Sera has been part of the St Denys community for over 16 years. Her roots are in the North of England, and her journey South took her via Papua New Guinea, where she and Dave volunteered as teachers and embraced being Rumbles in the Jungle! Throughout her life the themes of teaching, enabling and engaging with social issues have been significant. Within St Denys Church she has ministered in a voluntary capacity and then stepped into lay and curacy roles. Her journey to being Priest-in-Charge has been one she's shared with Dave, Mim and Luke, her wider family, and the church family of St Denys and beyond. She's thankful for such fantastic travelling companions

Order of Service

The Assistant Area Dean will give out any notices, including the invitation to the reception.                                                                                                                                                   

The Processional Hymn : Great is Thy Faithfulness                                                   

Great is Thy faithfulness

O God my Father

There is no shadow

Of turning with Thee

Thou changest not

Thy compassions they fail not

As Thou hast been

Thou forever wilt be

(Chorus)

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning

New mercies I see

All I have needed

Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness

Lord unto me

Summer and winter

And springtime and harvest

Sun moon and stars

In their courses above

Join with all nature

In manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness

Mercy and love

Pardon for sin

And a peace that endureth

Thy own dear presence

To cheer and to guide

Strength for today

And bright hope for tomorrow

Blessings all mine

With ten thousand beside

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 License the Reverend Sera Rumble as the new Priest-in-Charge of this benefice. 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 Bishop adds words of welcome

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 Sera, 
                     now called by you to serve as Priest-in-Charge.
                          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  

The Reader announces

 Colossians 3 : 12 - 17 (NIV)

 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

After the reading

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

The Bishop’s Sermon                

The Presentation

The Archdeacon presents Sera to the Bishop, and says:

                          Bishop, after prayerful consideration and due consultation,                          Sarah Victoria Rumble has been nominated and accepted to be Priest-in-Charge of this benefice.  I now present her to you to be licensed.

Bishop              I thank you for this Presentation and I will gladly license her.

Sera stands before the Bishop.

Bishop              Sera, 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 benefice as Priest-in-Charge?

Sera                  I do so believe.

The Bishop addresses the people of the parish.

Bishop              People of God, is it your will that Sera 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 Sera, for this benefice and for yourselves.

Silence is kept                                                                                                                                Sit or kneel

Hymn : Come Down O Love Divine  (sung seated or kneeling)                                                                                                            

Come down O Love divine

Seek out this soul of mine

And visit it with your own ardour glowing

O Comforter draw near

Within my heart appear

And kindle it your holy flame bestowing

There let it freely burn

Till earthly passions turn

To dust and ashes in its heat consuming

And let your glorious light

Shine ever on my sight

And make my pathway clear by your illuming

Let holy charity

My outward vesture be

And lowliness become my inner clothing

True lowliness of heart

Which takes the humbler part

And for its own shortcomings weeps with loathing

And so the yearning strong

With which the soul will long

Shall far surpass the power of human telling

For none can guess its grace

Till we become the place

In which the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling

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 Sera 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.

 The Declaration and Oaths

Sera stands before the Bishop.                                                                                                  Sit

Bishop               In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I shall now license Sarah Victoria Rumble, Clerk in Holy Orders, to ministry this benefice, but first let the Archdeacon ensure that the Oaths be taken and the Declaration of Assent be made and subscribed, according to law.

Archdeacon     Sera, 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

Sera then makes the Declaration of Assent.

                           I, Sarah Victoria Rumble, 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, Sera, holding a Bible in her hand, makes the Oath of Allegiance to His Majesty the King.

                           I, Sarah Victoria Rumble, do swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, his heirs and successors, according to Law: so help me God. 

Turning to face the Archdeacon, Sera makes the Oath of Canonical Obedience.   

                           I, Sarah Victoria Rumble, do swear by Almighty God that I will pay true and canonical obedience to the Lord Bishop of Winchester and their successors in all things lawful and honest: so help me God. 

The Archdeacon and Sera sign the legal documents.

The Licensing

Sera kneels before the Bishop. The Bishop reads the Licence and then gives it to Sera, saying:                                      

                          Sera, receive this cure of souls in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

 Sera answers:

                          Amen.

The Bishop stands and blesses Sera saying:

                          God give you the spirit of holy discipline, of faithfulness, and of love for all his people; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always.

All                      Amen.

The Welcome

Sera and her family stand with the Bishop facing the congregation.

Bishop               People of this benefice, I present to you Sera as your new Priest-in-Charge, and invite you to greet her and her family in the name of Christ. I commend them to your love and prayers.

All                      We welcome you! May the Lord bless you 
                         and make you a blessing among us.

The Re-dedication of the People of God                                                                        Stand

Area Dean     Brothers and sisters in Christ, as fellow servants we share in the task of proclaiming the Gospel, celebrating the Sacraments, making new Christians, building up each other in the life of faith and caring for all, especially those in need. Let us commit ourselves afresh to the ministry to which God calls us.

                            During the following hymn people of this parish will bring to their new Priest-in-Charge symbols of ministry, which she will place on the altar: a jug of water for baptism; a Bible to proclaim the message of the Gospel; a prayer book to unite God’s children in prayer and fellowship; oil for forgiveness and healing; and bread and wine for Holy Communion.

 The symbols of ministry are presented during the following hymn.

Song : The Goodness of God  (sung by the worship group)

 I love You Lord

Oh 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

I will sing of the goodness of God

(Chorus)

All my life You have been faithful

All my life You have been so so good

With every breath that I am able

I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice

You have led me through the fire

In darkest night

You are close like no other

I've known You as a father

I've known You as a friend

I have lived in the goodness of God

(Bridge)

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

Forever I am free

Your goodness is running after

It's running after me

The Greetings                                                                                                                         Sit

 Sera is greeted by the Lay Chair on behalf of Southampton Deanery.

The Lay Chair introduces local clergy and community representatives, who bring short messages.

The Peace                                                                                                                                                   Stand

Sera introduces the Peace and the way we share the Peace at St Denys.

 Bishop                   We are all one in Christ Jesus.

    We belong to him through faith,

    heirs of the promise of the Spirit of peace.

                              The peace of the Lord be always with you.

All                         And also with you.

Song : My Song us Love Unknown                                                                                             

(During the song there will be a collection for the Bishop’s Ordination Candidates' Fund,

which will be received by Sera)

My song is love unknown

My Saviour's love to me

Love to the loveless shown

That they might lovely be

O who am I

That for my sake

My Lord should take

Frail flesh and die

He came from His blest throne

Salvation to bestow

But men made strange and none

The longed-for Christ would know

But O my Friend

My Friend indeed

Who at my need

His life did spend

In life no house no home

My Lord on earth might have

In death no friendly tomb

But what a stranger gave

What may I say

Heaven was His home

But mine the tomb

Wherein He lay

Here might I stay and sing

No story so divine

Never was love dear King

Never was grief like Thine

This is my Friend

In whose sweet praise

I all my days

Could gladly spend

The Prayers of Intercession                                                                                          Sit or kneel

 Led by Canon Rev’d Roger Oldfield and Ruth Oldfield (Sera’s parents)

Prayer for Sera as she walks forward into a new ministry

Catch her Lord in your generous grace Slow her down to your walking pace. May she see you walking on her low roads And standing at her crossroads.

Call her Lord, with your surprising hope, Make her ordinary way, a window for wonder. May she hear you say “I’m here to restore you, And honour and esteem you.”

Keep her Lord, despite any deep doubting, Widen her horizons with new possibilities. May she know you shining through her every day, Dazzling her through eternity.

Catch her o Lord, Call her o Lord Keep her o Lord We ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord Amen

A Prayer for the Church Family of St Denys as they make their next steps into God’s future for them

O Lord, Father in heaven Grant them those gifts that help them grow.

Grant them the still small voice which bring them out of fear into faith.

Grant them the fire of your sacred love which can heal what is so they can hold what is of heaven.

Be the listening Christ who waits for those on the road of retreat, turning them round to head home.

Be the surprising grace helping them dig the precious pearls from the fields of dream

Grant them, we pray, your gifts of your still small voice, your fire of sacred love, your listening ear and your surprising grace. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Lord of the church, Amen

A Prayer for those who need to be remembered tonight.

We remember those who are in hospital, in care, or in a place that is strange to them,

We remember those where in family, marriage or close relationships there is stress or worry or break up,

We remember those who are waiting for a birth, or a death or news that will deeply affect their lives,

We remember those who have authority over others and in whose hands are the well being and the hopes of many,

We remember those who find themselves without the resources to live and love as they would want,

We remember those who need to forget the God they do not believe in, in order to meet the God who believes in them.

Lord ,we believe that you hear our prayers and will be faithful to your promise to answer us.

Amen

Concluding with the Lord’s Prayer

                           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.

Sera brings a brief message

Final song : Build Your Kingdom        

Come set Your rule and reign

In our hearts again

Increase in us we pray

Unveil why we're made

Come set our hearts ablaze with hope

Like wildfire in our very souls

Holy Spirit come invade us now

We are Your church

We need Your pow'r in us

We seek Your kingdom first

We hunger and we thirst

Refuse to waste our lives

For You're our joy and prize

To see the captives' hearts released

The hurt the sick the poor at peace

We lay down our lives for heaven's cause

We are Your church

We pray revive this earth

(Chorus)

Build Your kingdom here

Let the darkness fear

Show Your mighty hand

Heal our streets and land

Set Your church on fire

Win this nation back

Change the atmosphere

Build Your kingdom here we pray

Unleash Your kingdom's pow'r

Reaching the near and far

No force of hell can stop

Your beauty changing hearts

You made us for much more than this

Awake the kingdom seed in us

Fill us with the strength and love of Christ

We are Your church

We are the hope on earth

Blessing

Bishop               God who has called you is faithful.

                           The Father, whose glory fills the heavens,

                           cleanse you by his holiness

                           and send you to proclaim his word.  Amen.

                           Christ, who has ascended to the heights,

                           pour upon you the riches of his grace.  Amen.

                           The Holy Spirit, the Comforter,

                           equip you and strengthen you in your ministry.  Amen.

                           And the blessing of God almighty,

                           the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

                           be among you, and remain with you always.  Amen.

Sera says:

                           Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All                      In the name of Christ. Amen.