Ordination of Deacons

		The Ordination of Deacons

¶		The Gathering

		At the entry of the ministers, a hymn, a canticle, or a psalm may be sung.

		The Greeting

		The Bishop greets the people

		The Lord be with you
All		and also with you.

		The Collect

Bishop		God our Father, Lord of all the world,
		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 servants now to be ordained
		the needful gifts of grace;
		through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
		who is alive and reigns with you
		in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
		one God, now and for ever.
All		Amen.

¶		The Liturgy of the Word

		Readings

		Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 6.1-8

		At the end the reader may say

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

		Psalm

		Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes •
		and I shall keep it to the end.

		Give me understanding and I shall keep your law; •
		I shall keep it with my whole heart.

		Lead me in the path of your commandments, •
		for therein is my delight.

		Incline my heart to your testimonies •
		and not to unjust gain.

		Turn away my eyes lest they gaze on vanities; •
		O give me life in your ways.

		Confirm to your servant your promise, •
		which stands for all who fear you.
		Psalm 119.33-38
		Glory to the Father and to the Son
		and to the Holy Spirit;
		as it was in the beginning is now
		and shall be for ever.
		Amen.

		New Testament Reading: Romans 12.1-12

		At the end the reader may say

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

		A canticle or a hymn may be sung.

		Gospel Reading

		When the Gospel is announced the reader says

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

		The Gospel: Mark 10.35-45

		At the end

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

		Sermon

		The Creed

		Stand

		The Nicene Creed may be said

All		We believe in one God,
		the Father, the Almighty,
		maker of heaven and earth,
		of all that is,
		seen and unseen.

		We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
		the only Son of God,
		eternally begotten of the Father,
		God from God, Light from Light,
		true God from true God,
		begotten, not made,
		of one Being with the Father;
		through him all things were made.
		For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
		was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
		and was made man.
		For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
		he suffered death and was buried.
		On the third day he rose again
		in accordance with the Scriptures;
		he ascended into heaven
		and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
		He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
		and his kingdom will have no end.

		We believe in the Holy Spirit,
		the Lord, the giver of life,
		who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
		who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
		who has spoken through the prophets.
		We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
		We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
		We look for the resurrection of the dead,
		and the life of the world to come.
		Amen.

		The Presentation

		The Archdeacon or other person appointed reads the name of each person to be ordained deacon, and that of the place where he is to serve, first saying

		Reverend Father, I present these persons to be ordained to the office of deacon in the Church of God.

		The Bishop presents the candidates to the people, and says

		Those whose duty it is to enquire about these persons and examine them have found them to be of godly life and sound learning, and believe them to be duly called to serve God in this ministry. Is it therefore your will that they should be ordained?
All		It is.

		Will you uphold them in their ministry?
All		We will.

		The Declaration

		The candidates stand before the Bishop, and the people sit.

Bishop		A deacon is called to serve the Church of God, and to work with its members in caring for the poor, the needy, the sick, and all who are in trouble. He is to strengthen the faithful, search out the careless and the indifferent, and to preach the word of God in the place to which he is licensed. A deacon assists the priest under whom he serves, in leading the worship of the people, especially in the administration of the Holy Communion. He may baptize when required to do so. It is his general duty to do such pastoral work as is entrusted to him.

		The Bishop says to those who are to be ordained

		In order that we may know your mind and purpose, and that you may be strengthened in your resolve to fulfil your ministry, you must make the declarations we now put to you.

		Do you believe, so far as you know your own heart, that God has called you to the office and work of a deacon in his Church?
		I believe that God has called me.

Bishop		Do you accept the holy Scriptures as revealing all things necessary for eternal salvation?
		I do so accept them.

Bishop		Do you believe the doctrine of the Christian faith as the Church of England has received it, and in your ministry will you expound and teach it?
		I believe it, and will so do.

Bishop		Will you accept the discipline of this Church, and give due respect to those in authority?
		By the help of God, I will.

Bishop		Will you be diligent in prayer, in reading holy Scripture, and in all studies that will deepen your faith and fit you to uphold the truth of the Gospel against error?
		By the help of God, I will.

Bishop		Will you strive to fashion your own life and that of your household according to the way of Christ?
		By the help of God, I will.

Bishop		Will you promote unity, peace, and love among all Christian people, and especially among those whom you serve?
		By the help of God, I will.

Bishop		Will you then, in the strength of the Holy Spirit, continually stir up the gift of God that is in you, to make Christ known to all men?
		By the help of God, I will.

Bishop		Almighty God, who has given you the will to undertake all these things, give you also the strength to perform them; that he may complete that work which he has begun in you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All		Amen.

		The Prayers

		Kneel

		The Bishop commends those who are to be ordained to the prayers of the people and silence is kept.

Bishop		Let us pray.

		The Bishop or some other minister leads the prayers for the candidates and for the ministry of the whole Church.

		God the Father,
All		have mercy upon us.

		God the Son,
All		have mercy upon us.

		God the Holy Spirit,
All		have mercy upon us.

		Holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity,
All		have mercy upon us.

		From all evil and mischief;
		from pride, vanity and hypocrisy;
		from envy, hatred and malice;
		and from all evil intent,
All		good Lord, deliver us.

		From sloth, worldliness, and love of money;
		from hardness of heart
		and contempt for your word and your laws,
All		good Lord, deliver us.

		From sins of body and mind;
		from the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil,
		from error and false doctrine,
All		good Lord, deliver us.

		In all times of sorrow,
		in all times of joy;
		in the hour of death,
		and at the day of judgement,
All		good Lord, deliver us.

		Govern and direct your holy Church;
		fill it with love and truth;
		and grant it that unity which is your will.
All		Hear us, good Lord.

		Give us boldness to preach the gospel in all the world,
		and to make disciples of all the nations.
All		Hear us, good Lord.

		Enlighten [N our Bishop and] all who minister
		with knowledge and understanding,
		that by their teaching and their lives
		they may proclaim your word.
All		Hear us, good Lord.

		Bless your servants now to be made deacons,
		that they may serve your Church
		and reveal your glory in the world.
All		Hear us, good Lord.

		Give your people grace to hear and receive your word,
		and to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit.
All		Hear us, good Lord.

		Bring into the way of truth all who have erred
		and are deceived.
All		Hear us, good Lord.

		Strengthen those who stand;
		comfort and help the faint-hearted;
		raise up the fallen;
		and finally beat down Satan under our feet.
All		Hear us, good Lord.

		Give us true repentance;
		forgive us our sins of negligence and ignorance,
		and our deliberate sins;
		and grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit
		to amend our lives according to your holy word.
All		Holy God,
		holy and strong,
		holy and immortal,
		have mercy upon us.

Bishop		Lord, you are merciful and forgive our sins. You hear those who pray in the name of your Son. Grant that what we have asked in faith we may obtain according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All		Amen.

		The Ordination

		The candidates kneel before the Bishop; he stretches out his hands towards them, and says

		We praise and glorify you, most merciful Father, because in your great love of mankind you sent your only Son Jesus Christ to take the form of a servant; he came to serve and not to be served; and taught us that he who would be great among us must be the servant of all; he humbled himself for our sake, and in obedience accepted death, even death on a cross; therefore you highly exalted him and gave him the name which is above every name.

		And now we give you thanks that you have called these your servants, whom we ordain in your name, to share this ministry entrusted to your Church.

		Here the Bishop lays his hands on the head of each candidate, and says

		Send down the Holy Spirit upon your servant N for the office and work of a deacon in your Church.

		When the Bishop has laid his hands on all of them, he continues

		Almighty Father, give to these your servants grace and power to fulfil their ministry. Make them faithful to serve, ready to teach, constant in advancing your gospel; and grant that, always having full assurance of faith, abounding in hope, and being rooted and grounded in love, they may continue strong and steadfast in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom, with you and your Holy Spirit, belong glory and honour, worship and praise, now and for ever.
All		Amen.

		The Giving of the New Testament

		Sit

		The newly-ordained deacons stand, and the Bishop gives the New Testament to each one, saying

		Receive this Book, as a sign of the authority given you this day to speak God's word to his people. Build them up in his truth and serve them in his name.

¶		The Liturgy of the Sacrament

		Stand

		The Bishop resumes the celebration of Holy Communion at the Peace. These special forms are used

		Proper Preface
		And now we give you thanks because within the royal priesthood of your Church you ordain ministers to proclaim the word of God, to care for your people and to celebrate the sacraments of the new covenant.

		Post Communion Sentence
		The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
		Mark 10.45

		Post Communion
		Father,
		you have taught the ministers of your Church
		to be the willing servants of others.
		Give to these your deacons
		skill and gentleness in the practice of
		their ministry,
		and perseverance always in prayer;
		through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All		Amen.

		Blessing
		Almighty God, who for the salvation of the world gives to his people many gifts and ministries to the advancement of his glory, stir up in you the gifts of his grace, sustain each one of you in your own ministry; and the blessing …

© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
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