The Scottish Episcopal Church of

The Institution of

Revd Nick Wills

as Rector of

St Peter’s Church, Lutton Place

by

The Rt Revd Dr John A Armes,

Bishop of Edinburgh

Tuesday 28 April, 2020 at 7.00pm

WELCOME

Bishop: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Words of Introduction

THE PEACE

We meet in Christ’s Name: Let us share his peace.

We offer one another a sign of peace

COLLECT FOR PURITY

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE PRESENTATION

Liz Philp and Rupert Forbes of the vestry present Nick to the Bishop saying:

Right Reverend Father in God, we present to you Nick, who has been chosen for the Charge of this Congregation. We believe him to be worthy to serve God and God’s people in this office. We ask you, as , to install Nick as Rector of St Peter’s, Lutton Place.

Bishop:

Let us offer our prayers to God for all God’s people, for this congregation and for Nick, now called as Rector.

The Lord be with you. 2 And also with you. Let us pray. Silence

God our Father, Lord of all the world, through your Son you have called us into the fellowship of your worldwide church: hear our prayer for your faithful people that each in their calling and ministry may be an instrument of your love; and give to your servant Nick the assurance of your grace that he may serve your people with joy as both shepherd and servant; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

READING 1 Peter 2.4-7 Read by Roddy Simson

at end: The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God

GOSPEL John 4.34-38 Read by Janet McKinnell

Hear the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John Glory to Christ our Saviour.

At end: Give thanks to the Lord for his glorious Gospel Praise to Christ our Lord.

Reflections from Bishop John

3 THE LICENSING

Bishop: I call on Canon Ruth Innes to read from the Deed of Institution.

Bishop: Nick do you, in the presence of this congregation, commit yourself to this new trust and responsibility?

Nick: I do.

Bishop: Will you, who witness this new beginning, support and uphold Nick in this ministry?

All: We will.

Bishop: Let us pray for Nick and for one another at the beginning of a new ministry in the life of this congregation.

All Pray: God of mercy and love, new birth by water and the Spirit is your gift, a gift that none can take away: Grant that we, your servants, may grow into the fullness of the stature of Christ. Fill us with the joy of your presence. Increase in us the fruit of your Spirit: The spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of love, patience and gentleness, the spirit of wonder and true holiness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Bishop installs Nick, saying:

Nick, receive this ministry which is mine and yours and is shared by all God’s people.

I install you as Rector of St Peter’s, Lutton Place in this Diocese of Edinburgh. Accept with joy the service of God in this place. Preach the living word of God, administer the Sacraments of eternal life, guard and strengthen the flock now committed to your Charge; and may the blessing of God almighty be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.

4 PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION led by Canon Dean Fostekew, concluding with:

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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Do not bring us to the time of trial but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.

THANKSGIVING AND SENDING OUT

Bishop:

We give thanks to you Lord for you are gracious: and your mercy endures for ever.

POST COMMUNION PRAYER

Ever-living God, strengthen and sustain those whom you have called to love and care for your people; and grant that they, together with all who follow Jesus Christ, may offer to you their gifts and talents; through the One who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

BLESSING

The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, make you perfect in every good work to do his will: and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

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THANKS, WELCOMES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • Representative of the Vestry • Canon Ruth Innes, Synod Clerk • Revd Nick Wills, the new rector

DISMISSAL

Rector: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen.

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Revd Nick Wills

I grew up in Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, in England. My family went to churches with a choral tradition and I was a chorister as a boy.

I studied Theology at Birmingham University, where I met my wife, Becky. After graduating I worked with International students and then as a lay worker in our church in Birmingham, together with Becky after we got married in 1994. We enjoyed three years of creative ministry there, working with young people and children, but also with people from all generations.

I was encouraged by my vicar to follow a calling towards Ordination and after I was accepted for training we moved to Durham for two years to be at Cranmer Hall theological college. Our son Jamie was born there.

We then moved back to Birmingham to serve my curacy in Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield, where our younger son Matty was born. It was a busy curacy in a large church with lots to learn from and a training incumbent with whom I worked really well.

I then became Priest-in-Charge (then later Vicar) of St Andrew's Kettering, where we have been for 16 and a half years. We were keen for the boys to be able to put down roots and be known for themselves rather than as "the Vicar's sons". They have benefited from that stability and made good friends there. Jamie has recently graduated from Birmingham University in Geology and Matty has broken the family mold by going to Warwick University to study Politics, Philosophy and Law.

So it feels like a new phase for us as a family and we are ready for a change and a new challenge. We have visited Edinburgh a few times, mostly in August as we are comedy lovers and we have been running an Arts Centre at St Andrew's so a trip to the Fringe was great for discovering new talent to book. In October we came up just before the application deadline for St Peter's, to see the city out of festival season and fell in love with it even more!

We are thrilled to be able to move to your wonderful city and to serve God and our community around Lutton Place with you.

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