ORDER OF SERVICE
THE CELEBRATION OF
THE HOLY COMMUNION
ALSO CALLED THE LORD'S SUPPER OR THE EUCHARIST
The Gathering of God's People
THE GREETING
Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
A sentence of scripture may be read (see pages 78-82), and the presiding minister may introduce the liturgy of the day.
THE COLLECT FOR PURITY
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden;
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
or another suitable opening prayer.
PENITENCE
The prayers of penitence may take place at this point or before or after the Intercessions.
The Commandments may be read (and should be read during Advent and Lent), or The Beatitudes (pages 223-224), or The Summary of the Law:
Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ says:
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like it.
You shall love your neighbour as yourself
On these two commandments depend all the law
and the prophets. Matthew 22: 37-39
Lord, have mercy on us,
and write these your laws in our hearts.
The Confession is introduced with appropriate words, such as:
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son Jesus Christ, to save us from our sins, to intercede for us in heaven, and to bring us to eternal life.
Let us then confess our sins in penitence and faith,
firmly resolved to keep God's commandments
and to live in love and peace:
Silence
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
we have sinned in thought and word and deed,
and in what we have left undone.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us,
that we may walk in newness of life
to the glory of your name. Amen.
The presiding minister pronounces the Absolution:
Almighty God,
who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy on you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in eternal life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS
This canticle may be omitted in Advent and Lent and on weekdays which are not holy days. Other versions of this canticle may be used, or when appropriate another suitable hymn of praise.
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God's people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father,
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
THE COLLECT OF THE DAY
The presiding minister introduces the Collect, allowing a short space for silence, and the people respond to the Collect with their Amen.
Proclaiming and Receiving the Word
THE FIRST READING is normally from the Old Testament.
At the end the reader may say
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The EPISTLE
The EPISTLE
Stand
THE GOSPEL READING
The Gospel Reading is introduced by the following words:
Hear the Gospel of our Saviour Christ,
according to ... chapter ... beginning at verse ...
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
and concludes with:
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
THE SERMON
is preached here or after the Creed.
THE NICENE CREED
The Nicene Creed is said on Sundays and Principal Holy Days. The Creed may be omitted on ordinary weekdays or on Festivals which are not Principal Holy Days.
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 by the Holy Spirit of 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 Prayers of the People
THE PEACE
The presiding minister introduces the Peace with these or other suitable words:
Christ is our peace.
He has reconciled us to God in one body by the cross.
We meet in his name and share his peace.
followed by:
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
It is appropriate that the congregation share with one another a sign of peace. This may be introduced with the words:
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
Celebrating at the Lord's Table
The table may be prepared by a deacon or lay people.
The gifts of money may be brought forward and presented.
AT THE PREPARATION OF THE TABLE
Wise and gracious God,
you spread a table before us;
nourish your people with the word of life,
and the bread of heaven. Amen.
THE TAKING OF THE BREAD AND WINE
Stand
The bishop or priest who presides takes the bread and wine and may say
Christ our passover has been sacrificed for us
therefore let us celebrate the feast.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
One of the following Eucharistic Prayers is said by the presiding minister.
Prayer 1
The Lord is here.
His Spirit is with us.
or
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our
God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Father, almighty and everliving God,
at all times and in all places
it is right to give you thanks and praise:
When there is a Proper Preface it follows here (pages 224-235)
And so with all your people,
with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we proclaim your great and glorious name,
for ever praising you and saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is he who comes in the
name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed are you, Father,
the creator and sustainer of all things;
you made us in your own image,
male and female you created us;
even when we turned away from you,
you never ceased to care for us,
but in your love and mercy you freed us from the slavery of sin,
giving your only begotten Son to become man
and suffer death on the cross to redeem us;
he made there the one complete and all-sufficient sacrifice
for the sins of the whole world:
he instituted,
and in his holy Gospel commanded us to continue,
a perpetual memory of his precious death
until he comes again:
On the night that he was betrayed he
took bread;
and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it,
and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat,
this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way, after supper he
took the cup;
and when he had given thanks to you,
he gave it to them, saying, Drink this, all of you,
for this is my blood of the new covenant
which is shed for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me.
Therefore, Father, with this bread
and this cup
we do as Christ your Son commanded:
we remember his passion and death,
we celebrate his resurrection and ascension,
and we look for the coming of his kingdom.
Accept through him, our great high
priest,
this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving;
and as we eat and drink these holy gifts,
grant by the power of the life-giving Spirit
that we may be made one in your holy Church
and partakers of the body and blood of your Son,
that he may dwell in us and we in him:
Through the same Jesus Christ our
Lord,
by whom, and with whom, and in whom,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours, Almighty Father,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Continue on page 218 at THE LORD'S PRAYER
THE LORD'S PRAYER
The presiding minister says
As our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are bold to say
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
for ever and ever. Amen.
THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD
The presiding minister (who may be assisted by the deacon) breaks the consecrated bread in preparation for the Communion
The bread which we break
is a sharing in the body of Christ.
We being many are one body,
for we all share in the one bread.
THE COMMUNION
The presiding minister says
Draw near with faith.
Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave for you,
and his blood which he shed for you.
Remember that he died for you,
and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.
The body of Christ keep you in eternal life.
The blood of Christ keep you in eternal life.
THE GREAT SILENCE
When all have received the communion, the presiding minister, other ministers and people keep silence for reflection.
Going Out as God's People
A hymn may be sung here or before the Dismissal
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
The appropriate Post Communion Prayer (pages 241-236), or the following may be said:
Father of all, we give you thanks and praise,
that when we were still far off
you met us in your Son and brought us home.
Dying and living, he declared your love,
gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory.
May we who share Christ's body live his risen life;
we who drink his cup bring life to others;
we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world.
Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,
so we and all your children shall be free,
and the whole earth live to praise your name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
All say
Almighty God,
we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food
of the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ.
Through him we offer you our souls and bodies
o be a living sacrifice.
Send us out in the power of your Spirit
to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen.
DISMISSAL
The presiding minister may say the seasonal blessing,
or another suitable blessing, or:
The peace of God,
which passes all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds
in the knowledge and love of God,
and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
and
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
A minister says:
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
in the name of Christ. Amen.
