from Holy Communion Rites A & B Revised, July 1996
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the Liturgical Commission
Introduction | Notes | Rite A Revised | Rite B Revised | Supplementary Texts | Seasonal Provision


RITE A REVISED

THE PREPARATION

   

At the entry of the ministers a hymn may be sung. The Bible or the Book of the Gospels may be carried into the assembly.

THE GREETING

The president welcomes the people using these or other appropriate words.

Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you all

All        

and also with you.

Or

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with you all

All

and also with you.

Or, from Easter Day to Pentecost

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

All

He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

After the greeting the president may introduce the liturgy.

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

This prayer may be said.

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.

PRAYERS OF PENITENCE

   

A minister introduces the Confession in these or other suitable words.

God so loved the world
that he gave his only Son Jesus Christ
to save us from our sins,
to be our advocate in heaven,
and to bring us to eternal life.
Let us confess our sins, in penitence and faith,
firmly resolved to keep God's commandments
and to live in love and peace.

All

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you
   and against our neighbour,
in thought and word and deed,
through negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry,
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 grant that we may serve you
   in newness of life
to the glory of your name. Amen.

Or this form may be used.

The minister uses suitable penitential sentences with these responses.

Lord, have mercy.

All

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

All

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

All

Lord, have mercy.

Or, if another confession has already been used, the Kyries may be used without interpolation.

President

Almighty God,
who forgives all who truly repent,
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.

or

President

May almighty God have mercy on you,
forgive you your sins,
and bring you to everlasting life. Amen.

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS may be used.

All

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

The president invites the people to pray, silence is kept, and the president says the Collect, to which all respond Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

THE READINGS

   

Either one or two readings from scripture precede the Gospel Reading.

At the end of each the reader may say

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.

THE GOSPEL READING

An acclamation may herald the Gospel Reading.

When the gospel is announced

Reader

Hear the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Saint N.

All

Glory to Christ our Saviour!

At the end

Reader

The Gospel of Christ.

All

Praise to Christ our Lord!

THE SERMON

THE CREED

On Sundays and Principal Holy Days the Nicene Creed is used, or on occasion the Apostles' Creed or an authorized Affirmation of Faith may be used (see also page 00).

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 of 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.

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

The president may begin and conclude the intercession. Others may lead these prayers.

The prayers usually follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ
The Creation and Human Society
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.

or a Litany may be used (see pages 00).

THE MINISTRY OF THE SACRAMENT

THE PEACE

   

The president may introduce the Peace with a suitable sentence, and then says

The peace of the Lord be always with you

All

and also with you.

These words may be added

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

All may exchange a sign of peace.

THE PREPARATION OF THE TABLE AND THE GIFTS

A hymn may be sung.

A collection may be taken and presented.

The holy table is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it. The president may take the bread and the cup.

When the table has been prepared, a prayer may be said (see pages 00--00).

THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

President

All

The Lord be with you

or

The Lord is here.

and also with you.

His Spirit is with us.

President

Lift up your hearts.

All

We lift them to the Lord.

President

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Any authorized Eucharistic Prayer may be used.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

The Lord's Prayer is said.

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD

The president breaks the consecrated bread.

We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ.

All

Though we are many, we are one body,
because we all share in one bread.

or

Every time we eat this bread
and drink this cup:

All

We proclaim the Lord's death
until he comes.

These words may be used as the bread is broken.

Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away
   the sin of the world:
   have mercy on us.

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

Lamb of God, you take away
   the sin of the world:
   have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the world,
grant us peace.

Lamb of God, you take away
   the sin of the world:
   grant us peace.

THE DISTRIBUTION

   

The president says

Draw near with faith.
Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ
which he gave for you,
and his blood which he said for you.
Eat and drink
in remembrance that he died for you,
and feed on him in your hearts
by faith with thanksgiving.

Or

Jesus is the Lamb of God
who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those called to the banquet of the Lamb.

All

Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word, and I shall be healed.

Or

The holy gifts of God
for the holy people of God.

All

Jesus Christ is holy, Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Or, from Easter Day to Pentecost,

Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

All

Let us keep the feast. Alleluia!

One of these prayers may be said before the Distribution.

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. Amen.

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 from 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 we may evermore dwell
   in him
and he in us. Amen.

The president and people receive the communion.

Authorised words of distribution are used and the communicant replies

Amen.

During the distribution hymns and anthems may be sung.

If either or both of the consecrated elements is likely to prove insufficient, the president returns to the holy table and adds more, saying the words on page 00.

Any consecrated bread and wine which is not required for purposes of communion is consumed at the end of the distribution or after the service.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

A Sentence of Scripture may be used.
Silence is kept.

The president says the Prayer after Communion or this prayer

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 may say one of these prayers or another suitable prayer.

Almighty God,
We thank you for feeding us
with the Body and Blood
   of your son, Jesus Christ.
Through him we offer you
   our souls and bodies
to be a living sacrifice.
Send us out
in the power of your Spirit
to live and work
to your praise and glory. Amen.

We thank you, Lord,
that you have fed us
   in this sacrament,
united us with Christ,
and given us a foretaste
   of the heavenly banquet
prepared for all peoples.
Amen.

A hymn may be sung.

THE DISMISSAL

The president may say this or an alternative Blessing.

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.
Amen.

Minister

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All

In the name of Christ. Amen.

or

Go in the peace of Christ.

All

Thanks be to God.

or, from Easter Day to Pentecost,

Go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!

All

Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!

The ministers and people depart.


title page
the Liturgical Commission
Introduction | Notes | Rite A Revised | Rite B Revised | Supplementary Texts | Seasonal Provision