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COMMIT
 THE VOW-TAKING CEREMONY
Consider the exact words you will use to make your pledge. As with wedding vows, this is not a time for spontaneity. The vow of the Mustard Seed Order involves three promises: to be true to Christ, kind to people, and to take the Gospel to the nations.
"The Vision and the Vow" contains a suggested order for a vow-taking ceremony, reflecting a use of language and level of solemnity appropriate to many Christian traditions. You are of course under no obligation to use these words or this format yourself. Please feel free to adapt it or even to develop your own version entirely, if this would be more appropriate in your personal or cultural context.
An example: The Clapham gathering
In February 2005, a group which included those who had worked together on releasing the OMS vision gathered in Clapham, London, UK to take our "Mustard Seed" vows together.
The venue was one which had a relevant meaning for many of those present. Holy Trinity Clapham was the church attended by the so called "Clapham sect". This 18th/19th century community lived by many of the values we identify with, and included William Wilberforce, the politician who led the campaign for the abolition of slavery in the British empire.
We chose to simplify the wording proposed in "The Vision and The Vow", so as to give the 3 elements of the vow the greatest possible weighting and emphasis. The exact "order of service" is given below. Again, this is in no way prescriptive, but you are free to use it either as an inspiration or the basis for your own vows:
 Introduction
Introductory Addresses:
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Welcome Cymbrogi ‘Companions of the heart’
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Why are we here together?
Worship Together:
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(We used a hymn, ‘When I survey the wondrous cross’ by Isaac Watts, as appropriate to the venue and the traditions of those present)
Life Together:
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Message: "True to Christ, Kind to All, Mission to all nations"
Preparation
(One of those taking the vow acts as a "leader" and asks the questions to be answered collectively by the group)
Leader: Have you prepared prayerfully, carefully and accountably?
All: I have.
Leader: Do you understand that the promise you are making is for life and that it adds nothing to your right-standing in Christ?
All: I do.
Invitation
Readings:
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Great Covenant: Deuteronomy 29 v 12-15
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Great Commandment: Deuteronomy 6 v 1-9
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Great Commission: Jesus said, ‘Do this and you will live.’
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Vow: "A vow is a promise made to God. The promise is binding, and so differs from a simple resolution, which is a present purpose to do or omit certain things in the future. A vow is an act of generosity towards God." (The Catholic encyclopaedia)
Leader: So I invite you, in the presence of witnesses, to devote all your days to God in a solemn and generous vow.
Covenant of Consecration: Making Our Vow
All: Fool that I am, I vow my whole life, all that I have and all that I am to be true to Christ in the grace of our Holy Spirit for every day the Father grants me. So help me God.
All: Weak as I am, I vow my whole life to be kind to people: to see Christ in others, to serve Christ in others and to show Christ to others in the joy of the Holy Spirit for the glory of our Father. So help me God.
All: Small as I am and wherever I am, I vow my life to the Gospel of Christ. Today, together, we offer to spend ourselves on behalf of the broken and poor in the power of the Spirit, giving our whole life that you might be loved in every language, tribe and nation in our generation for the glory of our Father. We will not live for ourselves. So help us God.
Reading: ‘Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess’ Hebrews 10 v 23-25
Celebration
One Love:
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Break Bread (& Prayer of blessing)
One Lord:
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Worship (Hymn "Amazing Grace" by John Newton, who worked with Wilberforce to end slavery)
One Life:
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Reading Matt 28 v 19-20 & Prayer
***
Words for meditation (printed on the order of service)
‘At the eve of our lives we will be judged by our loving.’ (St John of the Cross)
Friends, today we have made these promises but there will come a day when we will fail at times. In these moments let us remember to restore one another humbly, lovingly and gently in grace.
‘Community is a fellowship of little people who together make God visible to the world.’ (H Nouwen)
‘Let us begin, my brothers. For up to now we have done but little.’ (The last words of St. Francis of Assisi)
Amen
***
Some Frequently Asked Questions:
 DO I HAVE TO WEAR A RING?
You don't have to do anything! However, we do believe that symbols are a valid and helpful means of making and recalling a solemn life-commitment such as the Mustard Seed vow. In Western cultures, a ring remains the most widely used covenant symbol (for example, the use of a wedding ring as part of marriage ceremonies and to symbolise marriage).
We would encourage those who are adopting the Mustard-Seed vow as their “rule of life” to consider using a personally and culturally relevant symbol to express this. The initiators of the community intend to wear a ring bearing Zinzendorf’s original Greek inscription as a symbol which expresses our values and acknowledges our historical inspiration. You are under no obligation to come to the same decision yourself.
You can get similar rings here, but please note that these are not "official merchandise"  and the design and inscription are in the public domain, free for anyone to use. Any profits will support the costs of running this website or be given away to causes which reflect the "kindness" and missional elements of our vow. Our humble request is that you do not produce or wear this design merely as costume jewellery. Please respect the deep meaning that it carries for those who wear it – there are plenty of other brilliant designs around which you can use a fashion accessory or a symbol of your faith!
ARE MEMBERS OF THE ORDER EXPECTED TO HAVE A TATTOO?
No, not unless your conscience permits. However some cymbrogi have indeed considered using their own tattoo as a mark of the lifelong nature of their vows. In an age of broken promises and disposable products, these groups have found the reality of a tattoo a sobering reminder of the permanence of their pledge. They also see the tattoo as an ‘inward’ symbol of the heart commitment, contrasting the outward reminder of the ring.
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