Diocese of Winchester’S Companion Links, As Is Customary at Confirmation Services
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The Benefice of St John’s Hartley Wintney with Elvetham, St Mary’s Winchfield and All Saints’ Dogmersfield The Institution as Vicar of The Rev’d Angie Smith by The Rt Rev’d David Williams Bishop of Basingstoke & Induction by The Ven Richard Brand Archdeacon of Winchester in St John’s Church, Hartley Wintney 9th December at 7.30pm This page would usually contain a biography of the person being instituted and installed, but I think most of you reading this will have heard enough stories about me, scattered through my preaching to stitch together a biography yourselves! If there are any gaps you could refer to the excellent article in Contact magazine by Irene Airton in November 2017 or ask a member of Revive or Naomi’s Watch who might remember a few stories I told them or disks I chose for my desert island. Instead, I thought I would just explain my musical choices for the service this evening because I think they say everything you need to know about me: I love the seasons in nature and the Christian calendar. The autumn falling of the seed to the ground and its springing up from the dark earth illustrates for us death and resurrection, supremely of Jesus, but also for so many things in our own lives, things we cling onto but have to allow to die for new life to come in their place. The Christian calendar ensures that we journey through the darkness and into the light, that we mourn and grieve and also rejoice and sing. We are in Advent now, a beginning, a waiting time, full of promise and hope. And so for this beginning, I chose an Advent hymn to start the service tonight. ‘Hills of the north, rejoice’ describes the compass points of the world. It reminds me that we are part of a worldwide church and evokes the beauty of our planet home. One of my parents’ gifts to me through some early years in Africa was a curiosity and ease in other cultures. Though I love to travel and return, being with Jesus is where I feel truly at home. It was when I was 10 years old I realised for the first time that Jesus had died for me. God spoke through the words of a West End musical and I knew it was real and personal and that I needed to follow him. Isaac Watt’s words perfectly describe the conversion of my heart as I survey the wondrous cross. It is both terrifying and also consoling, full of unimaginable pain and yet demonstrates the depth of his love. How else could I respond but to ask the Holy Spirit’s help each day to make my life cruciform? And so, I find myself here, in obedience to God’s word, knowing only the next step and the next season. My daily task is to watch for signs of the Kingdom and pray for it to come here. It is only to carry the yoke Jesus gives me to bear and, as Paul says to the Corinthian church, ‘to know nothing with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.’ Angie Smith, December 2020 2 The Procession The Area Dean The Candidate The Archdeacon of Winchester The Churchwardens The Bishop of Basingstoke Order of Service The Area Dean will give out any notices, The Processional Hymn (Sung by Claudia Birney) Hills of the North, Rejoice Hills of the North, rejoice, river and mountain-spring, Hark to the advent voice; valley and lowland, sing. Christ comes in righteousness and love, he brings salvation from above. Isles of the Southern seas, sing to the listening earth, Carry on every breeze hope of a world’s new birth: In Christ shall all be made anew, his word is sure, his promise true. Lands of the East, arise, he is your brightest morn, Greet him with joyous eyes, praise shall his path adorn: Your seers have longed to know their Lord; to you he comes, the final word. Shores of the utmost West, lands of the setting sun, Welcome the heavenly guest in whom the dawn has come. He brings a never-ending light who triumphed o’er our darkest night. 3 Shout, as you journey home, songs be in every mouth, Lo, from the North they come, from East and West and South: In Jesus all shall find their rest, in him the universe be blest. The Call to Worship Bishop Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you; All and also with you. Bishop Brothers and sisters, we have come together to worship Almighty God, who has called us into the fellowship of his universal Church, to Institute the Reverend Angie Smith as the Vicar of this parish. God has given us the gifts of word and sacrament and entrusted us with the work of mission and service. Let us rededicate ourselves to build up the Church of Christ here and throughout the world, and pray for grace to be instruments of God's love, in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Collect Bishop Heavenly Father, we praise you for the continuing witness of your Church in this place, for all who have been raised up in times past to minister here, and for your servant Angie now called by you to serve as Vicar. Guide and strengthen all your faithful people, that we may give ourselves in love and service to one another and to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Reading John 10 v 1-21 read by Rev Sam Chandler After the reading This is the Word of the Lord All Thanks be to God. The Bishop’s Sermon 4 The Presentation On behalf of the Patrons, Archdeacon Richard presents Angie to the Bishop, and says: Bishop, after prayerful consideration and due consultation, Angie Smith has been nominated and accepted to be Vicar in this parish. I now present her to you to be instituted. Bishop I thank you for this Presentation and I will gladly admit her. Angie stands before the Bishop. Bishop Angie, I greet you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and welcome you. Do you believe that God has called you to serve in this parish as Vicar? Angie I do so believe. The Bishop addresses the people of the parish. Bishop People of God, is it your will that Angie should serve with you in this Benefice? All It is. Bishop Will you support and uphold her in this ministry? All With the help of God, we will. The Bishop then invites the congregation to pray, using these or other words: The care of the people of a benefice is a solemn trust. I therefore call upon you now to pray to God for Angie for this parish and for yourselves. Silence is kept Sit or kneel Music: Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire The Bishop stands and faces the congregation. Bishop We praise you, God our Father, for the work of the Spirit in your Church. Pour down your blessing on your people; and give to your servant Angie the needful gifts of grace that she may faithfully fulfil the ministry to which she has been called, through Jesus Christ our Lord. All Amen. 5 The Declaration and Oaths Angie stands before the Bishop. Sit Bishop In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I shall now institute Angela Smith, Clerk in Holy Orders, to the cure of souls in this parish, but first let the Archdeacon ensure that the Oaths be taken and the Declaration of Assent be made and subscribed, according to law. Archdeacon Angie, 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 that 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? Angie then makes the Declaration of Assent. I, Angela Smith, 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. Turning to face the congregation, Angie, holding a Bible in her hand, makes the Oath of Allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen. I, Angela Smith, do swear by Almighty God 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. Turning to face the Archdeacon, Angie makes the Oath of Canonical Obedience. I, Angela Smith, do swear by Almighty God that I will pay true and canonical obedience to the Lord Bishop of Winchester and his successors in all things lawful and honest: so help me God. The Archdeacon and Angie sign the legal documents.