INTRODUCTORY NOTES
1. No doctrine or practices may be construed or based on this service, apart from those authorized by the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion and/or the
Book of Common Prayer of 1662.
3. Words in square brackets may be omitted.
4. Words in
bold type are said or sung by the congregation.
5. Where parts of the service are sung to a musical setting, the words for which these setterings were composed may be used.
6. Hymns and songs may be sung with this service otherwise than where provision is made for them. In the selection of hymns and songs careful attention to the themes of the service and also to the relation of the hymn or song chosen to its position within the service.
7. Additional notes for the conduct of this service will be found at the end of the service.
GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME
The priest greets the people. The service may begin with songs or hymns of praise and thanksgiving
The minister may read a sentence of scripture appropriate to the day.
All may say
[Let us pray.
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.]
or another suitable opening prayer
The Confession may be said here or after the Prayers of the People.
The deacon or other minister says
Knowing the goodness of God and the times we fail to respond with love and obedience, let us confess our sins together.
Heavenly Father,
you have loved us with an everlasting love,
but we have often gone our own way
and rejected your will for our lives.
We are sorry for our sins
and turn away from them.
For the sake of your Son who died for us
forgive us, cleanse us, and change us.
By your Holy Spirit enable us to live for you
and to please you in every way,
for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
The priest stands and declares God’s forgiveness in these or other authorized words.
God is slow to anger and full of compassion.
He forgives all who humbly repent
and turn to his Son Jesus Christ,
in whom there is no condemnation.
Amen.
In the absence of a priest a deacon or other minister says 1 John 2:1-2.
Hear these words of assurance from the apostle John: If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
The Prayer of the Day
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
The Bible readings follow, one from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament. A reading from the Gospels is always included.
After each reading the reader may say
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Silence may be kept.
A psalm, portion of a psalm, or canticle may be sung or said after the reading from the Old Testament. “Glory be to the Father…” may be omitted.
A hymn or song may be sung before the Gospel.
All may stand for the Gospel reading.
The reader may say
The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to… [chapter… verse…]
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
After the Gospel, the reader may say
This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Silence may be kept.
The sermon is preached here.
On Sundays the Nicene Creed or the Apostles’ Creed is said or sung, all standing.
In response to God’s word, let us affirm with Christians across the ages our confidence in the God who has spoken.
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:
he was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary
and became truly human.
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 worshiped 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.
or
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
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 from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father;
from there he will come to judge
the living and the dead.
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 PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
One or more members of the congregation may pray, using this form or a suitable alternative.
Almighty and eternal God through the apostle Paul you teach us to pray and to give thanks for all people. In your mercy receive our prayers.
Set the nations on the path of righteousness and peace. Lead their rulers to wise decisions and right actions for the welfare of all.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
We pray for the leaders of our nation (especially …), and for all who exercise authority in this land. Enable them to uphold justice, restrain wickedness and promote integrity and truth.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Comfort and sustain, merciful Lord, everyone in this fleeting life who is in sorrow, need, sickness, or any other distress (especially …).
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Give your church boldness to preach the gospel in all the world, making disciples of all nations and teaching them to obey all that you have commanded.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Give grace to all bishops and other ministers (especially …), to set forth your life-giving word by their example and teaching and rightly administer your holy sacraments.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Give grace to your people gathered here, to receive your word with humble and obedient hearts and serve you in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
We praise you for all who have died in the faith of Christ (especially …). Help us to follow their good examples, that with them we may inherit your heavenly kingdom.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Hear us, Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen
or
Accept our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord, who taught us to pray
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.
If the Confession and the Declaration of Forgiveness have not been used earlier in the service, they may be used here.
THE GREETING OF PEACE
All stand. The Greeting of Peace is introduced with these or other suitable words.
We are the body of Christ.
His Spirit is with us.
The priest says
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.
All may share a sign of peace. This may be introduced with the words:
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
A deacon or one or more members of the congregation may prepare the Lord’s Table.
A hymn or song may be sung.
The gifts of the people are brought to the Lord’s Table. They may be presented in silence, or these words may be said.
Lord, yours in the greatness,
And the power, and the glory
and the victory and the majesty;
All things come from you
And of your own we give you.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
The bread and wine for the communion are placed on the Lord’s Table if this has not already been done.
The priest says the following or another authorized Prayer of Thanksgiving and Consecration.
[The Lord be with you
And also with you]
Lift up your hearts
We lift them to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Always and everywhere, it is right for us to praise you, Lord, holy Father, mighty Creator and eternal God.
On certain days a special preface (see below) is said here.
Therefore, with all those gathered around your throne in heaven, we proclaim your great and glorious name, in words of never-ending praise:
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.]
Special prefaces for Christmas, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost and Trinity:
Christmas
We praise you for giving your only Son Jesus Christ to be made man for us. By the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the virgin Mary his mother, without sin, to make us free from all sin.
or
We praise you that the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Easter
We praise you especially for the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. He is the true Passover lamb who was offered for us and has taken away the sin of the world. By his death he has destroyed death; by his rising to life again he has restored to us eternal life.
Ascension
We praise you through Jesus Christ our ascended Lord, who was seen by his disciples after his resurrection and in their sight went into heaven to sit at your right hand and prepare a place for us, that where he is we might also be and reign with him in glory.
Pentecost
We praise you through Jesus Christ our Lord, by whose sure promise the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles to teach them and lead them into all truth, giving them boldness and fervent zeal to preach the gospel to all nations. By that gospel we have been brought out of darkness and error into the true knowledge of you and of your Son Jesus Christ.
Trinity
You are one God, one Lord, not one person but three persons. For all that we believe of your glory, Father, we believe also of the glory of your Son and of the Holy Spirit. We worship you, one God in Trinity and Trinity in unity.
All Saints
We praise you through Jesus Christ our Lord for the saints in whom you have given us an example of godly living, that rejoicing in their fellowship, we may run with perseverance the race that is set before us, and with them receive the unfading crown of glory.
After the special preface the priest and people continue with the words “Therefore, with all those gathered….”
Standing at the table, the priest continues to give thanks
We thank you, heavenly Father, that in your great love and mercy you gave your only Son to die on the cross for our salvation.
By this offering of himself once and for all time, Jesus made a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world and commanded us to continue a remembrance of his precious death until his coming again.
The priest takes the bread into his hands and says
On the night he was betrayed, Jesus took bread and, when he had given thanks, he broke it, then gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’
The priest takes the cup into his hand and says
In the same way after the meal, Jesus took the cup and, when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’
[Let us proclaim the mystery of faith.]
Christ has died
Christ is risen
Christ will come again
With this bread and this cup we commemorate and proclaim his saving death, as our Savior commanded, recalling his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension and looking for his coming again.
Hear us, merciful Father, and grant that we who receive these gifts of your creation, this bread and this wine, according to our Savior’s command in remembrance of his suffering and death, may be partakers of his body and blood.
Accept this our heart-felt thanks and praise through your Son Jesus Christ. Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is yours, gracious Father, for ever and ever,
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer may be said here or after the communion if it has not been used earlier in the service.
As our Savior taught us, we are bold to say
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
THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD AND THE COMMUNION
The priest breaks the bread in the sight of the people.
Silence is kept.
Then may be said
[Though we are many, we are one body,
because we all share in one bread.]
The priest may say
Come let us eat and drink in remembrance that Christ died for us, and feed on him in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving.
The priest and people receive communion.
Those who distribute the bread and deliver the cup may say
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
The body of Christ keep you in eternal life.
Amen.
The blood of Christ keep you in eternal life.
Amen.
or
Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your heart by faith with thanksgiving.
Drink this in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for you, and be thankful.
THE SENDING OUT OF GOD’S PEOPLE
If the Lord’s Prayer has not been said earlier it is said here. This or another thanksgiving is then said.
Almighty and ever-living God,
thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food
of the body and blood of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Thank you for assuring us of your goodness and love,
that we are members of his body,
and heirs, through hope, of your eternal kingdom.
Keep us faithful to your Son, and strengthen us by your Spirit
to do the good works you have prepared for us to do
for your honor and praise. Amen.
A hymn or song may be sung.
The priest says this or some other suitable blessing.
May 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.
The deacon may say
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
In the name of Christ. Amen.
Additional Notes and Appendices
