Holy Communion

 

   Order Two in Contemporary Language
     
    A hymn may be sung.
     
    The Lord's Prayer may be said.
       
    Prayer of Preparation  
     
    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.
All
   Amen.
       
    The Commandments  
     
    The president reads the Ten Commandments and the people make the response. Or, except on the first Sundays of Advent and Lent, the Summary of the Law or Kyrie eleison may be used. At the discretion of the minister, responses may be used only after the fourth and tenth Commandments, or only after the tenth Commandment.
     
    God spoke these words and said: I am the Lord your God
[who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery]; you shall have no other gods but me.
All
   Lord, have mercy upon us,
    and incline our hearts to keep this law.
     
    You shall not make for yourself any idol,
whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above,
or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
You shall not bow down to them or worship them.
[For I the Lord your God am a jealous God,
punishing children for the iniquity of parents
to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me,
but showing steadfast love to a thousand generations of those
      who love me
and keep my commandments.]
All
   Lord, have mercy upon us,
    and incline our hearts to keep this law.
     
    You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain
[for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain].
All
   Lord, have mercy upon us,
    and incline our hearts to keep this law.
     
    Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.
For six days you shall labour and do all your work.
But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.
[You shall not do any work -
you, your son or your daughter,
your slaves, your livestock,
or the foreigner who lives among you.
For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
but rested the seventh day;
therefore the Lord blessed the seventh day and consecrated it.]
All
   Lord, have mercy upon us,
    and incline our hearts to keep this law.
     
    Honour your father and your mother
[so that your days may be long in the land
that the Lord your God is giving you].
All
   Lord, have mercy upon us,
    and incline our hearts to keep this law.
     
    You shall not murder.
All
   Lord, have mercy upon us,
    and incline our hearts to keep this law.
     
    You shall not commit adultery.
All
   Lord, have mercy upon us,
    and incline our hearts to keep this law.
    You shall not steal.
     
All
   Lord, have mercy upon us,
    and incline our hearts to keep this law.
     
    You shall not bear false witness [against your neighbour].
All
   Lord, have mercy upon us,
    and incline our hearts to keep this law.
     
    You shall not covet [your neighbour's house;
you shall not covet your neighbour's wife, or slaves, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour].
All
   Lord, have mercy upon us,
    and write all these your laws in our hearts.
     
    The Collect for the Sovereign may be said
     
    Almighty God,
    the fountain of all goodness,
    bless our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth,
    and all who are in authority under her;
    that they may order all things
          in wisdom and equity, righteousness and peace,
    to the honour and glory of your name
    and the good of your Church and people;
    through 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.
All
   Amen.
       
    The Collect  
     
    The president introduces a period of silent prayer with the words 'Let us pray' or a more specific bidding.
     
    The Collect is said, and all respond
     
All
   Amen.
       
    Readings  
     
    Either one or two readings from Scripture precede the Gospel reading.
     
    At the end of each the reader may say
     
    This is the word of the Lord.
All
   Thanks be to God.
     
    The psalm or canticle follows the first reading, and other hymns and songs may be used between the readings.
     
    Gospel Reading  
     
    An acclamation may herald the Gospel reading.
     
    When the Gospel is announced the reader says
     
    Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to N.
All
   Glory to you, O Lord.
     
    At the end the reader may say
     
    This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All
   Praise to you, O Christ.
       
    The Creed  
     
    On Sundays and Principal Holy Days an authorized translation of the Nicene Creed is used, or on occasion the Apostles' Creed or an authorized Affirmation of Faith may be used.
     
All
   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 from the Holy Spirit and 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.
       
    Sermon  
       
    Offertory  
     
    One of the following or another sentence of Scripture is used.
     
    Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works, and give glory to your Father in heaven.  
   
Matthew 5.16
     
    Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth; where moth
and rust consume, and where thieves break in and steal: but store
up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither rust nor moth consume, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
   
Matthew 6.19
     
    All things come from you, and of your own have we given you.
   
1 Chronicles 29.14
     
    How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
   
1 John 3.17
     
    A hymn may be sung.
     
    The gifts of the people may be gathered and presented.
     
    The president places the bread and wine on the table.
       
    Prayers of Intercession  
     
    One of the forms here or other suitable words may be used.
     
    The prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
     
    ¶      The Church of Christ
     
          Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority
     
    ¶      The local community
     
          Those who suffer
     
    ¶      The communion of saints
     
    These responses may be used
     
    Lord, in your mercy
All
   hear our prayer.
     
    (or)
     
    Lord, hear us.
All
   Lord, graciously hear us.
     
    And at the end
     
    Merciful Father,
All
   accept these prayers
    for the sake of your Son,
    our Saviour Jesus Christ.
    Amen.
       
    Prayers of Penitence  
     
    A minister reads this shorter exhortation
     
    Brothers and sisters in Christ,
    as we gather at the Lord's table
    we must recall the promises and warnings
          given to us in the Scriptures.
    Let us therefore examine ourselves and repent of our sins.
    Let us give thanks to God
          for his redemption of the world through his Son Jesus Christ,
    and as we remember Christ's death for us,
    and receive this pledge of his love,
    let us resolve to serve him in holiness and righteousness
    all the days of our life.
       
    Invitation to Confession  
     
    A minister uses a seasonal invitation to confession or these or other suitable words
     
    You then, who truly and earnestly repent of your sins,
    and are in love and charity with your neighbours,
    and intend to lead a new life,
    following the commandments of God,
    and walking from this day forward in his holy ways:
    draw near with faith,
    and take this holy sacrament to your comfort;
    and make your humble confession to almighty God.
       
    Confession  
     
    Either of these forms, or form 2 here, may be used.
     
All
   Almighty God,
    Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    maker of all things, judge of all people,
    we acknowledge and lament our many sins
    and the wickedness we have committed time after time,
    by thought, word and deed against your divine majesty.
    We have provoked your righteous anger
    and your indignation against us.
    We earnestly repent,
    and are deeply sorry for these our wrongdoings;
    the memory of them weighs us down,
    the burden of them is too great for us to bear.
    Have mercy upon us,
    have mercy upon us, most merciful Father.
    For your Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake,
    forgive us all that is past;
    and grant that from this time forward
    we may always serve and please you in newness of life,
    to the honour and glory of your name;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
     
    (or)
     
All
   Father eternal, giver of light and grace,
    we have sinned against you and against our neighbour,
    in what we have thought,
    in what we have said and done,
    through ignorance, through weakness,
    through our own deliberate fault.
    We have wounded your love,
    and marred your image in us.
    We are sorry and ashamed,
    and repent of all our sins.
    For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
    who died for us,
    forgive us all that is past;
    and lead us out from darkness
    to walk as children of light.
    Amen.
       
    Absolution  
     
    The president says
     
    Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
    who in his great mercy
    has promised forgiveness of sins
    to all those who with heartfelt repentance and true faith
turn to him:
    have mercy on you,
    pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
    confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
    and bring you to everlasting life,
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
       
    The Comfortable Words  
     
    Hear the words of comfort our Saviour Christ says
to all who truly turn to him:
     
    Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.                                              
   
Matthew 11.28
    God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish
but have eternal life.                                                          
   
John 3.16
    Hear what Saint Paul says:
    This saying is true and worthy of full acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
   
1 Timothy 1.15
    Hear what Saint John says:
    If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous;
and he is the propitiation for our sins.                      
   
1 John 2.1,2
       
    Preface  
     
    The president and the people praise God for his goodness.
     
    Lift up your hearts.
All
   We lift them to the Lord.
     
    Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All
   It is right to give thanks and praise.
     
    It is indeed right,
it is our duty and our joy,
    at all times and in all places
    to give you thanks and praise,
    holy Father, heavenly King,
almighty and eternal God.
     
    A Proper Preface may follow (see Note 28).
     
    Therefore with angels and archangels,
    and with all the company of heaven,
    we proclaim your great and glorious name,
    for ever praising you, and saying:
     
All
   Holy, holy, holy Lord,
    God of power and might,
    heaven and earth are full of your glory.
    Hosanna in the highest.
       
    Prayer of Humble Access  
     
    One of these prayers is said
     
    We do not presume
to come to this your table, merciful Lord,
    trusting in our own righteousness,
    but in your manifold and great mercies.
    We are not worthy
    so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table.
    But you are the same Lord
    whose nature is always to have mercy.
    Grant us therefore, gracious Lord,
    so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ
    and to drink his blood,
    that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body,
    and our souls washed through his most precious blood,
    and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us.
All
   Amen.
     
    (or)
     
    Most merciful Lord,
    your love compels us to come in.
    Our hands were unclean,
    our hearts were unprepared;
    we were not fit
even to eat the crumbs from under your table.
    But you, Lord, are the God of our salvation,
    and share your bread with sinners.
    So cleanse and feed us
    with the precious body and blood of your Son,
    that he may live in us and we in him;
    and that we, with the whole company of Christ,
    may sit and eat in your kingdom.
All
   Amen.
       
    The Prayer of Consecration  
     
    The president, standing at the table, says the Prayer of Consecration
     
    Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
    who, in your tender mercy,
    gave your only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ
    to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption;
    who made there by his one oblation of himself once offered
    a full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice, oblation and satisfaction
          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.
     
    Hear us, merciful Father, we humbly pray,
    and grant that we receiving these gifts of your creation,
          this bread and this wine,
    according to your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ's holy institution,
    in remembrance of his death and passion,
    may be partakers of his most blessed body and blood;
     
    who, in the same night that he was betrayed,
    took bread and gave you thanks;
    Here the president takes the paten.  
    he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying:
    Here the president breaks the bread.  
    Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you;
    Here the president lays a hand on all the bread.  
    do this in remembrance of me.
    In the same way, after supper, he took the cup;
    Here the president takes the cup.  
    and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying:
    Drink this, all of you, this is my blood of the new covenant,
    which is shed for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
    Here the president is to lay a hand on every vessel
in which there is wine to be consecrated.		  
    Do this, as often as you drink it,
    in remembrance of me.
All
   Amen.
       
    Giving of Communion  
     
    The president and people receive communion.
     
    To each is said
     
    The body of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    which was given for you,
    preserve your body and soul to everlasting life.
    Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you,
    and feed on him in your heart by faith with thanksgiving.
     
    The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    which was shed for you,
    preserve your body and soul to everlasting life.
    Drink this in remembrance that Christ's blood was shed for you,
       and be thankful.
     
    Or, when occasion requires, these words may be said once to each row of communicants, or to a convenient number within each row.
     
    If either or both of the consecrated elements are likely to prove insufficient, the president returns to the holy table and adds more, saying these words.
     
    What remains of the consecrated bread and wine which is not required for purposes of communion is consumed now or at the end of the service.
       
    The Lord's Prayer  
     
    The Lord's Prayer is said
     
    As our Saviour taught us, so we pray
     
All
   Our Father in heaven,
    hallowed be your name,
    your kingdom come,              
    your will be done,
    on earth as in heaven.
    Give us today our daily bread.
    Forgive us our sins
    as we forgive those who sin against us.
    Lead us not into temptation
    but deliver us from evil.
    For the kingdom, the power,
    and the glory are yours
    now and for ever.
    Amen.
     
     
    (or)      
     
    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,
    for ever and ever.
    Amen.
       
    Prayer after Communion  
     
    The president says one of the following prayers or this prayer.
     
    Lord and heavenly Father,
    we offer you through your dear Son Jesus Christ
      this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.
    Grant that by his merits and death,
    and through faith in his blood,
    we and all your Church may receive forgiveness of our sins
    and all other benefits of his passion.
     
    And here we offer and present to you, O Lord,
          ourselves, our souls and our bodies,
    to be a reasonable, holy and living sacrifice;
    fill us all who share in this holy communion
    with your grace and heavenly blessing.
     
    Although we are unworthy, through our manifold sins,
    to offer you any sacrifice,
    yet we pray that you will accept this
    the duty and service that we owe.
    Do not weigh our merits, but pardon our offences,
    through Jesus Christ our Lord,
    by whom, and with whom, and in whom,
    in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
    all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father,
    for ever and ever. 
All
   Amen.
     
    (or)
     
    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.
All
   Amen.
       
    Gloria in Excelsis  
     
All
   Glory to God in the highest,
    and peace to his 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.
     
    Or another song of praise may be used.
       
    The Blessing  
     
    The president may use a 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 the blessing of God almighty,
    the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
    be among you and remain with you always.
All
   Amen.
     
    A hymn may be sung.