A Service for the Renewal of Commitment to Ministry led by the of Southwell and Nottingham, The Rt Revd ;

and the , The Rt Revd Dr Andrew Emerton

Wednesday of Holy Week

31 March 2021, 7.30pm

The Renewal of Commitment to Ministry

As we join together this evening after a year which some have likened to a ‘long Lent’, the full effects of the coronavirus pandemic continue to be difficult to quantify. While we hope some restrictions will gradually be eased over the coming weeks, the future pattern of life and ministry remains uncertain, but we continue to find ourselves living and ministering in the present moment as well as we can, caring for those around us, whilst also doing our best to plan for the future, both short- and medium-term. Though we are not able to gather physically as one body this evening, may this online service be a powerful reminder that we are yet still united through the gift and power of the Holy Spirit and through our Christian service together. We will use the liturgy of our annual service for the renewal of commitment to ministry, which invites all autho- rised ministers, both lay and ordained, to remember the gracious call of God on each of our lives and to pledge ourselves afresh in our Christian ministry alongside the . As we journey together through this unique Holy Week with an acute and collective sense of absence and loss, may our hope be renewed in the sure and certain hope that all the faithful will experience the genuine, unreserved joy of Easter.

Acknowledgements Material from Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the , copyright © 2000- 2008 the Archbishops' Council. The words and music of copyright hymns are reproduced under CCL/MRL 40423. Scriptural quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America (used by permission; all rights reserved). This compilation is copyright © The Chapter of Southwell Cathedral.

ii ORDER OF SERVICE

The Very Revd , , offers a welcome and introduces the service on behalf of the Minster.

GREETING

Bishop Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you and also with you.

PRAYERS OF PENITENCE

Bishop As we prepare to confess our sins before God, let us hold a moment of silence, as we call to mind our sins and shortcomings.

Silence is kept.

MOTET sung by the Cathedral Choir

Lord, for thy tender mercy’s sake, lay not our sins to our charge, but forgive that is past, and give us grace to amend our sinful lives: to decline from sin and incline to virtue, that we may walk in a perfect heart, before thee now and evermore. Amen.

Words: John Bull (c.1563-1628) Music: attrib. Richard Farrant (c.1525-80) from Christian Prayers and Holy Meditations

1 Bishop So let us return to the Lord, as we say together:

Lord our God, in our sin we have avoided your call. Our love for you is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early. Have mercy on us; deliver us from judgement; bind up our wounds and revive us; in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ABSOLUTION

Bishop The Lord enrich you with his grace, and nourish you with his blessing; the Lord defend you in trouble and keep you from all evil; the Lord accept your prayers, and absolve you from your offences, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen.

COLLECT

Bishop Heavenly Father, who anointed your Son Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit and with power to bring to the world the blessings of your kingdom: anoint your Church with the same Holy Spirit, that we who share in his suffering and his victory may bear witness to the gospel of salvation; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

2 FIRST READING Hebrews 10: 19-25 read by Peace Matsiko, from St Mary Magdalene Church, Newark

Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

VOICES FROM AROUND THE DIOCESE

Bishop Andy meets with Nigel Frith (Diocesan Director of Education), The Revd Helen Chantry (Vicar of St Mary Magdalene, Hucknall) and Emily Charkham ( with the Gamston and Bridgford Benefice), to share reflections on hope and despair over the past year.

SONG OF WORSHIP led by Neil Wilson

I love you, Lord For your mercy never fails me All my days, I’ve been held in your hands. From the moment that I wake up Until I lay my head Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.

And all my life you have been faithful And all my life you have been so, so good With every breath that I am able Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.

3 I love your voice You have led me through the fire In the darkest night You are close like no other I’ve known you as a Father I’ve known you as a Friend And I have lived in the goodness of God.

And all my life you have been faithful And all my life you have been so, so good With every breath that I am able Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.

‘Cause your goodness is running after It’s running after me Your goodness is running after It’s running after me With my life laid down I’m surrendered now I give you everything ‘Cause your goodness is running after It’s running after me

And all my life you have been faithful And all my life you have been so, so good With every breath that I am able Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.

Bethel Music and Jenn Johnson

4 GOSPEL READING John 12: 1-8 read by The Revd Cathy Porter, Chaplain to the Minster School, Southwell

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Glory to you, O Lord.

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’

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

SERMON given by Bishop Paul

5 HYMN

Come down, O Love divine, Seek thou this soul of mine, And visit it with thine own ardour glowing; O Comforter, draw near, Within my heart appear, And kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.

O let it freely burn, Till earthly passions turn To dust and ashes in its heat consuming; And let thy glorious light Shine ever on my sight, And clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

Let holy charity Mine outward vesture be, And lowliness become mine inner clothing; True lowliness of heart, Which takes the humbler part, And o’er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.

And so the yearning strong, With which the soul will long, Shall far outpass the power of human telling; For none can guess its grace, Till he become the place Wherein the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling.

Words: Bianco da Siena (d. 1434) Tune: DOWN AMPNEY NEH 137 trans. Richard Frederick Littledale (1833-90) Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) 6 RENEWAL OF COMMITMENT TO MINISTRY

Bishop Paul says:

My brothers and sisters, at his Last Supper, our Lord Jesus Christ gave his disciples a new commandment, that they should love one another, and he prayed that they might be one. He gave them an everlasting sign of his own love, in the sacrament of bread and wine. He consecrated himself to his Father’s service, to be the high priest of the New Covenant. I invite you now to dedicate yourselves afresh to his service, as stewards of the gospel of Christ and ministers of his grace.

Bishop Andy addresses this question to all lay ministers:

When you were commissioned, you undertook to be faithful in prayer and by word and example to minister to those for whom Christ died. Will you do all that is in your power to help the church participate in the mission of God in the world and witness to God’s love for his people?

They respond:

By the help of God, I will.

Bishop Paul addresses all who are deacons (including those who are also priests and bishops):

At your ordination as a deacon, you received the yoke of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve. Will you continue faithfully in this ministry, to build up God’s people in his truth and mission, accompany those search- ing for faith and bring them to baptism, serve the community in which you are set, and bring to the church the needs and hopes of all the people?

Deacons By the help of God, I will.

7 Bishop Andy puts the following question to all who are priests (including those who are also bishops):

At your ordination to the priesthood, you took authority to watch over and care for God’s people, to absolve and bless them in his name, to proclaim the gospel of salvation, and to minister the sacraments of his New Covenant. Will you continue as faithful stewards of the mysteries of God, preaching the gospel of Christ and ministering his holy sacraments?

Priests By the help of God, I will.

A young person says:

To all who are bishops, I ask:

At your ordination as bishops you received the gift of the Spirit, that you might lead the Church in mission, and send out ministers in Christ’s name; that you might promote its unity, uphold its discipline, and guard its faith; and that you might teach and govern the people committed to your charge. Will you continue faithfully in this ministry, watching over Christ’s own flock, and building them up in the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace?

Bishops By the help of God, I will.

And to all of you who are ministers, I say:

May the God of peace sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, and he will accomplish it.

All Amen. Lord, have mercy.

8 PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION led by the Dean

The following response is used:

Lord, we lift your name on high and sing your praise before all people.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Dean Standing at the foot of the cross, as our Saviour taught us, so we pray:

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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

BLESSING

Bishop May God the Father, Lord of all creation, cleanse you by his holiness.

May God the Son, ascended to the heights, pour out upon you the riches of his grace.

May God the Holy Spirit strengthen you in the service of the gospel.

9 And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

DISMISSAL

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

CLOSING SONG OF WORSHIP led by Neil Wilson

I cast my mind to Calvary where Jesus bled and died for me I see his wounds, his hands, his feet My Saviour on that cursed tree.

His body bound and drenched in tears, they laid him down in Joseph’s tomb the entrance sealed by heavy stone, Messiah still and all alone.

O praise the Name of the Lord our God O praise his Name forevermore, for endless days we will sing your praise Oh Lord, oh Lord our God.

Then on the third at break of dawn the Son of heaven rose again O trampled death where is your sting? The angels roar for Christ the King.

O praise the Name of the Lord our God O praise his Name forevermore, for endless days we will sing your praise Oh Lord, oh Lord our God.

10 He shall return in robes of white the blazing sun shall pierce the night, and I will rise among the saints my gaze transfixed on Jesus’ face.

O praise the Name of the Lord our God O praise his Name forevermore, for endless days we will sing your praise Oh Lord, oh Lord our God.

M. Simpson, W. Hastings and Dean Ussher, Hillsong Worship

This is the successive second year in which, due to the pandemic, it has not been possible to hold the Chrism Eucharist in the usual way. Bishop Paul will bless the oils of Baptism and Chrism and the Oil for the Anointing of the Sick at a service after Easter, with arrangements made for parishes to collect oils from the Minster as required. Please look out for further information after Easter.

The Minster Centre, Church Street, Southwell, NG25 0HD Tel.: 01636 817290 [email protected] www.southwellminster.org Facebook: @SouthwellMinster Twitter: @SouthwMinster Instagram: @SouthwellMinster

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