The Liturgy of Holy Communion
from
The Book of Common Prayer
Processional Hymn (first hymn listed on hymn board)
The Introit (printed in bulletin)
The Collect for Purity:
Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name, through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Summary of the Law
Note: On occasion, the Decalogue is recited in the place of the Summary of the Law (printed on the last page of this guide).
The priest or deacon says,
Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ saith.
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.
Kyrie Eleison
The priest and the people sing or say the Kyrie (Hymn #710)
Lord, have mercy upon us. (three times)
Christ, have mercy upon us. (three times)
Lord, have mercy upon us. (three times)
Gloria in Excelsis
The priest and the people stand to sing (Hymn #739)
Note: The Gloria is omitted during Advent and Lent.
Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly king, God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.
For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
Priest. The Lord be with you.
People. And with thy Spirit.
Priest. Let us pray. (The people kneel.)
Please return to the bulletin to find the main Proper of the day,
consisting of the Collect(s), Old Testament Lesson, Psalm, Epistle,
Gradual Verse, and Gospel.
The Nicene Creed
The priest and people say,
I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible: And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God; Begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very God; Begotten, not made; Being of one substance with the Father; By whom all things were made: Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man: And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried: And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures: And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father: And he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; Who spake by the Prophets: And I believe on Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church: I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins: And I look for the Resurrection of the dead: And the Life of the world to come.
Amen.
The Sermon
The people sit for the announcements and the sermon.
The Communion
Priest. BEHOLD the Lamb of God. Behold him that taketh away the sins of the world.
People. Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof, But speak the word only and my soul shall be healed. (three times)
The people come to the altar rail by rows, beginning with the front row, to receive Holy Communion.
The Communion Verse is sung by the cantor (printed in the bulletin).
Those who are not receiving Holy Communion are encouraged to come to the altar to receive a blessing. To receive a blessing, kneel at the altar rail with your arms folded across your chest. The Words of Administration When the Priest administers the Body of Christ he says, The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life.
The Minister who delivers the Cup says, The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life.
Communion Hymn (third hymn listed on hymn board).
The Liturgy of the Eucharist
The Offertory
The Offertory begins as the cantor chants a verse of Scripture printed in the bulletin. During the Offertory the communion elements are prepared on the altar. Then the priest announces the intentions of the Eucharist, including members to be prayed for.
Offertory Hymn (second hymn listed on hymn board) and the Doxology (Hymn #139). A collection is taken while those are sung. Sometimes a choir anthem is substituted for the Offertory Hymn.
The Prayer for the Church
Let us pray for the whole state of Christ’s Church.
The people stand.
Almighty and everliving God, who by thy holy Apostle hast taught us to make prayers, and supplications, and to give thanks for all men; We humbly beseech thee most mercifully to accept our alms and oblations, and to receive these our prayers, which we offer unto thy Divine Majesty; beseeching thee to inspire continually the Universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord: And grant that all those who do confess thy holy Name may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and live in unity and godly love.
We beseech thee also, so to direct and dispose the hearts of all Christian Rulers, that they may truly and impartially administer justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of thy true religion,and virtue.
Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all Bishops and other Ministers, that they may, be by their life and doctrine, set forth thy true and living Word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy Sacraments.
And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace; and especially to this congregation here present; that, with meek heart and due reverence, they may hear, and receive thy holy Word; truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life.
And we most humbly beseech thee, of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succour all those who, in this transitory life, are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity. (Here names may be spoken aloud by any of the congregation).
And we also bless thy holy Name for all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear; (here the name of deceased loved ones may be spoken aloud); beseeching thee to grant them continual growth in thy love and service, and to give us grace so to follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom. Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake, our only Mediator and Advocate.
People: Amen
Invitation to Confession
The priest or deacon says:
Ye who do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways; Draw near with faith, and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort; and make your humble confession to Almighty God devoutly kneeling. (The people kneel.)
The General Confession
The priest and the people say,
ALMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, Forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and please thee In newness of life, To the honor and glory of thy Name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Absolution The priest says,
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all those who with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him; Have mercy upon 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.
People: Amen
The Comfortable Words
The priest or deacon may say one or more of the following.
Hear what comfortable words our Savior Christ saith unto all who truly turn
to him.
Come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.
St. Matt. xi. 28.
So God loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
St. John iii. 16.
Hear also what Saint Paul saith.
This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Tim. i. 15.
Hear also what Saint John saith.
If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the Propitiation for our sins. 1 St. John ii. 1,2.
Sursum Corda and Preface
Priest. The Lord be with you. People. And with thy spirit.
Priest. Lift up your hearts. People. We lift them up unto the Lord.
Priest. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
People. It is meet and right so to do.
The priest says or sings,
It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and
in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting
God…
The priest may say or sing a Proper Preface (printed in the bulletin).
Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising thee, and saying,
Sanctus and Benedictus Qui Venit
The priest and the people say or sing (Hymn #797)
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, Lord God of hosts, Heaven and earth are full of thy glory: Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High.
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
The Prayer of Consecration
The priest says,
All glory be to thee, Almighty God, our heavenly Father, for that thou, of thy tender mercy, didst give thine only Son 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; and did institute, and in his holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that his precious death and sacrifice, until his coming again: For in the night in which he was betrayed he took Bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake 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. Likewise, after supper, he took the Cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of this; for this is my Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you, and for many, forthe remission of sins; Do this, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me.
The Oblation
Wherefore, O Lord and heavenly Father, according to the institution of thy dearly beloved Son our Savior Jesus Christ, we, thy humble servants, do celebrate and make here before thy Divine Majesty, with these thy holy gifts, which we now offer unto thee, the memorial thy Son hath commanded us to make; having in remembrance his blessed passion and precious death, his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension; rendering unto thee most hearty thanks for the innumerable benefits procured unto us by the same.
The Invocation
And we most humbly beseech thee, O merciful Father, to hear us; and, of thy almighty goodness, vouchsafe to bless and sanctify, with thy Word and Holy Spirit, these thy gifts and creatures of bread and wine; that we, receiving them according to thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ’s holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood.
And we earnestly desire thy fatherly goodness, mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; most humbly beseeching thee to grant that, by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in hisblood, we, and all thy whole Church, may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his passion. And here we offer and present unto thee,O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice unto thee; humbly beseeching thee, that we, and all others who shall be partakers of this Holy Communion, may worthily receive the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son Jesus Christ, be filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction, and made one body with him, that he may dwell in us, and we in him. And although we are unworthy, through our manifold sins, to offer unto thee any sacrifice; yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service; not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offenses, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honor and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end. People: Amen. And now, as our Savior Christ hath taught us, we are bold to say, The priest and the people say or sing, (Hymn #722) Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy k gdom 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, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Fraction
Priest. The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People. And with thy spirit.
The Agnus Dei
The priest and the people sing or say (Hymn #712)
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy upon us,
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
Grant us thy peace.
The Prayer of Humble Access
The priest says,
We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy 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 is in us
The Communion
Priest. BEHOLD the Lamb of God. Behold him that taketh away the sins of the world.
People. Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof, But speak the word only and my soul shall be healed. (three times)
The people come to the altar rail by rows, beginning with the front row, to receive Holy Communion.
The Communion Verse is sung by the cantor (printed in the bulletin).
Those who are not receiving Holy Communion are encouraged to come to the altar to receive a blessing. To receive a blessing, kneel at the altar rail with your arms folded across your chest.
The Words of Administration
When the Priest administers the Body of Christ he says, The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life.The Minister who delivers the Cup says,The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Communion Hymn (third hymn listed on hymn board).
The Prayer of Thanksgiving
Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And with thy spirit.
Priest. Let us pray. (The people kneel.)
The priest says,
Almighty and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee, for that thou dost vouchsafe to feed us who have duly received these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and dost assure us thereby of thy favour and goodness towards us; and that we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of thy Son, which is the blessed company of all faithful people; and are also heirs through hope of thy everlasting kingdom, by the merits of his most precious death and passion. And we humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen.
Here people may go to the altar rail for a blessing by the priest for the anniversary of a birthday or wedding.
The Dismissal and Blessing
Priest or Deacon. The Lord be with you.
People. And with thy spirit.
Priest or Deacon. Depart in peace (but in Advent and Lent, Let us bless the Lord).
People. Thanks be to God.
The Peace of God, which passeth 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 Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.
Recessional Hymn
(last hymn listed on hymn board)
The people wait while the acolytes extinguish the candles, then the priest says the following or another prayer.
Blessed, praise, and adored be Our Lord Jesus Christ on His most glorious throne in Heaven, in His holy sacrament of the Altar, and in the hearts of His faithful people. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
And the people respond: And let light perpetual shine upon them. Amen.
Please join us for refreshments in the parish hall.
The Decalogue and Responses
GOD spake these words, and said: I am the LORD thy God; Thou shalt have none other gods but me.
- Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them:
- Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain;
- Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day.
- Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Honor thy father and thy mother;
- Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Thou shalt do no murder.
- Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
- Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Thou shalt not steal.
- Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
- Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Thou shalt not covet.
- Lord, have mercy upon us, and write all these thy laws in our hearts, we beseech thee