The Reverend John Michael Blakeley
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The Licensing of The Reverend John Michael Blakeley by the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham The Right Reverend Paul Williams and the Installation by the Archdeacon of Nottingham The Venerable Phil Williams in the presence of The Bishop of Beverley The Right Reverend Glyn Webster Photo credit Jordan Dawson as Priest-in-Charge of St Stephen’s with St Matthias, Sneinton th on Tuesday 15 June 2021 at 7.30pm About this service This is a special service of celebration that marks the beginning of a new phase of ministry both for John and for the people of this community. Although a more limited gathering, necessitated by the requirement to be Covid-19 safe, this service gives the community an opportunity to welcome the priest to their new role, and allows both priest and people to commit themselves to the ministry ahead, praying for God’s leading in it. We are immensely grateful to many who, whilst not able to form part of this evening’s formal welcome, are upholding John and the parish in prayer at this time. The ministry to which John is being appointed is to the local parish and the wider community. The role of the Anglican parish priest is to care for the whole community and to nurture the faithful. They work with all those in the local community, whether they are people of faith or not. Therefore, within this service, the welcome is made by both church and representatives of the wider community. In this service, John is presented to the Bishop and then presented to the community by the Bishop. The Bishop will remind John of the responsibility for the care of these parishes which is shared with the Bishop. The Archdeacon will install John giving him oversight for the church. John is then formally welcomed by representatives of the church and the wider community across the benefice. Use of Personal Data for NHS Test and Trace Thank you for providing your name and contact details when you arrived at this service. This measure is in support of the NHS’s Test and Trace programme. Your personal details will be stored securely for 21 days in compliance with data protection regulations and will then be securely disposed of. If during that time someone who has been at the service tests positive for Covid-19, you will be contacted by the NHS. 2 About The Reverend John Blakeley John grew up in Gloucester and made the decision to follow Jesus at the age of 13. Thanks to a dedicated vicar who helped him grow in faith and give him plenty of opportunities to serve, John learned a lot about what it means to be a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ. John went on to study Religious Studies and Sociology at St Martin’s College in Lancaster, where he met and married Lynda. Their eyes met across a Christian Union meeting room! After obtaining his degree John trained to be a secondary school teacher and moved to Derby for a short while before settling in Nottingham over 20 years ago. John taught for 5 years in Derby before making the move into a leadership role as Head of RE and following that as Head of Year at the Nottingham Emmanuel School. John and Lynda have two sons. Michael is shortly going to University and David is starting his Sixth Form studies in September. It was during his time as a teacher that John sensed a call to ordained ministry and went on to do his theological training at St Mellitus College, London. John was privileged to serve his curacy at St Nic’s in the centre of Nottingham which was a very rewarding experience. He was delighted to be part of a dedicated staff team who were committed to sharing the love of Christ. John and Lynda (due to be ordained deacon on 4th July) started feeling called to serve in Sneinton in 2014 and both of them are very excited to be part of this next chapter in the life of St Stephen’s. They are passionate about sharing God’s love and Good News of Jesus Christ and can’t wait to see all that God will do during this next season. Both John and Lynda are excited and energised by playing their part in the fulfilment of the Diocesan vision to grow disciples of Jesus wider, younger and deeper. Please continue to uphold them in prayer. 3 Introduction A welcome from the Area Dean, The Revd Colin Bourne The congregation is asked to join in all texts printed in non-italic bold. Please refrain from singing but do feel free to say or mouth the hymn/song words. As the Bishops’ Procession enters, we stand and listen to Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation 1. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation! Come, all who hear; now to his temple draw near, join me in glad adoration. 2. Praise to the Lord, above all things so wondrously reigning; sheltering you under his wings, and so gently sustaining! Have you not seen all that is needful has been sent by his gracious ordaining? 3. Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you; surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you. Ponder anew what the Almighty can do, if with his love he befriends you. 4. Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him! All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him. Let the Amen sound from his people again; gladly forever adore him. © Public Domain 4 The Greeting Bishop Paul Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you All And also with you Please sit. Bishop Paul brings his greetings and introduces the service, and then all pray: All God our Father, Lord of all the world, we thank you that through your Son you have called us into the fellowship of your universal Church: hear our prayer for your faithful people that in their vocation and ministry each may be an instrument of your love: and give to your servant John the needful gifts of grace; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. The Presentation The Archdeacon of Nottingham, The Venerable Phil Williams, invites John to stand before the Bishop and says: Bishops, I present John Blakeley to be admitted to the Cure of Souls of this parish. The Declaration of Assent and Oaths John stands before the Bishop, who is seated in his chair, and the Archdeacon of Nottingham is invited to read the Preface: 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 5 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? John says: I, John Michael Blakeley, 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 authorised or allowed by Canon. Taking a New Testament, John faces the people and says: I 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. Turning to the Bishop, John says: I swear by Almighty God that I will pay true and canonical obedience to the Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham and his successors, in all things lawful and honest; so help me God. Please remain seated as the worship group play and the Declarations are signed. 6 The Ministry of the Word A Reading from the Gospel according to St Matthew 28:16-20 read by Marion Woodhead Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” At the end the reader says: This is the word of the Lord. All Thanks be to God The Sermon Given by the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, The Right Reverend Paul Williams Please remain seated for a time of reflection as we listen to sung worship played by the worship group King of Kings In the darkness we were waiting Without hope, without light 'Til from Heaven You came running There was mercy in Your eyes To fulfill the law and prophets To a virgin came the word From a throne of endless glory To a cradle in the dirt 7 Praise the Father, praise the Son Praise the Spirit, three in one God of glory, Majesty Praise forever to the King of Kings To reveal the kingdom coming And to reconcile the lost To redeem the whole creation You did not despise the cross For even in your suffering You saw to the other side Knowing this was our salvation Jesus for our sake you died Chorus And the morning that You rose All of Heaven held its breath 'Til that stone was moved for good For the Lamb had conquered death And the dead rose from their tombs And the angels stood in awe For the souls of all who'd come To