The Parish of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill

Institution by the Bishop of Buckingham and

Induction by the Area Dean, Amersham Deanery

of The Reverend Debbie Oades

as Vicar

on Tuesday 15th March 2016 at 7.30 pm

at the Parish Church of St Michael and All Angels

This service is both a legal act and an act of worship. It marks the beginning of the ministry of Debbie and a new stage in the life of this parish. As the mission and ministry of the Church is the responsibility of all baptised people, so they come together with their new minister and the bishop to celebrate their ministry and offer themselves afresh to God.

The service has a number of distinct elements: The Gathering of the people, including the Presentation of

the New Minister. The Liturgy of the Word, in which we read the Bible

together and discern what it has to say to our lives. The Liturgy of Institution, in which the tasks of ministry are

spelled out, and its collaborative nature is emphasised as the context for the ministry of Debbie, which is then formally inaugurated.The institution is the admission by the bishop of a team

rector, rector or vicar into the bishop’s spiritual oversight and care of a parish.

The induction is the admission by the archdeacon* of a team rector, rector or vicar into the possession of the church building, churchyard and parsonage.

The installation is the formal placing by the archdeacon* of a priest in her seat in the church.

Debbie is then duly welcomed. Prayers for all in need, The Liturgy of the Sacrament - a

celebration of holy communion. The Dismissal, in which the people are sent out with God’s

blessing to proclaim the gospel to the world.

Please play your part in the service by answering firmly wherever ‘All’ is indicated in the margin.

Please spend some moments of quiet before the service: giving thanks to God for all who have worshipped and

ministered here in the past praying for the present congregation praying for the new minister and her family praying for the local community served by this church praying for your own involvement in the life and witness of

God’s Church. *today, the area dean

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The Gathering

The area dean welcomes the people and invites them to stand for the opening hymn, during which the ministers enter.

Processional Hymn : King of Kings, Majesty

King of kings, majesty,God of heaven living in me.Gentle Saviour, closest Friend,Strong Deliverer, Beginning and End,all within me falls at your throne.

Your majesty, I can but bow;I lay my all before you now.In royal robes I don’t deserve,I live to serve your majesty.

Earth and heaven worship you,Love eternal, faithful and true,who bought the nations, ransomed souls,brought this sinner near to your throne;all within me cries out in praise.

Your majesty, I can but bow;I lay my all before you now.In royal robes I don’t deserve,I live to serve your majesty,I live to serve your majesty.

Words and music Jarrod Cooper

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The Greeting

Bishop Grace, mercy and peacefrom God our Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christbe with you

All and also with you.

The bishop introduces the service with these words

Bishop We have come together in the presence of God to welcome Debbie and her family to this parish, to institute her to the ministry she will share, to pray for Debbie and for those who minister with her, and to dedicate ourselves afresh to the service of God in this community and to the call which God makes of each one of us.

Let us therefore wait humbly upon God, giving thanks for all that God has done, and asking forgiveness for those ways in which we have failed each other, our communities, and God.

Prayers of Penitence

Bishop Lord Jesus, you said to your disciples:‘You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.’Lord have mercy.

All Lord have mercy

Bishop Lord Jesus, we know that the harvest is plentifulbut the labourers are few.

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Christ have mercyAll Christ have mercy

Bishop Lord Jesus you appointed us to go out and bear fruit that will last.Lord have mercy

All Lord have mercy

Bishop May the God of lovebring you back to himself,forgive you your sinsand assure you of his eternal lovein Jesus Christ our Lord.

All Amen.

Presentation of the New Minister

The area dean leads the new minister to stand before the bishop and says

Reverend Father in God, after due consultation and prayerful consideration, Debbie Oades has been nominated and has accepted to be Vicar of this parish. I now present her to you to be instituted and inducted.

Bishop I thank you and all those who with prayer have been involved in the appointment of Debbie to this parish.

The area dean returns to her seat.Bishop Debbie, do you believe, so far as you know your

own heart, that God has called you to serve here?

Minister I believe that God has called me.

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Bishop Will you commit yourself to the mission and ministry of the people in this place to further the kingdom of God?

Minister With the help of God, I will.

The ministry team steps forward to be addressed by the bishop

Members of the ministry team, will you welcome Debbie to the team, and work creatively and faithfully with her, meeting regularly for prayer, study and fellowship, and doing all in your power to support each other in fulfilling the ministry of Christ?

Team With the help of God, we will.

The minister turns to face the congregation, whom the bishop addresses as a whole

People of God, will you welcome Debbie and support and uphold her in her ministry now and in the years to come?

All With the help of God, we will.

The Collect

Bishop God our Father,Lord of all the world,through your Son you have called usinto the fellowship of your universal Church:hear our prayer for your faithful peoplethat in their vocation and ministryeach may be an instrument of your love,and give to your servant Debbienow to be institutedthe needful gifts of grace;

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through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,who is alive and reigns with you,in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, now and for ever.

All Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word

New Testament Reading Revelation 21.1-6a

The Revd. Peter Binns

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

“See, the home of God is among mortals.He will dwell with them;they will be his peoples,and God himself will be with them;he will wipe every tear from their eyes.Death will be no more;mourning and crying and pain will be no more,for the first things have passed away.”

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true”. Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.”Gradual Hymn : Brother, Sister, Let Me Serve You (The Servant Song)

Brother, sister, let me serve you,let me be as Christ to you;

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pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.

We are pilgrims on a journey,fellow trav’llers on the road;we are here to help each otherwalk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christlight for youin the night-time of your fear;I will hold my hand out to you,speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping;when you laugh, I’ll laugh with you.I will share your joy and sorrowtill we’ve seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in heaven,we shall find such harmony,born of all we’ve known togetherof Christ’s love and agony.

Brother, sister, let me serve you,let me be as Christ to you;pray that I may have the grace tolet you be my servant, too.

Words and music Richard Gillard

Gospel Reading John 11.32-44The Revd. Sharon

Roberts

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

All Glory to you, O Lord.

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When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead for four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

This is the Gospel of the Lord.All Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon The Rt. Revd. Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham

The Liturgy of Institution

The Dedication of the Ministers and People

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(adapted with permission from the Diocese of Gloucester)

Representatives of the church community present the new minister with symbols of ministry.

The assistant area dean says

Gracious God, we praise and glorify you, because in your infinite love you have formed throughout the world a holy people for your own possession, a royal priesthood, a universal Church, that, sharing in the ministry of our Saviour Christ, we might be witnesses of what he has done for us.

All Gracious God, we praise and glorify you.

Presenting water for baptism, saying

Debbie, be among us as a woman who rejoices to bring new Christians to baptism and to share with them the Living Water, Jesus Christ himself.

All Together, by God’s grace,we will grow in our faith and discipleship.

Presenting the oil of healing, saying

Be among us as a woman of reconciliation,showing God’s forgiveness and healing.

All Together, by God’s grace,we will be a Christ-like community of love.

Presenting a large bible, saying

Be among us as a woman who studies the Scriptures,proclaims the Word and explores the faith.

All Together, by God’s grace,we will tell the good news of Christ to the world.

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Presenting a copy of Common Worship, saying

Be among us as a woman of prayer,offering the Church’s liturgy and interceding for God’s people.

All Together, by God’s grace,we will worship God in spirit and in truth.

Presenting bread and wine, saying

Be among us as a woman of the Eucharist,presiding among us when we celebrate the Lord’s death and resurrection.

All Together, by God’s grace,we will seek to be the living body of Christ.

Presenting a copy of the Churches on the Hill Amersham covenant, saying

Be among us as a woman of ecumenism,rejoicing in the shared ministryencompassed by this covenant.

All Together, by God’s grace,we will come together in Christian unity.

When all the symbols have been presented, the new minister responds

I pledge myself to care for the community that gathers here, to share with them the Word of God and the work of ministry, to celebrate with them the sacraments of the new covenant, and to encourage them in their discipleship. Together may we make this a place where Christian people are equipped for their life and witness in God’s world.

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All Amen.

The Declaration and Oaths

The new minister stands before the bishop.

Bishop The Church of England is part of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, worshipping the one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It professes the faith uniquely revealed in the holy Scriptures and set forth in the catholic creeds, which faith the Church is called upon to proclaim afresh in each generation. Led by the Holy Spirit, it has borne witness to Christian truth in its historic formularies, the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, The Book of Common Prayer and the Ordering of Bishops, Priests and Deacons. In the declaration you are about to make, will you affirm your loyalty to this inheritance of faith as your inspiration and guidance under God in bringing the grace and truth of Christ to this generation and making him known to those in your care?

The minister makes the declaration of assent

I, Debbie Oades, do so affirm, and accordingly declare my belief in the faith which is revealed in the holy Scriptures and set forth in the catholic creeds and to which the historic formularies of the Church of England bear witness; and in public prayer and administration of the sacraments, I will use only the forms of service which are authorised or allowed by canon.

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The minister turns and faces the people and, taking a bible in her right hand, swears the oath of allegiance.

I, Debbie Oades, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, her heirs and successors, according to law: so help me God.

Facing the bishop, and still holding the bible, the minister swears the oath of canonical obedience.

I, Debbie Oades, do swear by almighty God that I will pay true and canonical obedience to the area bishop of Buckingham and his successors, in all things lawful and honest: so help me God.

The minister signs the declaration and oaths.

The Institution

The people stand. The bishop reads the Deed of Institution and gives it to the minister, saying

Receive this cure of souls, which is both yours and mine; in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

All Amen.

The bishop commends the new minister and the ministry team to the prayers of the people.

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The bishop anoints the new minister with the oil of Chrism, saying

Debbie, remember your baptism into Christ.Remember your ordination in the Church of God.May God who anointed Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit anoint and empower you for the blessing of God’s people.

All Amen.

The ministry team and other licensed ministers of the parish join the minister, and they kneel before the bishop.

Taking his pastoral staff, the bishop blesses the new minister and the ministry team, saying

The God of all faithfulnessstrengthen you for your ministry and commitment to one another;the God of all grace give you vision, courage and joy; and the blessing of God almighty,the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be upon you and upon all your work done in his name,now and for ever.

All Amen.

The Induction

The people remain standing while the bishop delivers the Mandate of Induction to the area dean, saying

Area Dean, I have instituted Debbie Oades to ministry in this parish. I ask you to induct her, in the presence of this congregation, and to support her in her ministry here.

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The churchwardens lead the area dean and the minister to the door of the church, and the people turn to face the door. The area dean lays the hand of the minister on the key or handle of the door, saying

By virtue of the authority given me, I induct you into the real, actual and corporeal possession of the parish church of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill, with all the rights and responsibilities belonging to it.

The churchwardens present the keys of the church to the minister saying

Debbie, receive these keys in token of the responsibility which we share; and may the Lord preserve your going out and your coming in, now and always.

All Amen.

The Installation

The area dean leads the minister to her stall in the church, and places her in, saying

Debbie, I install you as Vicar of this parish. Pray for your people, lead them in worship and service, and encourage them in their witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The church bell may be rung by the minister.

The Welcome

The bishop presents the new minister to the people, saying

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People of this parish, I present to you your new Vicar, now duly instituted, inducted and installed, and I invite you to greet her and her family in the name of Christ. I commend them to your love and to your prayers.

All We welcome you!May the Lord richly bless youand make you a blessing among us.

The congregation greets the new minister with a warm round of applause.

The assistant area dean and lay chair formally welcome the new minister into the deanery.

Prayers of Intercession

The people kneel or sit for prayers of intercession, led by the new minister.

The Peace

Bishop We are the body of Christ.In the one Spirit we were all baptised into one body.Let us then pursue all that makes for peaceand builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with youAll and also with you.

Minister Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

All may exchange a sign of peace, saying “Peace be with you”.

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A collection for the Bishop of Oxford’s Outreach Fund will be taken during the next hymn.

Offertory Hymn : All are welcome

Let us build a house where love can dwelland all can safely live,a place where saints and children tellhow hearts learn to forgive.Built of hopes and dreams and visions,rock of faith and vault of grace;here the love of Christ shall end divisions:

All are welcome, all are welcome,All are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where prophets speak,and words are strong and true,where all God’s children dare to seekto dream God’s reign anew.Here the cross shall stand as witnessand as symbol of God’s grace;here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:

All are welcome…

Let us build a house where love is foundin water, wine and wheat:A banquet hall on holy groundwhere peace and justice meet.Here the love of God, through Jesus,is revealed in time and space;as we share in Christ the feast that frees us:

All are welcome…

Let us build a house where hands will reachbeyond the wood and stone

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to heal and strengthen, serve and teach,and live the Word they’ve known.Here the outcast and the strangerbear the image of God’s face;let us bring an end to fear and danger:

All are welcome….

Let us build a house where all are named,their songs and visions heardand loved and treasured, taught and claimedas words within the Word.Built of tears and cries and laughter,prayers of faith and songs of grace,let this house proclaim from floor to rafter: All are welcome….

words and music Marty HaugenThe Liturgy of the Sacrament

Taking of the Bread and Wine

Bishop Pour upon the poverty of our love,and the weakness of our praise,the transforming fire of your presence.

All Amen

Eucharistic Prayer

Bishop The Lord be with youAll and also with you.

Life up your hearts.We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.It is right to give thanks and praise.

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Bishop It is indeed right and good,our duty and our salvation,always and everywhere to give you thanks and praise through your Son Jesus Christ, our great high priest.He was lifted up for us on the crossthat he might reveal your glory and draw all people to himself.You exalted him to your right hand on highand through your Holy Spirit you sent upon your people a rich diversity of gifts.

From this royal priestly people you raise up ministers to proclaim your word, to care for your peopleand to be the stewards of your holy mysteries.You call them to serve the world your Son redeemedand build up his body the Church to be his bride.

Therefore with angels and archangels,and with all the company of heaven,we proclaim your great and glorious name,for ever praising you and singing:

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Bishop We praise and bless you, loving Father,through Jesus Christ, our Lord;and as we obey his command,send your Holy Spirit,that broken bread and wine outpouredmay be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.

On the night before he died he had supper with his friends and, taking bread, he praised you.He broke the bread, gave it to them and said:Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;do this in remembrance of me.

When supper was ended he took the cup of wine.Again he praised you, gave it to them and said:Drink this, all of you;this is my blood of the new covenant,which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did,in him we plead with confidence his sacrificemade once for all upon the cross.

Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation, we proclaim his death and resurrection until he comes in glory.

Great is the mystery of faith:

All

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Bishop Lord of all life,help us to work together for that daywhen your kingdom comesand justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth.

Look with favour on your people,gather us in your loving armsand bring us with Michael and all the saintsto feast at your table in heaven.

Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ,in the unity of the Holy Spirit,all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father,for ever and ever.

All Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

The congregation sits or kneels.

Bishop As our Saviour taught us, so we pray

All Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name,your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.Forgive us our sinsas we forgive those who sin against us.

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Lead us not into temptationbut deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power,and the glory are yoursnow and for ever.Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

The Bishop breaks the consecrated bread, saying

Bishop We break this breadto share in the body of Christ.Though we are many, we are one body,because we all share in one bread.

The Agnus Dei is sung as the bread is broken

Giving of Communion

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The Bishop invites the people to communion, saying

God’s holy giftsfor God’s holy people.

All Jesus Christ is holy,Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God of Father.

The Bishop and people receive communion.

During the distribution, the choir sing:“One Bread, One Body” – John B Foley arr. Lloyd Larson“For The Beauty Of The Earth” – John Rutter

Prayer after Communion Bishop God our Father,

shepherd and guide of your people,look with favour on your servant Debbie,whom you have chosen to be a pastor in your church; grant that by word and exampleshe may lead the people committed to her charge and with them come to your eternal kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All Amen.

The new minister gives out any notices.

The Dismissal

The bishop pronounces God’s blessing

Almighty God,who for the salvation of the worldgives to his people many gifts and ministriesto the advancement of his glory,stir up in you the gifts of his grace,

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and sustain each one of you in your own ministry;and the blessing of God almighty,the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,be among you and remain with you always.

All Amen.

The people stand for the recessional hymn.

Recessional Hymn : Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heav’n, to earth come down,fix in us thy humble dwelling,all thy faithful mercies crown.Jesu, thou art all compassion,pure unbounded love thou art;visit us with thy salvation,enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spiritinto ev’ry troubled breast;let us all in thee inherit,let us find thy promised rest.Take away the love of sinning,Alpha and Omega be;end of faith, as its beginning,set our hearts at liberty.

Come almighty to deliver,let us all thy grace receive;suddenly return, and never,never more thy temples leave.Thee we would be always blessing,serve thee as thy hosts above;pray, and praise thee without ceasing,

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glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation,pure and spotless let us be;let us see thy great salvationperfectly restored in thee.Changed from glory into glory,till in heav’n we take our place,till we cast our crowns before thee,lost in wonder, love and praise.

Charles WesleyBlaenwern

After the hymn, the minister may say by the open door of the church

Go in the power of Christ.All We have a gospel to proclaim!

Go in peace of Christ.All Thanks be to God!

Organ Voluntary – Percy Fletcher : Festival Toccata

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included in this service, are copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000.

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CCL No 908682.

Image on front cover - Judy RedpathImage on back cover – Suzanne Raffellini

Debbie was born in Kingston Upon Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire as was her husband Rob; they are celebrating their 30th Wedding anniversary later this year and have two sons, Robert 25 and Thomas 23.

She studied on the North Thames Ministerial Training Course gaining a BA Hons Degree in Contextual Theology (Middlesex University) and was ordained Deacon at St Paul’s Cathedral, London, in 2006, then Priest at St Mary Abbotts, Kensington, in 2007.

Debbie has served at The Good Shepherd, Hounslow West, then St James’ Hampton Hill, both in the Diocese of London (Kensington) and for the past five years has been Associate Vicar in the parish of Maybush, Southampton, in the Diocese of Winchester.

Debbie and Rob are looking forward to becoming part of both St Michael and All Angels and the wider community, and are listening with the ears of their hearts to God’s call with excitement and humility, trusting in God’s grace.

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During the Offertory hymn a collection will be taken for the Bishop of Oxford’s Outreach Fund, which is dedicated to supporting the Church worldwide,

particularly in areas of humanitarian need, Christian education, training and mission. Please use the Gift

Aid envelope if you are eligible to do so, as this increases the value of your donation by 25p for every

£1 given.

The church has a hearing loop, and there are toilets both in the church, (through the double doors to the

left of the altar), and also in St Michael’s Hall immediately behind the church.

After the service you are invited to join Debbie for light refreshments in St Michael’s Hall.

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