| St Mary and St
Nicholas with All Saints Within the United Benefice of Leatherhead and St Michael Mickleham Diocese of Guildford A Celebration of a New Ministry The Institution and Induction of The Reverend Graham Osborne As the Incumbent to the Cure of Souls by The Right Reverend Ian Brackley, Bishop of Dorking and the installation by The Venerable Julian Henderson, Archdeacon of Dorking on 18 November at 7.30 pm at the Parish Church, St Mary and St Nicholas, Leatherhead |
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About this service
Christian life and work are always undertaken in partnership with others. First and foremost there is the partnership between God and the 'people of God', that is the whole Church, clergy and laity together. However in each congregation there is also a partnership between the ordained ministry and the lay members, each with their individual gifts. Partnership, therefore, is the theme of this service.Appointment
Graham Osborne was appointed as the conclusion of a process of discernment and prayer. This included the preparation by the Parochial Church Council of a statement of the needs and traditions of the parish, and meetings with the elected parish representatives who, together with the Bishop, agreed to the appointment.Brief CV of new priest and family.
After a 25-year commercial career spanning Insurance, IT and management consultancy specialising in organisational change management, Graham spent two years training for ordination at Ripon College Cuddesdon and served his title in Cirencester. He was Vicar of St Catharine's Gloucester for ten years, including five years as Rural Dean of Gloucester City Deanery. His interests include sport, reading, music and computing. Graham is married to Nicky and they have three children — Holly (24) is a Primary school teacher in Truro; Luke (21) is reading Theatre & Performance at Leeds University; Bethany (20) is the Credit Controller of a telesales company in Cheltenham.Before the service begins you may wish to spend some time in prayer:
• Remember all who have worshipped and ministered here in the past
• Pray for all who worship in the parish today
• Pray for the new priest and his family
• Pray for all who live and work in this neighbourhood
• Pray for yourself, your worship and witnessA collection for the Bishop of Guildford's Foundation will be made during the Service.
Archdeacon of Dorking: Ven Julian Henderson
Rural Dean: Rev Robert Jenkins, Vicar of Cobham with Stoke d'Abernon, previously a parishioner and ordinand from the parish of Leatherhead.
Representing the Dean of Rochester: Lay Member of Cathedral Chapter, Professor Vaughan Grylls
Churchwardens Leatherhead: Peter Leith, Navin Mehta
Churchwardens Mickleham: John Banfield (acting), Jack Richardson
Organist: Robert Leach (Mickleham)
Choir Leader: Anthony Cairns (Christ Church URC): The choir of St Mary & St Nicholas was augmented by choir members from the parish of Mickleham and the Covenanting Churches.
Flowers: Jill Goodchild & Molly Lewis
THE GATHERING
Before the service begins the Rural Dean escorts the incumbent-designate to his place in the front row, welcomes everyone and announces the first hymn.
All stand for the Processional Hymn
All Hail the Pow'r of Jesus' name Tune: DiademTHE GREETING AND INTRODUCTION
Remain standing.
Bishop: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
All: And also with you.Bishop: There are varieties of gifts
All: but the same Spirit who gives them;Bishop: There are varieties of service
All: but the same Lord;Bishop: There are varieties of activities
All: but it is the same God who achieves his purpose in everyone.Bishop: To each is given a manifestation of the Spirit
All: to use for the common good.The Bishop welcomes the congregation and introduces the liturgy.
Remain standing.
THE PREPARATION
We have come together, as the family of God, to admit Graham Osborne to have pastoral leadership of this benefice. The Church is the priesthood of all believers, each with their own ministry. Therefore let us hear and receive God's holy Word, that each of us may be renewed in our ministry, to which we are called through baptism, as part of the Body of Christ.
The Bishop introduces a short period of silence.
The Collect
God our Father, Lord of all the world, we thank you for calling us through your Son Jesus Christ into the fellowship of your universal Church. Hear our prayer for your people that each in their vocation and ministry may be an instrument of your love. Give to your servant Graham the needful gifts of grace for the good of your Church and the welfare of all people, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.All sit.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
The Reading by Revd David Ireland (Parish of Mickleham)
The reading is taken from 1 Peter Chapter 2 verses 4 to 10This is the word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God.The Sermon: The Bishop of Dorking
Inaugurating a new ministry is always an exciting time, full of promise and hope for the future, both for the individual priest concerned and for the parish itself. This service, in which we institute and install Graham to his new role as vicar of the benefice of Leatherhead and Mickleham, reminds us all of our sense of belonging to the Church and our responsibility within it.
Christian Ministry is about helping others to find and follow Jesus, the Lord of the Dance, who calls you and me and lots of others we probably wouldn’t choose to be with, to become his disciples and to share our joy in finding him with others and invite them too to come and join in the Dance. There can be a tendency nowadays in our individualistic culture to focus on “ME and my relationship with Jesus” with little awareness of the wider Church and our fellow believers of all sorts and hues, and with perhaps scant regard for the troubled world around in which we live, or with negligible awareness of the depths, wonder and mystery of the God revealed by our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the Priest’s calling to help those committed to his charge to grow in these areas too. And I hope I hardly need remind you that “those committed to his charge” are not just churchgoers, the regular or occasional congregation, but every parishioner – the people of Leatherhead and Mickleham, not forgetting of course the Deanery of Leatherhead in which it is set.
The town of Leatherhead has seen considerable development in recent years. No longer a small country town, it has become something of a centre for business and commerce, due to its proximity to major airports, the M25 and of course as a favoured commuter base for London. The town centre has catered for the wider needs of this community, and you could now probably eat out every night for a month or more and still not exhaust its café and restaurant possibilities. In common with many other churches Leatherhead wants to grow its congregation and especially among a younger generation, both those in their teens and young families. To do this must inevitably bring with it a willingness to change and adapt. Otherwise the writing will be on the wall and a gradual and increasing decline is what you can expect. So the careful management of change through a commonly held vision and a prioritising of where the church should be spending its time and money requires a quality of spiritual leadership that I am confident Graham Osborne will bring.
Graham has had ten years in a parish in Gloucester that has seen real growth, new life and a wide appeal under Graham’s leadership. You come, Graham, to a parish that is really looking forward to your ministry. You will have the support of colleagues here in Leatherhead, from Mary Cruddas and Mike Stewart and also from your ecumenical partners in the Covenanting Churches, and also from David Ireland in Mickleham, not to mention the willingness and help of a host of lay ministries. On your behalf and on the diocese’s behalf, I would like to offer special thanks to the Churchwardens and the Rural Dean for their care of the parish during the vacancy and thanks too to other clergy who have assisted with services at this time.
A bishop colleague of mine has said that he was told by his spiritual director, that the only things to be concerned with as a priest were the glory of God, the pain of the world and the renewal (by which he meant repentance/change of heart) of the Church. God – World – Church. Notice the order. We serve an astonishing God, for the sake of an amazing world. We are not simply church functionaries. That’s a healthy reminder to any bishop or priest as we attend inevitable rounds of meetings and committees. The Church’s work is about being renewed in the power and Spirit of God in order to give God the glory as we engage with the sorrows and sufferings of world. But how may we do this? What resources can we bring? Where do we find the strength, the energy, the vision, the will to engage?
In a recent article about Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the toil and travail he endures in seeking to hold together the fragile life of the Anglican Communion, the Archbishop said this about the supportive life of prayer he values at his home in Lambeth Palace,
“It helps enormously to have not only the discipline of the daily Offices, the daily Eucharist here, but actually a praying community. Prayers are offered quite early. Every morning, therefore, I have an opportunity to remind myself that what matters is not the Church of England or the Anglican Communion but the act of God in Jesus Christ for the salvation of the world. When I am inclined to think that the whole thing is falling apart and that I am making a more than usually bad job of it, the transforming thing has got to be, and in my experience always is, renewing a sense of gratitude. Whether the Church of England survives or not, whether the Archbishop of Canterbury survives or not, Christ still died on the cross and rose again, and that’s enough to keep you going for quite a few lifetimes”
Ministry must be rooted in disciplined prayer. Without it will soon founder and lack authenticity. This is prayer, reflection and meditation upon the Scriptures offered day by day that must be part and parcel of the priest’s routine and way of life. But ministry is not something that just the ordained minister offers, it is offered by the whole people of God, and so you too must root your life as Christian congregations in a daily walk with God, personally and if on occasion it is possible together. At least it is important that Graham knows that you are praying for him in his work and for the life of the Church in this parish and Deanery, as he will be praying for you. Ministry is about allowing the power and Spirit of God to use us as channels of his grace and loving service in the communities in which we live. It is not about blowing our own trumpet or forcing ourselves upon others with an unwelcome heavy handedness. Rather it is letting the Lord work his subtle and peaceable will among as we seek to make him known and discover his presence already in our midst.
Or as we heard in our Reading from the First Letter of Peter this evening:
“But you are chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
Hymn: King of Kings, Majesty
During the singing of this hymn the Patron brings the new priest to stand before the Bishop.THE PRESENTATION
All sit.
Patron (representing the Dean of Rochester): Bishop Ian, I present to you Revd Graham Osborne to be admitted to have the care of God's people in this benefice as their priest and request that you will institute him to this charge.
Churchwardens: On behalf of the Parochial Church Councils, we welcome this appointment.
Bishop: I accept your presentation and pray that God's blessing may rest upon this benefice. I am glad to admit Graham whose name has been publicly made known and whose character and conduct have been commended to me. Before I give Graham responsibility for the pastoral care of this benefice, I ask him before God and this congregation, to renew the promises made at ordination to Christ as a priest of his Church.
Bishop: Graham, at our Ordination we accepted the responsibility of priesthood out of love for Christ and his Church. Are you resolved to follow Jesus Christ, the Head and Shepherd of the Church, by caring as a true pastor for the people you are now called to serve? Will you seek to do all that lies within your power to build up the Church, which is the Body of Christ?
Graham: I will, with God's grace.
Bishop: Let us pray, asking God to help Graham to be a faithful minister of Christ in this place.
Silent Prayer
Bishop: Lord, in your mercy
All: Hear our prayer.Bishop: Graham will have the pastoral care of this benefice but you will share with him in the ministry of the Church. It is right, therefore, that we should renew our resolve to be faithful servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us remember our calling and pray that we may be faithful in our ministry.
Silent Prayer
Bishop: Let us pray together
All: Lord, you have given us minds to know you, hearts to love you, and voices to praise your name. Give us grace to offer ourselves freely in your service that we may faithfully fulfil the worship of your Church, glorify you in our lives and share with you in bringing your Kingdom here on earth.
Amen.The congregation sit.
THE LICENSING
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 the people in your care?
Graham: I, Graham Daking Osborne, 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 worship which are authorised or allowed by Canon.
The Oath of Allegiance
The priest, holding the Bible, faces the people.Graham: I, Graham Daking Osborne, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, her heirs and successors according to law: so help me God.
The Oath of Canonical Obedience
The priest, holding the Bible, faces the Bishop.Graham: I, Graham Daking Osborne, do swear by Almighty God that I will pay true and canonical obedience to the Lord Bishop of Guildford and his successors, in all things lawful and honest: so help me God.
The priest and Bishop then sign a copy of the declaration and oaths.
The Bishop hands the Licence to the priest, who kneels.Bishop: Graham, receive the 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 blesses the priest and may use the following words:
Bishop: Graham, God give you the spirit of holy discipline, faithfulness and love for all. The Lord bless you and watch over you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord look kindly upon you and give you peace.
All: Amen.THE INDUCTION
The Bishop gives the Archdeacon the Mandate of Induction:
Mr Archdeacon, please proceed with the Induction.The Archdeacon and the new priest move to the main door of the church, preceded by the Churchwardens and the Rural Dean.
The congregation stand and turn to face the door.
The Archdeacon lays Graham's hand on the door and says:Graham, with the authority of this Mandate, I induct you into the real and actual possession of the Parish Churches of St Mary and St Nicholas with All Saints, Leatherhead and St Michael, Mickleham with all the rights, dignities and responsibilities belonging to it.
The Churchwardens give the new priest a set of keys.
The priest tolls the bell to signify to the parish the acceptance of office.
The Churchwardens lead back to the Chancel Step.
The tolling of the bell: source Alison WrightTHE INSTALLATION
The Archdeacon then places Graham in the accustomed seat of the priest of the Parish.
Archdeacon: Graham, I place you in the stall of the priest of this benefice. May the Lord guard and keep you, and bless your ministry here.
Anthem by the Choir: Thou visitest the earth (Maurice Greene)
All kneel.
Prayers
The first act of the newly installed priest is to lead everyone in prayer concluding with the Lord's Prayer:
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.Hymn: In Christ Alone my hope is found
THE REDEDICATION OF PRIEST AND PEOPLE IN MINISTRY
Symbols will be presented by a parish representative, the congregation sit.
CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP
Water is brought in a large jug or ewer from the font and handed to Graham with the following words:
Parish representative (Jay Bristow): We bring you water as a sign of the baptism in which we all share and into which others will be brought.
Ecumenical representative (Ian Howarth): Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" Peter said to them "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him." (Acts 2:37-39)
Bishop: Will you live the new life in Christ which is yours by faith and baptism, together with his disciples in this place, and joyfully minister the sacrament of Baptism for those who turn to Christ?
Graham: I will, with God's grace.
All: We commit our lives afresh to Christ as we journey together on the Christian pilgrimage.
CALL TO MISSION
A Bible is brought from the lectern and presented to Graham with the following words:
Parish representative (Edith Wright): We bring the Scriptures as a sign that we are called to proclaim the Gospel and to share in the teaching ministry of Christ's Church.
Rural Dean: 'When Jesus came to Nazareth where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour. (Luke 4:16-19, NRSV).
Bishop: Will you proclaim the Gospel of Christ by word and deed in your ministry and fashion your life in accordance with his teaching?
Graham: I will, with God's grace.
All: We accept our calling to share with you and all God's people in the mission of Christ and the task of evangelism.
CALL TO CHRISTIAN WORSHIP
Bread and wine are handed to Graham with the words:
Parish representatives (Roger Lynch and Rebecca Swanson): We bring you this bread and wine as a sign of your leading the sacramental ministry and worship of this Church.
Archdeacon: St. Paul writes to the Christians in Corinth:
`For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body that is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
(1 Cor. 11:23-26, NRSV)Bishop: Will you lead and encourage the people of this place in worship and prayer, and share with them in the sacrament of Holy Communion?
Graham: I will, with God's grace.
All: May Christ our Lord unite us in worship, and fill our hearts with the joy of the Holy Spirit.
THE WELCOMING OF THE NEW PRIEST
The Rural Dean invites Graham to join him at the Chancel step.
The Rural Dean invites representatives of the parish and community to welcome the new priest:Navin Mehta – Churchwardens and PCCs Revd David Ireland - Ministry Team
Joyce Gordon – Lay Chair Deanery Synod Chris Stagg – Youth & Children's Work Richard Price – Choir/Music Group
Peter Ford – Tower Captain
Doug Waters – Leatherhead Youth Project ClIr Tim Hall – Chairman of MVDC
Anne Hossack – All local schools
Revd Ian Howarth - Churches Together in LeatherheadRural Dean: Let us all join together in welcoming Graham to serve these parishes as priest.
All stand.
All: In the name of the Lord, we welcome you.
All sit.
Graham responds to the welcome, gives out any notices (including details of the following Sunday's services) and announces the next hymn.
Hymn (during which the Collection is taken)
And Can It Be that I should gain (Charles Wesley)
Tune: SaginaThe Blessing and Dismissal
All stand.Bishop: May God the Father, who created you, fulfil in you his heavenly purpose.
All: Amen.Bishop: May God the Son, who redeemed you, be always present with you, to guide and support you in the work which you do for him and his Church.
All: Amen.Bishop: May God the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies and strengthens you, fill your hearts and minds with all that you need to serve God faithfully.
All: Amen.Bishop: And the Blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.
All: Amen.New Vicar: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
All: In the name of Christ. Amen.Organ Voluntary. War March of the Priests (Mendelssohn)
Everyone is warmly welcomed to a reception in the Parish Church
Hall for refreshments after the service where there will be an
opportunity to meet our new Vicar.Bishop of Guildford's Foundation.
As Christians we are called to live as Christ did and to be concerned for those who have social needs, are marginalised or victims of injustice.
The Foundation seeks to encourage and support the development of practical expressions of this concern. It supports projects that address needs at a local level, with the support of local churches, and are committed to their local communities.The Bishop of Guildford's Foundation relies on your donations to continue its work. If you are interested in our work, please visit our web site www.bgf.orq.uk or contact us on info@bgf.org.uk
The catering team waiting to set up the Parish Hall: Daphne Leith, Jane Andrews, Jane Haslam, Anne Warren, with Churchwarden Peter Leith
Some of the 40 strong contingent from Graham's previous parish of St Catharine's, Gloucester, who came to support him
The parish church was full: some of the congregation: Mrs Nicky Osborne and family members are on the right.
The choir is assembled in the Tower. The lights on the pillar are in readiness for performances on the
following two evenings of Murder in the Cathedral.
The Music Group lead some of the hymns
after the service: L-R: Rev Graham Osborne, Archdeacon of Dorking, Bishop of Dorking, Dean of Rochester's representative, Rural Dean
after the service, senior clergy and curates: L-R: Rev Mary Cruddas, Rev Graham Osborne, Archdeacon of Dorking,
Bishop of Dorking, Dean of Rochester's representative, Rev Mike Stewart, Rural Dean
after the service, senior clergy and curates with churchwardens from the United Benefice
Rev David Ireland seen here with Graham Osborne was unable to be in the previous
photos as he was looking after the other visiting clergy.
The Osbornes, feeling thoroughly welcomed
Page created 20 Nov 2009: updated 21 Nov 2009
unless otherwise stated, images source Haslam
