Post by JEM on Jul 9, 2013 3:54:50 GMT
The INDUCTION SERVICE of Revd John Goddard to Saffron Walden Baptist Church July 6th 2013 in the Chapel area.
When and where we re-covenanted together to begin again as a company of God's People, of Christ's disciples, for another chapter in the story of Saffron Walden Baptist Church
About 110 seated downstairs,and some more upstairs, with some 20 odd children in the Upper Hall with several helpers
The Ensemble consisted of Chris and Sam Winfield. Todd Weston, Ged Pearce with Tracy Todman at the organ. Chris Winfield was the Worship Leader
Pat Heap our Moderator welcomed those who had come together, led prayer of Thanksgiving and Gave the Call to Worship
Chris then took over as leader and we sang
“PRAISE TO THE LORD, THE ALMIGHTY”
Psalm 84 was read
We sang
“WELCOMED INTO THE COURTS OF THE KING”
from the Soul Survivor Song Book
DANIEL 7 v 13 – 14 were then quoted
We sang “HOLY, HOLY GOD”
from Spring Harvest Praise 2008
After Opening Worship
1 – Came Greeting and Introduction. By Rev Paul Hills, EBA Regional minister
He commented on the Generousity of God and His Grace upon this Community
“We have gathered to induct a new Minister John Goddard, to work with the Community of Christ here at Saffron Walden Baptist church.
We come to affirm our belief that as this Church and Minister have explored the possibilities of life together here in Saffron Walden, they have been brought to this mutual commitment through the movement and calling of God's Spirit. Today we have come to witness the Covenant which this church and the Minister are making with each other to walk together as people of Christ. So let us hear from the Church and from John as they share with us something of this story
2 - THE TELLING OF THE STORY
Angela Sabey, Secretary of Saffron Walden Baptist Church proceeded to thank everyone for coming to this service, and for all the help without exception from all who had stood with us these last 2 years.
It was a sense of relief to her that we had settled upon a new Minister for when this process began, her then 7 year old son Luke had spoken to her “Mum, You do know it can take 9 years to find a new minister”
Angela was pleased to report he is clearly not a prophet. [ although he was a good listener as he heard Paul Hills remark that one Church had taken 9 years to settle ]
Angela spoke about the group that had got together to draw up our Profile 2 years ago , of the group that gathered after John's first visit last November and the Church Meeting called from which an invitation was made to John.
John Goddard came to the microphone, that then seemed to play up, and he remarked to the Studio crew “Is that all right fellas?”
It being so he told us that he Karen and the boys had been at Barrow in Furness 11 years and it had dawned on them that they would have to move, although they did not want to leave their many friends there [ he was pleased to see some of them within the congregation. Indeed there were Church secretaries of 3 churches he had been associated with]
John said that the Settlement Process is very unsettling.
Having started the process he had to wait a month for a reply to learn that nothing fitted the bill yet.
Then another month waiting for an email
Then came a day when he was at a Churches Together in Cumbria Meeting his phone went off and he noted an invitation from a church at a place called Saffron Walden as to whether he was still free to visit them with a view to seeing whether God was calling them to unite together
2 minutes later he received a call from another church and later in the day a third call from another church.
Now this too was unsettling, being spoilt for choice, what to do?. Well, they felt the profile of the first caller seemed to be similar to what they were seeking.
The Deacons apparently all believed it was right so to proceed and after our visit in January we had no doubt that this was the right course.
Back at Barrow we had a great send off including a Classical Singing Group.
It was hard to leave and to say goodbye.
But we are so grateful for the welcome we have received at Saffron Walden and all that has been done to prepare the Manse and the Garden.
We are so excited as to the years ahead.
It is good to see other Churches represented here. The Town needs us to work together, I'm joining in what God has already begun”
We then followed the Service of Induction set out in the Order of Service
John Goddard invited the local Church Congregation to stand They spoke alternately with him the Induction Liturgy
that We stand together with each other recognizing Christ in our midst affirming our faith in the God who calls us to work for a transformed world.
We stand recognizing Christ in each other
We bring ourselves, and the gifts we have. We covenanted to serve and encourage this Church and Community
We are called to be
a Prophetic People
an Inclusive People
a Sacrificial People
a Missionary People
a Worshipping People
[ with more detail as in the Script]
Recognition of the Minister
///////////////////////////////////////////
As Presiding Minister, Rev Paul Hills invited all the other Church representatives to stand and repeated words to the effect that
Today we stand with you recognising the Commitment you have made and offering our encouragement.
Induction Prayers followed for the Church and for the Minister
including a Blessing for John written by John O'Donohue and prayed by ministers David, Sue and David.[ 9 verses ]
Followed by Prayers for the Church led by Jonathan and Jim
We then sang “Sent by the LORD Am I”
Paul then announced
“John Goddard is Inducted Minister of this Church” and he gave John the Right hand of Fellowship and there was applause.
The presiding minister then asked the visiting members of other congregations as representatives of the wider Church to bless the new minster and the congregation
“The Covenant God, bind you in grace and love; the Faithful God keep you faithful through all things and the God of hope and peace sustain you in the way of Jesus this day and every day. AMEN “
We sang “Brother, sister, let me serve you”
Angela stated at this point that Pat Heap's service as Moderator ends and thanked her and Pat was presented with a plant in a large pot and tokens, and Pat responded, and there was applause.
Rev Jonathan Burton as Chairman of Churches Together in Saffron Walden greeted him and welcomed him to work with them all as from Monday.
Jonathan, as their Minister, then brought greetings from Gold Street Chapel, your nearest neighbours .
Martin, Church Secretary from Barrow in Furness Baptist Church brought greetings from their church and told us
He knows his Lord
He knows his Bible
He knows his Soup
referring to the Wednesday morning fellowship at Barrow where they met for soup.
He is very good at practical work in working together with other people, in partnership.
Greetings followed from
/////////////////////////////////////
David Tomlinson Rector of the Anglican Parish of St Mary's Saffron Walden.
Rev David Keeble as Minister of Castle Street Methodist Church
David Clemens representing the Roman Catholic Parish of Our Lady of Compassion Church Saffron Walden
on his first visit to our Church
who said that he liked it and we sang better than the Roman Catholics do, and he warned John to avoid getting in the soup.
Rev Sue Johnson, Baptist Minister of Great Sampford, first church plant of this Church [1800 ] present with members of her congregation, speaking on behalf of the BUGB North West Essex Baptist Cluster Churches, all Church plants of our Church,
Ashdon Baptist Church [1809 represented this afternoon by their Minister Rev David Doonan and congregation members and Thaxted Baptist Church [ 1832 ] represented this afternoon by their minister Rev Wayne Evans and members of his congregation.
There were people present residents of Langley and Great Chesterford where we planted churches that still witness, [ respectively in 1826 and 1841. ]
Rev Jim Gascoine brought greetings from Abbey Lane United Reformed Church and the Salvation Army who share their site, who referred to them being close neighbours in Linton Close and that he had now lost his emergency parking space.
We sang seated “Come find the Quiet Centre “
John responded and then introduced as Preacher his old college friend Dr Simon Perry, a Chaplain of one of the Cambridge University Colleges
who responded with “I am still a Baptist”
Simon, speaking without notes, remarked that he was at Regents Park college Oxford 18 years ago [ who went there in 1995, a year after John, from Bethany Baptist Church, Pembroke Dock Wales] referred to the Book about Greek studies John gave him. Simon reminded us that we are all part of a Significant Cosmic Catastrophe.
He asked how long, at the speed of light it took light [ and heat ] to reach us from our Star the Sun, some 93 million miles away?.
Answer:- 8 minutes 20 seconds.
How far is the nearest star? Answer:- 4.7 light years
If we held a grain of sand in front of us how many galaxies would it obscure?
Answer:- 20,000
How wide is our galaxy, at the speed of light ?
Answer:- 100,000 light years.
He was surprised to get that answer from a member of the congregation, Susan Gilder, who got it from her husband Barry, who is a Cosmologist
In the light of these facts he asked “How in the world can any atheist not believe in God?”
He reminded us that some 3000 years ago King David understood this when he wrote Psalm 8 v 3” When consider your Heavens, the work of your fingers” [ TNIV],
The same God is here with us today leading us to a Catastrophic Radical change of Direction based on His plan
He quoted verses 5, 6, 7.
We are in the midst of a Cosmic Explosion and explosions usually cause disintegration but God is still with us here.
An undeserved gift in all the violence of this world by the Resurrection which is a Catastrophe of Change
John and Karen and us have been brought together by God for a purpose
This is the place God has put us, all of us.
God is thoroughly at home here, and we are to glorify His Name.
O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is your name in all the Earth
CHRIST IS RISEN WHILE EARTH SLUMBERS
We then sang”Christ has Risen”
John pronounced a BLESSING
Then we queued up for drinks and cakes, all sorts and kind of cakes, an overwhelming banquet of them served from tables along the North side of the chapel restocked from ample supplies out in the Hall., Drinks were served by the North Door and in the West Foyer, and their were seats on the grass for anyone who liked to sit out there on this hot summers day. We enjoyed fellowship and conversation friend with friend.
When and where we re-covenanted together to begin again as a company of God's People, of Christ's disciples, for another chapter in the story of Saffron Walden Baptist Church
About 110 seated downstairs,and some more upstairs, with some 20 odd children in the Upper Hall with several helpers
The Ensemble consisted of Chris and Sam Winfield. Todd Weston, Ged Pearce with Tracy Todman at the organ. Chris Winfield was the Worship Leader
Pat Heap our Moderator welcomed those who had come together, led prayer of Thanksgiving and Gave the Call to Worship
Chris then took over as leader and we sang
“PRAISE TO THE LORD, THE ALMIGHTY”
Psalm 84 was read
We sang
“WELCOMED INTO THE COURTS OF THE KING”
from the Soul Survivor Song Book
DANIEL 7 v 13 – 14 were then quoted
We sang “HOLY, HOLY GOD”
from Spring Harvest Praise 2008
After Opening Worship
1 – Came Greeting and Introduction. By Rev Paul Hills, EBA Regional minister
He commented on the Generousity of God and His Grace upon this Community
“We have gathered to induct a new Minister John Goddard, to work with the Community of Christ here at Saffron Walden Baptist church.
We come to affirm our belief that as this Church and Minister have explored the possibilities of life together here in Saffron Walden, they have been brought to this mutual commitment through the movement and calling of God's Spirit. Today we have come to witness the Covenant which this church and the Minister are making with each other to walk together as people of Christ. So let us hear from the Church and from John as they share with us something of this story
2 - THE TELLING OF THE STORY
Angela Sabey, Secretary of Saffron Walden Baptist Church proceeded to thank everyone for coming to this service, and for all the help without exception from all who had stood with us these last 2 years.
It was a sense of relief to her that we had settled upon a new Minister for when this process began, her then 7 year old son Luke had spoken to her “Mum, You do know it can take 9 years to find a new minister”
Angela was pleased to report he is clearly not a prophet. [ although he was a good listener as he heard Paul Hills remark that one Church had taken 9 years to settle ]
Angela spoke about the group that had got together to draw up our Profile 2 years ago , of the group that gathered after John's first visit last November and the Church Meeting called from which an invitation was made to John.
John Goddard came to the microphone, that then seemed to play up, and he remarked to the Studio crew “Is that all right fellas?”
It being so he told us that he Karen and the boys had been at Barrow in Furness 11 years and it had dawned on them that they would have to move, although they did not want to leave their many friends there [ he was pleased to see some of them within the congregation. Indeed there were Church secretaries of 3 churches he had been associated with]
John said that the Settlement Process is very unsettling.
Having started the process he had to wait a month for a reply to learn that nothing fitted the bill yet.
Then another month waiting for an email
Then came a day when he was at a Churches Together in Cumbria Meeting his phone went off and he noted an invitation from a church at a place called Saffron Walden as to whether he was still free to visit them with a view to seeing whether God was calling them to unite together
2 minutes later he received a call from another church and later in the day a third call from another church.
Now this too was unsettling, being spoilt for choice, what to do?. Well, they felt the profile of the first caller seemed to be similar to what they were seeking.
The Deacons apparently all believed it was right so to proceed and after our visit in January we had no doubt that this was the right course.
Back at Barrow we had a great send off including a Classical Singing Group.
It was hard to leave and to say goodbye.
But we are so grateful for the welcome we have received at Saffron Walden and all that has been done to prepare the Manse and the Garden.
We are so excited as to the years ahead.
It is good to see other Churches represented here. The Town needs us to work together, I'm joining in what God has already begun”
We then followed the Service of Induction set out in the Order of Service
John Goddard invited the local Church Congregation to stand They spoke alternately with him the Induction Liturgy
that We stand together with each other recognizing Christ in our midst affirming our faith in the God who calls us to work for a transformed world.
We stand recognizing Christ in each other
We bring ourselves, and the gifts we have. We covenanted to serve and encourage this Church and Community
We are called to be
a Prophetic People
an Inclusive People
a Sacrificial People
a Missionary People
a Worshipping People
[ with more detail as in the Script]
Recognition of the Minister
///////////////////////////////////////////
As Presiding Minister, Rev Paul Hills invited all the other Church representatives to stand and repeated words to the effect that
Today we stand with you recognising the Commitment you have made and offering our encouragement.
Induction Prayers followed for the Church and for the Minister
including a Blessing for John written by John O'Donohue and prayed by ministers David, Sue and David.[ 9 verses ]
Followed by Prayers for the Church led by Jonathan and Jim
We then sang “Sent by the LORD Am I”
Paul then announced
“John Goddard is Inducted Minister of this Church” and he gave John the Right hand of Fellowship and there was applause.
The presiding minister then asked the visiting members of other congregations as representatives of the wider Church to bless the new minster and the congregation
“The Covenant God, bind you in grace and love; the Faithful God keep you faithful through all things and the God of hope and peace sustain you in the way of Jesus this day and every day. AMEN “
We sang “Brother, sister, let me serve you”
Angela stated at this point that Pat Heap's service as Moderator ends and thanked her and Pat was presented with a plant in a large pot and tokens, and Pat responded, and there was applause.
Rev Jonathan Burton as Chairman of Churches Together in Saffron Walden greeted him and welcomed him to work with them all as from Monday.
Jonathan, as their Minister, then brought greetings from Gold Street Chapel, your nearest neighbours .
Martin, Church Secretary from Barrow in Furness Baptist Church brought greetings from their church and told us
He knows his Lord
He knows his Bible
He knows his Soup
referring to the Wednesday morning fellowship at Barrow where they met for soup.
He is very good at practical work in working together with other people, in partnership.
Greetings followed from
/////////////////////////////////////
David Tomlinson Rector of the Anglican Parish of St Mary's Saffron Walden.
Rev David Keeble as Minister of Castle Street Methodist Church
David Clemens representing the Roman Catholic Parish of Our Lady of Compassion Church Saffron Walden
on his first visit to our Church
who said that he liked it and we sang better than the Roman Catholics do, and he warned John to avoid getting in the soup.
Rev Sue Johnson, Baptist Minister of Great Sampford, first church plant of this Church [1800 ] present with members of her congregation, speaking on behalf of the BUGB North West Essex Baptist Cluster Churches, all Church plants of our Church,
Ashdon Baptist Church [1809 represented this afternoon by their Minister Rev David Doonan and congregation members and Thaxted Baptist Church [ 1832 ] represented this afternoon by their minister Rev Wayne Evans and members of his congregation.
There were people present residents of Langley and Great Chesterford where we planted churches that still witness, [ respectively in 1826 and 1841. ]
Rev Jim Gascoine brought greetings from Abbey Lane United Reformed Church and the Salvation Army who share their site, who referred to them being close neighbours in Linton Close and that he had now lost his emergency parking space.
We sang seated “Come find the Quiet Centre “
John responded and then introduced as Preacher his old college friend Dr Simon Perry, a Chaplain of one of the Cambridge University Colleges
who responded with “I am still a Baptist”
Simon, speaking without notes, remarked that he was at Regents Park college Oxford 18 years ago [ who went there in 1995, a year after John, from Bethany Baptist Church, Pembroke Dock Wales] referred to the Book about Greek studies John gave him. Simon reminded us that we are all part of a Significant Cosmic Catastrophe.
He asked how long, at the speed of light it took light [ and heat ] to reach us from our Star the Sun, some 93 million miles away?.
Answer:- 8 minutes 20 seconds.
How far is the nearest star? Answer:- 4.7 light years
If we held a grain of sand in front of us how many galaxies would it obscure?
Answer:- 20,000
How wide is our galaxy, at the speed of light ?
Answer:- 100,000 light years.
He was surprised to get that answer from a member of the congregation, Susan Gilder, who got it from her husband Barry, who is a Cosmologist
In the light of these facts he asked “How in the world can any atheist not believe in God?”
He reminded us that some 3000 years ago King David understood this when he wrote Psalm 8 v 3” When consider your Heavens, the work of your fingers” [ TNIV],
The same God is here with us today leading us to a Catastrophic Radical change of Direction based on His plan
He quoted verses 5, 6, 7.
We are in the midst of a Cosmic Explosion and explosions usually cause disintegration but God is still with us here.
An undeserved gift in all the violence of this world by the Resurrection which is a Catastrophe of Change
John and Karen and us have been brought together by God for a purpose
This is the place God has put us, all of us.
God is thoroughly at home here, and we are to glorify His Name.
O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is your name in all the Earth
CHRIST IS RISEN WHILE EARTH SLUMBERS
We then sang”Christ has Risen”
John pronounced a BLESSING
Then we queued up for drinks and cakes, all sorts and kind of cakes, an overwhelming banquet of them served from tables along the North side of the chapel restocked from ample supplies out in the Hall., Drinks were served by the North Door and in the West Foyer, and their were seats on the grass for anyone who liked to sit out there on this hot summers day. We enjoyed fellowship and conversation friend with friend.