Litany of Thanksgiving for the Opening of the Ordination Door

Last night, my spouse and I spent an hour or so working on part of the pre-recorded service that my church will release on Sunday.  We're celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Lutheran church (ELCA variety) ordaining women.  My spouse and I recorded the following litany of thanksgiving for the all of the gifts that wouldn't have been possible without opening the ordination door.  I really loved the language, so I wanted to post it here, so I'd always know where it was.  Once I find out who wrote it, I'll come back to update with the attribution.  Update:  It came from ELCA resources to mark the occasion.


LITANY OF THANKSGIVING

For the many ways that women have proclaimed the gospel, including as pastors for the past 50 years, and for the impact that proclamation has had on more people than we can ever count or know ...

We rejoice and give thanks to God.



For the ways the church’s decision to ordain women allowed fresh air to blow through the church, opened up closed windows and flung wide closed doors, enabling new possibilities for women

to answer God’s call and fresh ways for people to hear the good news …

We rejoice and give thanks to God.



For the ways women have pushed this church in new directions; for the distinctive gifts each woman brings, from her culture, her gender, her sexuality and far beyond …

We rejoice and give thanks to God.



For the ministries of women of color, the vibrancy they bring, the wisdom they share, the Word they proclaim and the sacraments they administer …

We rejoice and give thanks to God.

For the ministry of LGBTQIA+ pastors who have enriched the church by their dedicated service throughout history, and for the 10 years since the ELCA’s policy change enabling them to serve

publicly and live authentically, including while in partnered relationships …

We rejoice and give thanks to God.



For the people who had the courage and perseverance to work for the ordination of women, including our predecessor women’s organizations; for congregations who had the courage to call female pastors; and for the church’s ability to change …

We rejoice and give thanks to God.



For all women, the polite and the pushy, the troublemakers and the peacemakers, those who make the coffee, those who pay the bills, those who put the chairs away and lock the doors at the end of the night; for the deacons and deaconesses, the teachers, and the prayer-chain maintainers; for all those who stayed up late and got up early doing work that no one ever saw or acknowledged but that slowly transformed people’s lives and the church; and for the generations of women who didn’t get a title but served God just the same …

We rejoice and give thanks to God.



For the support women have given and received over the decades; for the late-night phone calls, the chats over lunch, the affirmations and the hugs when words fell short; for the spouses, children, parents, mentors, teachers and theologians, whose impact cannot be measured; and for those who show up and those who speak out, in quiet and loud ways …

We rejoice and give thanks to God.



For the apostolic witness of Mary Magdalene, the dance of Miriam, the hospitality of Lydia, the prayer of Mary, the discernment of Deborah, and the courage of Rahab, and for the faithfulness

of our biblical foremothers …

We rejoice and give thanks to God.



Gracious and living God, we rejoice and give you thanks for your strength on display throughout time and place, calling all kinds of people to be witnesses to your grace and power. We celebrate how the Spirit has blessed your church through the work of women and girls, including in this time and place. Guide us, as your people, into welcoming your prophets and teachers among us and into hearing

Christ’s good news through them. With gratitude, we pray. Amen