work in the health field. Four will engage in ministries with migrants.  Read more here

Photo: 29 Missionaries are commissioned during General Conference 2016 in Portland, Oregon on May 19, 2016. Photo by Dave Stucke, Dakotas Conference UMC Communications.

Prayer for Illumination

God of Love, through your Word we see the greatness of your love for those who are lost and in need.

God of Compassion, through your Word you teach us how to be compassionate to others.

God of Light, through your Word you show us how to share your light with those in darkness.

God of all the world, we pray that the scripture we are about to hear will nourish us as we follow your call to seek the lost sheep, to share justice and peace among all your people.

Open our hearts, our minds, and our souls that we may respond to your gracious promise with faithfulness, service and love. 

We pray this in the name of our One Shepherd, Christ Jesus.  Amen.