Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education

COMMISSIONING SERVICE

FOR A

NEW HEADTEACHER OR PRINCIPAL

Worship SongAll stand: Bishop and Procession

PREPARATION

Greeting

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

All And also with youBishop Loving Lord,All fill us with your life-giving, joy-giving,

peace-giving presence, that we may praise you now with our lips and all the day long with our lives, through Jesus Christour Lord. Amen

Confession

Bishop “The grace of God has dawned upon the worldwith healing for all. Though we have grievedhim, yet he will heal us if we confess our sins in penitence and faith”Malachi 4:2

All standStudent God our Father, we come to you in sorrow for

our sins. For turning away and ignoring your will for our lives;Father, forgive us:

All Save us and help us.

Student For behaving just as we wish, without thinking of you;Father, forgive us:

All Save us and help us.

Student For failing you by what we do and think and say;Father, forgive us:

All Save us and help us.

Student For letting ourselves be drawn away from you by temptations in the world around us; Father, forgive us:

All Save us and help us.

Student For living as if we were ashamed to belong toyour Son;Father, forgive us:

All Save us and help us.

AbsolutionBishop May God, who is both power and love,

forgive you and free you from your sins,heal and strengthen you by His Spiritand raise you to new life in Christ our Lord.

All Amen

The CollectThe Church’s prayer for the day is said.

Bishop God our Father, Lord of all the world,hear our prayer for your faithful people,that in service and calling each may bean instrument of love, and give to your people,now gathered, the needful gifts of grace;through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.

All Amen

All sit

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

Old Testament Reading: Ecclesiastes 9: 7-10Member of staff: A Reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes

“Seize life! Eat Bread with gusto, drink wine with a robust heart.Oh yes – God takes pleasure in your pleasure!Dress festively every morning.Don’t skimp on colours and scarves.Relish Life with the spouse you love each and every day of your precious life.Each day is God’s gift.It’s all you get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive.Make the most of each one!Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily!This is your last and only chance at it…”

This is the word of the LordAll Thanks be to God

All standGospel Reading: Bishop or local clergy: A reading from the Gospel according to JohnAll: Glory to you O Lord

“ I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will be clean and bear more fruit.You have been made clean already by the teaching I have given you.Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

This is the Gospel of the LordAll Praise to you, O Christ

All sitSermon – The Bishop

Introduction of the New Headteacher/Principal

Chair of Governors Bishop (Name)…. May I, on behalf of the Governing Body of (School/Academy name) present (Name) who has been appointed as the new Headteacher/Principal of our school/academy?

Affirmation of Faith Bishop School plays an important role in helping

young people and those who care for them to grow in the understanding and practice of the Christian faith. Therefore, before I commission you, I ask you, along with the congregationhere present, to declare this faith. It is the faith of the Church, the faith we teach in school. It is the faith that you, as Headteacher/ Principal of (School/Academy name), are committed to promote.

All standDo you believe and trust in God the Father,source of all being and life, the one for whom we exist?

All We believe and trust in Him.Bishop Do you believe and trust in God the Son, who

took our human nature, died for us and rose again?

All We believe and trust in Him.Bishop Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit,

who gives life to the people of God and makesChrist known in the world?

All We believe and trust in Him.Bishop This is the faith of the ChurchAll This is our faith. We believe and trust in one

God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

All sit except the Bishop and the Headteacher

Commissioning Bishop (Christian Name of the Headteacher/Principal)

you have been appointed as the new Headteacher/Principal of (Name of School/Academy). You will recognise the responsibilities involved. Education is part of the Church’s mission in sharing the Good News of the Gospel. It recognises that all human experience presents opportunities for developing and deepening our love and knowledge of God and others.As the Headteacher of this Church School you have a special responsibility to ensure that everyone in your school is valued and recognised as being a child of God, uniquely gifted by Him. You are also responsible for ensuring the school is rooted in Christian values, principles and beliefs, and that worship and religious education are central to the whole life and work of the school.Will you commit yourself to this work?

Headteacher/ I will, with the help of God.PrincipalBishop Members of (Name of the School/Academy)

staff and students, Governors and parents, representatives of the Diocese and local community, will you support and pray for (Name of Headteacher/Principal) in this new ministry and service as Headteacher/Principal of your School/Academy?

All We will

Bishop (Christian Name of the Headteacher/Principal) to be appointed as Principal or to the Headship of a Church School/Church Academy and to

undertake the nurture of its pupils, is to be given a solemn trust. We pray that God will strengthen you by His grace, to faithfully fulfil this task.

Laying on of hands

Lord, give (Christian Name of the Headteacher/Principal) your special gifts of love, joy, wisdom, grace and understanding, that he/she may serve your children with gladness, to the honour and glory of your holy name. Grant to him/her creativity in teaching and learning, insight and understanding in management, and vision in leadership.May (Christian Name of the Headteacher/Principal) lead the School/Academy in the ways of Christ through the pursuit of equality, truth, justice, love and peace. Amen

The Headteacher/Principal is officially welcomed by representatives from the school/academy and given symbolic “gifts” to nurture and support him/her in his/her post and linked to his/her role as Headteacher/Principal(Bible, Prayer Book, Cross, School Bell, School badge)

Intercessions

These will be led by Students and the Youth Worker Chaplain and will include the Prayer for the Diocesan Vision (can be found on back page). (They may take a variety of forms)

THE LITURGY OF THE SACRAMENT

All stand

PeaceBishop Christ came and proclaimed the gospel, peace

to those who are far offand peace to those who are near.The peace of the Lord be always with you.

All And also with you

Worship SongDuring which the Communion Table is prepared

The Eucharistic Prayer

Bishop The Lord be with you.All And also with you.Bishop Lift up your hearts.All We lift them to the Lord.Bishop Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.All It is right to give him thanks and praise.Bishop Lord of all life, you created the universe, where

all living things reflect your glory.You give us this great and beautiful earth to discover and to cherish. You give us happytimes and things to celebrate. In these wetaste your kingdom, a feast for all your children.You made us all, each wonderfully different, tojoin with the angels and sing your praise.

All Holy, holy, holy Lord,God of power and might,Heaven and earth are full of your glory.Hosanna in the highest.

Bishop We thank you, loving Father, because, when we turned away, you sent Jesus, your Son. He gave His life for us on the cross and shows us the way to live. Send your Holy Spirit that these gifts of bread and wine may be for us Christ’s body and His blood. Why do we share this bread and wine?

All Listen, and we will hear.Bishop On the night before he died, when darkness

had fallen,Jesus took bread. He gave thanks, broke it, and shared it with his disciples, saying: ‘This is my body, given for you, do this to remember me’After they had eaten, he took the cup of wine,gave thanks, and shared it with the disciples.Jesus said: ‘This is my blood poured out for youand for many for the forgiveness of sins’So Father, with this bread and this cup we celebrate his love, his death, his risen life. As you feed us with these gifts, send your Holy Spirit, changing us more and more to be like Jesus, our Saviour.How do we follow Jesus Christ?

All Listen, and we will hear.Bishop Help us, Father to love one another,

as we look forward to the day when sufferingis ended, and all creation is gathered in your loving arms. And now with all your saintswe give you glory, through Jesus Christ, in the

strength of the Spirit, today and forever.All Amen.

Bishop Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:

All Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.And lead us not into temptation;but deliver us from evil.For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen

Bishop We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.

All Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in the one bread.

Giving of CommunionThe Bishop will invite people to come forward for communion

Worship Song

All standPrayer after Communion

Bishop Let us pray:All Almighty God we thank you for feeding us

with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice.Send us out in the power of your Holy Spiritto live and work to your praise and glory. Amen

BlessingBishop May the boldness of the Spirit transform you,

may the gentleness of the Spirit lead you,may the gifts of the Spirit equip you to serve and worship God;and the blessing of God almighty,the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,be among you and remain with you always

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

Worship SongThe Bishop, Headteacher/Principal and guests make their way out of the Hall.

The Chair of Governors and Govering Body would like to invite everyone to join them, with the school community, in the

refectory/dining room for refreshment.

Board of Education, Blackburn Diocese, revised 2016, based on a document compiled by the Portsmouth and Winchester Diocese Board of Education. Extra material is taken from Common Worship and uses one of the Additional Eucharistic Prayers. Copyright for these services belongs to the Archbishop’s Council, 2000, 2012.

OUR DIOCESAN PRAYER (for Vision 2026)

Heavenly Father, we embrace Your call for us to make disciples,

to be witnesses and to grow leaders.Give us the eyes to see Your vision,

ears to hear the prompting of Your Spiritand courage to follow in the footsteps of your Son,

our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.Amen