Bishops and other Pastors

White

Invitation to Confession

Jesus is the Good Shepherd:

in every generation he raises up overseers,

to shepherd the Church of God that he obtained with his own blood.

cf Acts 20.28

We are sinners:

let us call to mind the times when we have failed to hear his voice

and not followed where he has led.

Kyrie Confession

Lord Jesus, you call by name those who are yours:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you lead us in the right paths for your name’s sake:

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are the door of the sheepfold;

those who enter by you will be saved:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Collect

Eternal God,

you called N to proclaim your glory

in a life of prayer and pastoral zeal:

keep the leaders of your Church faithful

and bless your people through their ministry,

that the Church may grow into the full stature

of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

(or)

for a bishop

Almighty God,

the light of the faithful and shepherd of souls,

who set your servant N to be a bishop in the Church,

to feed your sheep by the word of Christ

and to guide them by good example:

give us grace to keep the faith of the Church

and to follow in the footsteps

of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Lectionary

1 Samuel 16.1,6-13; Isaiah 6.1-8; Jeremiah 1.4-10; Ezekiel 3.16-21; Malachi 2.5-7

Psalms 1; 15; 16.5-end; 96; 110

Acts 20.28-35; 1 Corinthians 4.1-5; 2 Corinthians 4.1-10 [or 1,2,5-7]; or 5.14-20; 1 Peter 5.1-4

Matthew 11.25-end; or 24.42-46; John 10.11-16; or 15.9-17; or 21.15-17

Augustine of Canterbury (26 May): also 1 Thessalonians 2.2b-8; Matthew 13.31-33

Charles Simeon (13 November): especially Malachi 2.5-7; also Colossians 1.3-8; Luke 8.4-8

David (1 March): also 2 Samuel 23.1-4; Psalm 89.19-22,24

Dunstan (19 May): especially Matthew 24.42-46; also Exodus 31.1-5

Edward King (8 March): also Hebrews 13.1-8

George Herbert (27 February): especially Malachi 2.5-7; Matthew 11.25-end; also Revelation 19.5-9

Hugh (17 November): also 1 Timothy 6.11-16

John Keble (14 July): also Lamentations 3.19-26; Matthew 5.1-8

John and Charles Wesley (24 May): also Ephesians 5.15-20

Lancelot Andrewes (25 September): especially Isaiah 6.1-8

Martin of Tours (11 November): also 1 Thessalonians 5.1-11; Matthew 25.34-40

Nicholas (6 December): also Isaiah 61.1-3; 1 Timothy 6.6-11; Mark 10.13-16

Richard (16 June): also John 21.15-19

Swithun (15 July): also James 5.7-11,13-18

Thomas Ken (8 June): especially 2 Corinthians 4.1-10 [or 1,2,5-7]; Matthew 24.42-46

Wulfstan (19 January): especially Matthew 24.42-46

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the good shepherd:

I know my own and my own know me.

John 10.14

Alleluia.

(or)

Alleluia, alleluia.

Make disciples of the nations:

baptizing and teaching them, as I have commanded you.

Alleluia.

Matthew 28.19,20

Intercession

Heavenly Father,

in every age you raise up pastors and leaders for your Church

to reflect the light of Christ and to lead us in the way of holiness.

We thank you for those who have been shepherds of your flock:

bless your Church today with gifts of care and nurture,

give a pastoral heart to bishops, priests and deacons,

and strengthen all who are called to be leaders of your people.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

We thank you for the gifts of grace in the life of Saint N:

give wisdom and insight to all in authority in Church and state,

that they may use their power for good

and the benefit of those over whom they are set.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

We thank you for those pastors and spiritual directors

whose influence is hidden from the world:

bless them in their quiet guidance of those who seek after your holiness and truth.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

We thank you for those who give pastoral care to the sick and the suffering:

help those who are distressed through following bad advice.

Have mercy on those whose lives lack purpose or direction

and bring them the care they need for wholeness and healing.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

We thank you for all who have worked to lead others into the way of truth and are now at rest:

grant us in this life the spiritual guidance and pastoral care

that will lead us to eternal life.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

Father, make us worthy of everlasting joy

in the fellowship of N and all your saints

in the glory of your kingdom,

where you live and reign,

God for ever and ever.

Amen.

Prayer at the Preparation of the Table

Shepherd of Israel, your flock is never without care.

Accept our sacrifice of praise

and grant that your Church may always rejoice

in faithful pastors, servants of Christ

and stewards of your mysteries.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Preface

And now we give you thanks

for the work of your grace in the life of Saint N.

As a shepherd of your flock he imitated your Son,

inspired us by his life

and taught us by his preaching.

Extended Preface

It is indeed right and good,

our duty and our salvation,

always and everywhere to give you thanks,

holy Father, almighty and eternal God,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Today we honour N, who in your loving providence

enabled your Church to grow in spirit as the body of Christ.

To your children he faithfully proclaimed the good news of salvation

and nourished them by ministering your sacraments.

Through a pastor’s love he led your people to share your grace

and witness to the world

in the communion of one true faith

and in the work of selfless charity.

On this his feast, we join with him to praise you

and in the company of angels and all the host of heaven

we sing for ever of your glory:

Post Communion

God, shepherd of your people,

whose servant N revealed the loving service of Christ in his ministry as a pastor of your people:

by this eucharist in which we share

awaken within us the love of Christ

and keep us faithful to our Christian calling;

through him who laid down his life for us,

but is alive and reigns with you, now and for ever.

Blessing

Christ the good shepherd,

who laid down his life for the sheep,

draw you and all who hear his voice,

to be one flock within one fold;

and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

Acclamation

Jesus says: I am the good shepherd.

The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.

The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

I know my sheep and call them by name.

The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Short Passages of Scripture

Jesus said, ‘Blessed is that servant whom the master will find at work

when he arrives.’

Matthew 24.46

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me to bring good news;

he has sent me to proclaim release to the oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

Luke 4.18,19

You did not choose me but I chose you.

And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.

John 15.16

Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock,

of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers,

to shepherd the Church of God

that he obtained with the blood of his own Son.

Acts 20.28