Celebration of Ministry – Rising Up to Love Boldly

by SUS Communications

The Susquehanna Conference gathered Friday evening, June 5, for its Celebration of Ministry service, honoring retiring clergy and celebrating those taking the next faithful step in their journey of ministry. The service embodied this year’s Annual Conference theme, “Rise Up! Love Boldly,” as clergy and laity joined together in worship, thanksgiving, and commitment to God’s call.

The evening began with joyful worship and a reaffirmation of the Church’s shared baptismal calling. Led by Bishop Hector A. Burgos-Núñez, the congregation renewed its commitment to ministry and prayed for the courage to rise up and serve Christ with faithfulness, diligence, and holy boldness.

A moving portion of the service was the recognition of retiring clergy. Through prayer and liturgy, the conference gave thanks for the women and men who have faithfully proclaimed the gospel, nurtured disciples, and shepherded congregations through seasons of both joy and challenge. The congregation celebrated the lasting impact of their ministries and offered prayers for God’s continued blessing in retirement.

The conference also celebrated important ministry milestones for several clergy candidates. Kimberly Cartwright was recognized as an associate member, Christopher Long and Steven Small were commissioned as provisional members, and Justin Frear and Christina Moyer were ordained as elders. As each candidate came forward, the congregation pledged its prayers and support, affirming that ministry is a calling shared and sustained by the entire body of Christ.

The service’s message was delivered by Rev. Jeffrey Campbell, who preached on Luke 10:25-37 and the familiar parable of the Good Samaritan. In a sermon titled “Searching for Life,” Campbell invited the congregation to consider what it means to love boldly in a world where people are searching for meaning, belonging, and hope.

Reflecting on the lawyer’s question, “Who is my neighbor?” Campbell noted that Jesus redirects the conversation away from identifying who deserves our love and toward the kind of people God calls us to become.

“It’s not about who we choose to love as our neighbors,” Campbell said. “It is about how we become the loving neighbor to anyone in a ditch.”

Drawing attention to the Samaritan’s compassion, Campbell emphasized that the injured man’s background, identity, and beliefs did not determine whether he would receive care. The Samaritan simply saw someone in need and responded with mercy.

The challenge, Campbell suggested, remains just as relevant today. Followers of Jesus are called not to create lists of people who are worthy of love, but to embody Christ’s love wherever suffering, loneliness, and brokenness are found.

Returning to the lawyer’s original question about eternal life, Campbell connected Jesus’ response—love God and love neighbor—to humanity’s deepest search for purpose and fulfillment.

“In this crazy, complicated, difficult world,” he said, “everyone we encounter is searching for life.”

That search, Campbell argued, finds its answer in Jesus and in the life of discipleship. Through acts of compassion, hospitality, and service, Christians help others discover the life God desires for them.

Campbell also reflected on moments when individuals and congregations feel as though they have found themselves “in the ditch.” Sharing stories from his own ministry, he described churches that seemed weary and discouraged but experienced renewal when they focused on becoming better neighbors to their communities.

Whether through a small Vacation Bible School that brought joy to a grieving child or a congregation that embraced radical hospitality, Campbell pointed to examples of communities that chose to rise up and love boldly, trusting that God was still at work.

“God is in our brokenness,” he said. “And God is not done with us.”

As the sermon drew to a close, Campbell imagined what might have happened to the man rescued by the Good Samaritan after his wounds had healed. Having experienced mercy himself, perhaps he went on to show mercy to others.

“Saved for something,” Campbell said. “Saved to love boldly.”

Following the sermon, candidates participated in sacred acts of examination, commissioning, ordination, and recognition. Through prayer, the laying on of hands, and the support of the gathered church, the conference celebrated God’s ongoing call to ministry and leadership.

The service concluded with a final blessing from Bishop Burgos-Núñez, who sent the congregation into the world with a simple but powerful charge: “Rise up as Christ’s people, and love boldly for the sake of the world.”

The congregation responded together, “We are sent in Christ’s name. Thanks be to God.”