The Ordination of Nii Addo Abrahams as Minister of Word and Sacrament
October 6, 2024 at 4:30 pm | RSVP below!
A message from Nii Addo:
“It’s been a long time coming! When I started my journey at Princeton Theological Seminary in 2017, the only thing I knew about Presbyterians was that I didn’t want to be one. Now, here I am, about to jump fully into the deep end as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in a denomination that has become my home. Who would’ve thought? Not me. As the apostle Paul says (in a passage I love to quote), God’s ways are truly inscrutable. But I’m not complaining.
“We Presbyterians talk about ordination as an act of the whole church; that is to say, this is not something I am doing on my own, but rather something we are doing together. I am grateful to have gone on this journey with the support of so many people from so many different places. I started typing out the names, but I quickly realized that there are simply too many people to name and too many moments to recall. Know that I carry each of you with me as I step into this new season. In the most literal sense, I would not be here without you.
“Can’t wait to celebrate with y’all. To God be the glory!”
It takes many things: a graduate degree, multiple written and oral exams, and — most importantly — careful and prayerful discernment of one’s call to ministry. Here’s a helpful article from The Presbyterian Outlook that summarizes the process.
If you’ve been to a worship service at Pres House before, most of the service will be very familiar. We’ll sing, pray, share The Lord’s Supper, and eat dinner together. However, there are some special elements. The person being ordained makes vows, and so does the congregation to which they have been called. In addition to the sermon, there are “charges” given to the ordinand and the congregation. Many ordination services also include a thanksgiving for/remembrance of baptism.
Yes! We will share live-streaming information with those who choose that option on the RSVP form.
Please note: Pres House does not live-stream our regular worship services. Our live-steaming setup for this service won’t be super slick or interactive, but you’ll be able to see all the action.
Pres House does not have rooms reserved in a particular hotel, but there are many good hotel options nearby. You can find hotels near Pres House and the UW campus here.
There will be a cash offering taken during the service for the John Knox Leadership Program Scholarship. If you would like to donate to Pres House, you can do so on our website.
Whatever you’d like! On a normal Sunday at Pres House, you will see everything from dresses and button-down shirts to pajamas and house slippers (we are a campus ministry, after all). Dress in what’s comfortable for you.
If you are clergy, we invite you to wear your favorite stole.
The following parking options are available near Pres House:
- State Street City of Madison Parking Ramp (enter on Frances St)
- UW Lot 6 (Helen C. White Library Parking Garage – next to the Memorial Union)
- UW Lot 7 (Grainger Hall Ramp)
- UW Lot 46 (corner of Lake & Johnson)
- University Square Parking Ramp (324 N Lake St)
- Free parking on the street at meters on Lake/Langdon Streets all day Sunday
You can reach out directly to Nii Addo (417-540-8660) with questions until 3 pm. After 3 pm, please contact Andrea Wegrzynowicz at 518-290-5319.