From The Book of Common Order
of 
The Church of Scotland

Third (Shorter) Order for the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

The minister may conduct the Service of the Word informally before Breaking Bread using the general forms beginning on page XXX,
 or he may use this order.

Call to Worship

The minister greets the people in these or other words:

Let us worship God.

A hymn may be sung.

Scripture Sentence

The minister may say one or more of the following:

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst to see right prevail;
they shall be satisfied.
St Matthew 5: 6
I shall lift up the cup of salvation   and call on the Lord by name. Psalm 116: 13
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Happy are they who find refuge in him!
Psalm 34: 8

Prayers of Approach and Penitence

Let us pray.

The minister may say these prayers alone,
or together with the people.

All 	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.

The minister may invite the people to call to mind their sins.

All	Lord God, Holy and Immortal, 
we confess that we have broken your commandments; 
we have sinned by selfishness, unbelief, and pride; 
we have not acted justly, loved mercy 
nor walked humbly with you.  
In the fullness of your mercy, blot out our misdeeds; 
in your loving-kindness, give us a willing spirit 
and the chastened heart you do not despise; 
and help us to forgive others as you forgive us; 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Or this shorter form from the First order of Communion may be said.

All	Most merciful God, 
we confess that we have sinned,
In thought, word and deed, 
through our own fault, 
and in common with others.
We are truly sorry 
and humble turn from our sins.

The minister says

Almighty God have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

The Collect

One of these or some other collect may be said.

Merciful God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as pass human understanding. Pour into our hearts such love towards you that we, loving you above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

Glorious God, you have assured us of your continuing love, and by your mercy you bring us to the table of your Son our Lord. Help us to feed on him by faith, that nourished by this sacrament we may live to your honour and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ fed the hungry with the bread of life and the word of his Kingdom. Renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by the true and living bread, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

The Service of the Word

Readings

Short passages may be read from the Old and New Testaments.

A Hymn may be sung.

A short passage from the Gospels shall be read.

Sermon

The Nicene Creed  may be said

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 men and for our salvation he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit 
he became incarnate from 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.
With the Father and the Son 
he is worshipped and glorified.
He 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.  

Prayers

Prayers of Intercession may be said, and these words may be used:

Lord, in your mercy 
All	Hear our prayer.

(or)	
		Lord hear us
All	Lord, graciously hear us.

The Supper of the Lord

		Offering

During the singing of the hymn, the offerings of money, along with the gifts of bread and wine, are brought to the Communion Table.

The Grace

The minister says:

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Amen.

Narrative of the Institution

The minister may say:                    These words may be omitted

Hear the words of the institution of the Lord's Supper, 
according to St Paul:

The tradition which I handed on to you came to me from the Lord himself: that on the night of his arrest the Lord Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks to God broke it, and said: 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in memory of me.' In the same way, he took the cup after supper, and said: 'This cup is the new covenant sealed by my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this in memory of me.' For every time you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord, until he comes.		1 Corinthians 11: 23 – 26

Taking of the Bread and Wine

The minister says:

As the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread, I take these elements of bread and wine, to be set apart from all common uses to this holy use and mystery; and as he gave thanks and blessed, let us draw near to God and offer him our prayers and thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving

The minister says:

The Lord be with you.
All	And also with you.

		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 our 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, a
lmighty and eternal God, 
for the majesty of your glory, 
the wonder of your works, 
the riches of your grace.

Here may be added the Proper Preface
 
Therefore, with your people of all places and times, 
and with the whole company of heaven, 
we proclaim your greatness 
and sing your praise in the angels' song:

Al	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.

We bless you for his holy birth, 
his perfect life on earth, 
his suffering for us and his triumph over death; 
for his ascension to your right hand 
and his gift of the Holy Spirit; 
and for the promise of his coming again.  

Remembering his work and passion, 
and pleading his eternal sacrifice, 
we follow his example and obey his command: 

who, on the night when he was betrayed, 
took bread,					He takes the bread
and when he had given thanks he broke it	He breaks the bread
and said, 'This is my body which is (broken) for you;
do this in remembrance of me.'
In the same way he took the cup	The minister raises the cup
saying, 'This cup is the new covenant sealed by my blood.
Whenever you drink it, do it in memory of me.'		   *See note

 
* Note A in Common Order (2nd Edition) page 143 directs that the Narrative of Institution may be incorporated within the Thanksgiving.
This form is suitable for ecumenical congregations.

Send down your Holy Spirit 
to bless us and these your gifts of bread and wine, 
that the bread which we break 
may be for us the communion of the body of Christ, 
and the cup of blessing which we bless 
the communion of the blood of Christ; 
that we, receiving them, by faith 
may be made partakers of his body and blood, 
with all his benefits, 
to nourish us and help us grow in grace, 
to the glory of your most holy name. 
And here we offer and present to you our very selves, 
to be a living sacrifice, 
dedicated and fit for your acceptance;  
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All	Through him, with him, in him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours,
almighty Father, now and forever.  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

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.

Breaking of Bread

The minister shall use these words if they have not previously been said.

On the night when he was betrayed, 
he took bread,					He takes the bread
and when he had given thanks he broke it	He breaks the bread
and said, 'This is my body which is (broken) for you;
do this in remembrance of me.'
In the same way he took the cup	The minister raises the cup
saying, 'This cup is the new covenant sealed by my blood.
Whenever you drink it, do it in memory of me.'		   *See note

These or other suitable word may be may be used 
at the Breaking of the Bread.

Jesus Lamb of God, 
All	have mercy on us.

Jesus bearer of our sins,
All	have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the world,
All	grant us peace

Communion

The minister partakes of the bread and wine. 
In giving the bread and cup, he says these or other authorized words.

Take, eat. This is the body of Christ which is (broken) for you.
Do this, remembering him.

This cup is the new covenant sealed by Christ's blood which was shed that the sins of many might be forgiven. Drink from it, all of you.

(or)   

Eat this, the bread of heaven.
Drink this, the cup of salvation.

The Communion is distributed according to local custom, 
or, if none, as the minister directs. 

After communion the vessels are returned 
to the Holy Table and covered.

The Peace

The minister says:

The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Prayer after Communion

The minister may say this or some other suitable prayer:

Let us pray:  

Gracious God we give you glory, thanks, and praise for the dying and undying love of our Saviour Jesus Christ. In your great goodness you have brought us into communion with him and with all who love him, and made us heirs of your everlasting kingdom. By your grace, may we continue in this holy fellowship, and live to the glory of your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

A hymn may be sung

Dismissal and Blessing

The minister says 

Go in peace.

The minister adds this or some other blessing 

The peace of God, which is beyond all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.  And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you.  Amen.