Season of Lay Ministries 2026 resources
This year we will offer two opportunities in the diocese to celebrate our Lay Ministers. The first of these is on Sunday 1 February 2026 on Candlemas.
There are resources and materials linked below, which we hope will help you to celebrate your laity and all that they do in your church.
You will find:
- suggested sermon themes for the passages for Candlemas
- hymns and songs which relate to the theme of ministry
- some liturgical material to be used in your service which also contains some material for affirming those in your congregations who undertake roles such as leading the intercessions; acting as welcomers or offering hospitality; reading and acting as servers in the services, helping with the youth and children’s ministry and the ministry to older people and so many other roles
- there are also some suggestions about how to publicise the Celebration of Lay Ministries.
This year we want to focus particularly on those who are in Affirmed Ministry in our parishes, meaning those who have been trained to work in the parish, often by others in the parish.
One group of people who have recently been affirmed are those who have completed the Magnify Course, which is for those who live on estates in the diocese. A group of those who took part in the course were recently Affirmed in their parish by the Revd Tracy Marlow.
Trevor, one of the participants on the course says, “Being on the Magnify course has helped me to change who I am, I am now able to communicate to others with more confidence and faith in Jesus. I am gaining confidence within the group with my peers and slowly feeling more empowered to interact when discussing the Bible”.
There are so many different roles that people undertake in our churches and we want to celebrate all that they do. That’s why we have a liturgy for Affirming them which we have also included below, so that you can consider using it to Affirm people in your parish.
Richard Holyroyd says, “I am an affirmed lay minister at Lingfield Parish Church in Surrey. My focus is on pastoral ministry and worship leading. As a member of a pastoral team I share in visiting the sick and housebound, often administering Holy Communion. I also take occasional services at care homes and lead a weekly zoom service across the benefice. It is a very rewarding ministry and I see the affirmation as a form of local recognition and authorisation.”
We want to celebrate those who are Commissioned and Licensed as well and ask you to take the time to say thank you to all of them during this period.
We hope that as many parishes as possible will celebrate their laity on 1 February but if you cannot do it on that day then please do try to celebrate them during February.
During February and indeed any time that you are able to celebrate the laity in your parish, we are happy to be able to offer people to come and preach at your Sunday service and encourage others to take part in Lay Ministry too. If you would like to invite someone on February 1, throughout February, or later in the year please contact Hedland Medland in the Department of Discipleship, Lay Ministry and Continuing Ministerial Education on [email protected]
Having listened to comments about the Celebration of Lay Ministries in recent years we have decided that it might be better placed later in the year. So, in 2026 we are offering a second opportunity to celebrate our Lay Ministers in the autumn. That time of year will be the new time for the Celebration in coming years.
Look out for information about the celebrations later in the year too. We hope that this will give parishes the opportunity to celebrate those who are new to ministry in their parishes too.
Liturgical & worship resources
Season of Lay Ministries 2025 resources
We celebrated our Lay Ministers at Candlemas. Here you can find ideas for celebrating Lay Ministries in a special service and a selection of liturgical and worship resources. You can also watch two videos exploring what's involved in Reader Ministry and the role of an Apprentice Youth Worker.
Ideas for celebrating Lay Ministries in a special service
- Let people know it’s happening – you can find some suggested notices for parish news sheets here
- Invite a member of the Discipleship and Ministry Team, or a Licensed lay Minister to come to preach and speak about their ministry and wider lay ministry. This does not have to be on the Celebration of Lay Ministries Sunday. Members of the Team are happy to come out at any stage.
- Use the readings for Candlemas. Ensure the homily/sermon and intercessions carry the themes of baptism, ministry, service and relationship to Jesus. Consider focussing the homily on Lay Leadership, emphasising our baptismal call to serve, and to share our gifts with the church community and with those around us – and encouraging others to do the same.
- Ask Lay Ministers serving in your parish to come forward. Call them to the altar by name, making sure to mention their ministry. When all are assembled around the altar use the recommitment pledge (see below) and blessing for the work that they do for the parish and community.
- Consider giving each Lay Minister a small token of appreciation (for example a pin badge or prayer book mark).
- After service, offer refreshments to continue the celebration in their honour.
- Set up a table at the back of the church with resource materials on the Lay Ministries and training available in our diocese.
- Make sure to include intercessions for Lay Ministry in the prayers.
- Set up a display on Lay Ministry for the entrance or coffee area.
Liturgical & worship resources
- Introduction, welcome & prayer for the Celebration of Lay Ministries
- A renewal of commitment for those serving in Lay Ministries
- Intercessions for the Celebration of Lay Ministries
- Hymn suggestions for the Celebration of Lay Ministries
- Song: We are the Light on Hymnpact
Reader Ministry
As part of Celebration of Lay Ministries 2025, Gerry Daley shares what’s involved in Reader Ministry.
Apprentice Youth Worker
Ela shares her experiences and highlights working as an Apprentice Youth Worker at St Leonard’s Church in Streatham.
Season of Lay Ministries 2024 resources
Each pdf contains sermon notes, readings and hymn suggestions. The sermons have been recorded, and are now available to watch on YouTube.
First Sunday of Epiphany: 7 January
Second Sunday of Epiphany: 14 January
Third Sunday of Epiphany: 21 January
Fourth Sunday of Epiphany: 28 January
Children & Young People
The Royal School of Church Music have released a resource called Hymnpact – a subscription-based resource for primary schools and churches, providing hymns and songs that are appealing to children and adults alike. You can use this resource at anytime during the Season of Lay Ministries. If your school or parish use Hympact, do get in touch and let us know.
Types of lay ministry
In the Diocese of Southwark we are committed to encouraging more lay ministry and vocations and have a wide range of recognised lay ministries. But, whether lay or ordained, Christians are called to work together to carry out God’s mission both within the Church and in the wider world. Find out more about our affirmed, commissioned and licensed ministries below.
Affirmed ministries
Affirmed ministries are locally driven and respond to local need. They often involve partner organisations in the community. They are discerned within the local context and training takes place locally. Sometimes this is a day-long course and sometimes the course lasts for a few weeks. People taking on this kind of ministry are then blessed or affirmed at Area, deanery or parish level.
Examples of affirmed ministry include:
- people in pastoral ministry such as Street Pastors, Volunteer Lay Chaplains in hospitals, or leaders of food banks, overnight shelters and local Christian charities
- people working with children and young people (CYP) as church representatives on school, college, and university governing bodies, or those teaching CYP
- worship leaders
- people facilitating roles in new monastic communities
- workplace ambassadors.
Commissioned ministries
Commissioned ministries operate Diocese-wide and are discerned at Diocesan level. The Diocese provides training, which usually takes two years part-time. Once trained, people undertaking this kind of ministry are commissioned by the Diocesan Bishop.
Examples of commissioned ministries include:
- Commissioned Pastoral Lay Ministers (CPLMs)
- Commissioned Lay Pioneers
- Commissioned Youth and Children’s Ministers.
Licensed ministries
Licensed ministries are nationally recognised. People undertaking this kind of ministry are discerned at Diocesan level and the Diocese provides training to national standards (Level 4 or equivalent, which usually means two years’ part-time academic study plus two years ‘on the job’).
After training, people are licensed by the Diocesan Bishop. They may transfer their licence to another Diocese.
Examples of licensed lay ministers include:
- Readers
- Licensed Lay Pioneers
- Licensed Lay Ministers (Youth and Children)
- Licensed Lay Ministers (Pastoral)
- Church Army Evangelists.
