Confirmation 
with 
Holy Communion

Preparation

	At the entry of the ministers a hymn is sung.

The Greeting

The bishop greets the people with the following

Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
All 	Blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever.  Amen.

There is one body and one spirit.
All 	There is one hope to which we were called;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
All 	one God and Father of all.

Peace be with you
All 	and also with you.

	The bishop introduces the service.

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.

The Collect

The bishop introduces a period of silent prayer.

Heavenly Father,
by the power of your Holy Spirit
you give to your faithful people new life in the water of baptism.
Guide and strengthen us by the same Spirit,
that we who are born again may serve you in faith and love,
and grow into the full stature of your Son, Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit
now and for ever.
All	Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word

Old (and) New Testament Reading(s)

At the end the reader says

This is the word of the Lord.
All 	Thanks be to God.

	A hymn is sung.

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

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All 	Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Liturgy of Initiation

Presentation of the Candidates

The candidates are presented to the congregation. 

The bishop asks the candidates 

Have you been baptized 
in the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Spirit?

I have.

Are you ready 
with your own mouth 
and from your own heart 
to affirm your faith in Jesus Christ?

I am.

Testimony by the candidates may follow.

The bishop addresses the whole congregation

People of God, 
will you welcome these candidates 
and uphold them in their life in Christ?

All 	With the help of God, we will.

The Decision

A large candle is lit. 

The bishop addresses all the candidates

In baptism, God calls us out of darkness 
into his marvelous light.

To follow Christ means dying to sin 
and rising to new life with him. 

Therefore I ask:

Do you turn to Christ?
I turn to Christ.

Do you repent of your sins?
I repent of my sins.

Do you renounce evil?
I renounce evil.

The bishop says

May God who has given you the desire to follow Christ
give you strength to continue in the Way.
All 	Amen.

Profession of Faith

The ministers and candidates gather at the baptismal font. 

The bishop addresses the congregation

Brothers and sisters, I ask you to profess
together with these candidates
the faith of the Church.

Do you believe and trust in God the Father?
All 	I believe in God, the Father almighty, 
creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?
All 	I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, 
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, 
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven, 
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?
All 	I believe in the Holy Spirit, 
the holy catholic Church, 
the communion of saints, 
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.  
Amen.

The candidates come forward to the font 
and sign themselves with water.
	The bishop says

Almighty God,
we thank you for our fellowship in the household of faith
with all who have been baptized into your name.
Keep us faithful to our baptism,
and so make us ready for that day
when the whole creation shall be made perfect in your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. 
All 	Amen.

The bishop and the candidates gather at the place of confirmation. 

Confirmation

The bishop stands before those who are to be confirmed, and says

Our help is in the name of the Lord
All	who has made heaven and earth.

Blessed be the name of the Lord
All	and for ever.  Amen.

The bishop extends his hands towards those 
to be confirmed and says

Almighty and ever-living God, you have given these your servants new birth in baptism by water and the Spirit, and have forgiven them all their sins. Let your Holy Spirit rest upon them: the Spirit of wisdom and understanding; the Spirit of counsel and inward strength; the Spirit of knowledge and true godliness; and let their delight be in the fear of the Lord. 
All	Amen.

The bishop may anoint each candidate with oil, saying

N, God has called you by name and made you his own.

He then lays his hand on the head of each, saying

Confirm, O Lord, 
your servant 
with your Holy Spirit.
Amen.

The bishop invites the congregation to pray 
for all those on whom hands have been laid

All 	Defend, O Lord, these your servants 
with your heavenly grace,
that they may continue yours for ever,
and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more
until they come to your everlasting kingdom.  
Amen.

Commission

Those who are baptized 
are called to worship and serve God. 

Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,
in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
With the help of God, I will.

Will you persevere in resisting evil,
and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
With the help of God, I will.

Will you proclaim by word and example
the good news of God in Christ?
With the help of God, I will.

Will you seek and serve Christ in all people,
loving your neighbour as yourself?
With the help of God, I will.

Will you acknowledge Christ’s authority over human society,
by prayer for the world and its leaders,
by defending the weak, and by seeking peace and justice?
With the help of God, I will.

May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith,
that you may be rooted and grounded in love
and bring forth the fruit of the Spirit. 
All 	Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

As a royal priesthood, 
let us pray to the Father
through Christ who ever lives to intercede for us.

Reveal your kingdom among the nations;
may peace abound and justice flourish.
Especially for ...
Your name be hallowed.
All 	Your kingdom come.

Send down upon us the gift of the Spirit
and renew your Church with power from on high.
Especially for ...
Your name be hallowed.
All 	Your kingdom come.

Deliver the oppressed, strengthen the weak,
heal and restore your creation.
Especially for ...
Your name be hallowed.
All 	Your kingdom come.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of the Church on earth,
we join our prayers with all the saints in glory.
Your name be hallowed.
All 	Your kingdom come.

The Peace

The bishop introduces the Peace

God has made us one in Christ.
He has set his seal upon us
and, as a pledge of what is to come,
has given the Spirit to dwell in our hearts.

The peace of the Lord be always with you
All 	and also with you.

A minister says

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

All exchange a sign of peace.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist

Preparation of the Table

	A hymn may be sung.
	The gifts of the people may be gathered and presented.
	The table is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it.

	The president takes the bread and wine, and may say.

	Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:
	through your goodness we have this bread to set before you,
	which earth has given and human hands have made.
	It will become for us the bread of life.
All 	Blessed be God for ever.

	Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:
	through your goodness we have this wine to set before you,
	fruit of the vine and work of human hands.
	It will become for us the cup of salvation.
All 	Blessed be God for ever.

	The President may add either of these or other table prayers

	Blessed be God,
	by whose grace creation is renewed,
	by whose love heaven is opened,
	by whose mercy we offer our sacrifice of praise.
All	Blessed be God for ever.

	Wise and gracious God,
	you spread a table before us;
	nourish your people with the word of life
	and the bread of heaven.
All	Amen.

Eucharist Prayer B

	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 thanks and praise.

	Here follows an extended preface, or the following.

	Father, we give you thanks and praise
	through your beloved Son Jesus Christ, your living Word,
	through whom you have created all things;
	who was sent by you in your great goodness to be our Saviour.

	By the power of the Holy Spirit he took flesh;
	as your Son, born of the blessed Virgin,
	he lived on earth and went about among us;
	he opened wide his arms for us on the cross;
	he put an end to death by dying for us;
	and revealed the resurrection by rising to new life;
	so he fulfilled your will and won for you a holy people.

	A short proper preface may be inserted

	

	Therefore with angels and archangels,
	and with all the company of heaven,
	we proclaim your great and glorious name,
	or 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.
	Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
	Hosanna in the highest.

	Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness;
	grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit,
	and according to your holy will,
	these gifts of bread and wine
	may be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ;

	who, in the same night that he was betrayed,
	took bread and gave you thanks;
	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 gave you 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.
	Do this, as often as you drink it,
	in remembrance of me.

	Great is the mystery of faith.
All	Christ has died:
	Christ is risen:
	Christ will come again.
(or)
	Praise to you, Lord Jesus:
All	Dying you destroyed our death
	rising you restored our life:
	Lord Jesus, come in glory.

	And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross,
	his perfect sacrifice made once for the sins of the whole world;
	rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension,
	and looking for his coming in glory,
	we celebrate this memorial of our redemption.
	As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving,
	we bring before you this bread and this cup
	and we thank you for counting us worthy
	to stand in your presence and serve you.

	Send the Holy Spirit on your people
	and gather into one in your kingdom
	all who share this one bread and one cup,
	so that we, in the company of [N and] all the saints,
	may praise and glorify you for ever,
	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.	

The Lord’s Prayer

	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.

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.

Agnus Dei

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

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

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

Giving of Communion

	The president says one of these invitations to communion

	Jesus is the Lamb of God
	who takes away the sin of the world.
	Blessed are those who are called to his supper.
All	Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,
	but only say the word, and I shall be healed.

(or)

	God’s holy gifts for God’s holy people.
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	Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

	The Bishop and Clergy, then the newly confirmed, 
	and the people receive the Holy Communion.

	persons who are communicant members of other
 	Churches which subscribe to the doctrine of the Holy 
	Trinity, and are in good standing in their own Church 
	may receive Communion. 

	Any person may come to the altar for a blessing. 
	Holding a book is a useful signal to the ministers
	During the distribution hymns and anthems may be sung.

	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

Silence is kept.

God of mercy,
by whose grace alone we are accepted
and equipped for your service:
stir up in us the gifts of your Holy Spirit
and make us worthy of your calling;
that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit
in love and joy and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All	Amen
The Sending Out

A hymn is sung.

The Blessing

The bishop says

The God of all grace,
who called you to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, 
establish, strengthen and settle you in the faith; 
and the blessing of God almighty, 
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 
be upon you and remain with you always.
All 	Amen. 

Giving of a Lighted Candle

The bishop or another person gives all candidates a lighted candle. When all have received a candle, the bishop says

God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness
and has given us a place with the saints in light.

You have received the light of Christ;
walk in this light all the days of your life.
All 	Shine as a light in the world
to the glory of God the Father. 

The Dismissal

Go in the light and peace of Christ.
All 	Thanks be to God. 
The bishop leads the newly confirmed through the church.

Acknowledgment

This booklet draws inspiration from an Order for Confirmation published by the Diocese of Southwell.

Copyright acknowledgment:

Some material included in this service is copyright: © 1985 Anglican Church of Canada: The Book of Alternative Services; After Communion compiled by C L Macdonnell; Profession of Faith: © 1988 English Language Liturgical Consultation (ELLC); Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops' Council 2000; Prayers of Intercession (general): © The European Province of the Society of St Francis.