Ordinary Seasons (First Service)
 
The Gathering of the People of God

The presiding minister reads a sentence of scripture.
A Hymn May be sung

Let us pray.

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 presiding minister says:

		Let us confess our sins to God.
All	Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought and word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart. 
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.

Silence

In your mercy, 
All	forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may delight in your will
and walk in your ways;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The minister says

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just 
and will forgive our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
All	Amen. Thanks be to God.

Or, from Ordinary Seasons (3)

May the almighty God have mercy on us, 
forgive us our sins,
and keep us in life eternal.  
All	Amen.

Collect

One of these, or some other suitable collect is said.

Gracious God, whose love for the world is revealed in your Son our Saviour: grant that he may live in our hearts by faith, and be  proclaimed in our lives by love; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be glory and praise, now and for ever.  Amen.			Ordinary Seasons(1)

God, the source of all wisdom, you teach us in your word that love is the fulfilling of the law: grant that we may love you with all our heart, and our neighbour as ourselves; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen 
						Ordinary Seasons (3)

Eternal God, giver of love and peace, you call your children to live together as one family. Give us grace to learn your ways, and to do your will, that we may bring justice and peace to all people. Amen.						Ordinary Time (15)

Holy God, you liberate the oppressed and make a way for salvation. Unite us with all who cry for justice, and lead us together into freedom; through our Lord and Liberator, Jesus Christ.  Amen							Ordinary Time (21)

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 Ministry of the Word
 
One or two readings are used.
A hymn may be sung.
 
Gospel Reading
 
A reading from the Gospel according to . . .

Hear the Gospel of Christ.
All	Glory to Christ our Saviour.
 
At the end the reader says.
 
This is the Gospel of Christ.
All	Praise to Christ our Lord.
Sermon
 
A hymn may be sung.

Prayers of Intercession
 
These words may be used.
 
Lord in your mercy
All	Hear our prayer

		Lord, hear us.
All	Lord, graciously hear us.

		The Lord’s Prayer
 
We say together the prayer that Jesus gave 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.

The Peace
 
All stand.
 
We are the Body of Christ.
All	In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.
Let us therefore keep the unity of the Spirit 
in the bond of peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.
All	And also with you.
 
		The people may greet one another in the name of Christ.
Nicene Creed
 
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.

The Lord’s Supper
 
The Preparation of the Gifts
 
A hymn may be sung. The offerings of the people are presented. Bread and wine are brought to the table (or if already on the table are uncovered). The presiding minister takes the bread and wine and prepares them for use.

Lord and Giver of every good thing,
we bring to you
bread and wine for our communion,
lives and gifts for your kingdom,
all for transformation through your grace and love,
 
All stand.

The Thanksgiving
 
The presiding minister leads the great prayer of thanksgiving,
using this form or the alternative on gage 11.
 
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.

We praise you, gracious Father, 
our Maker and Sustainer.
You created the heavens and the earth 
and formed us in your own image.
Though we sinned against you, 
your love for us was constant,
and you sent your Son Jesus Christ
to be the Saviour of the world.

Sharing our human nature,
he was born of Mary 
and baptized in the Jordan.
He proclaimed your kingdom, by word and deed, 
and was put to death upon the cross.
You raised him from the dead;
you exalted him in glory;
and through him you have sent your Holy Spirit,
calling us to be your people,
a community of faith.
 
And so, with angels and archangels
and all the choirs of heaven,
we join in the triumphant hymn:

All	Holy, holy, holy Lord, 
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessèd is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Holy God, we praise you
that on the night in which he was betrayed
our Saviour Christ took bread 
and gave you thanks. 
He broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying,
'Take, eat. This is my body, given for you. 
Do this in remembrance of me.'

After supper, he took the cup of wine,
gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 
'Drink from it, all of you.
This is my blood of the new covenant, 
poured out for all people
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this in remembrance of me.'

Remembering, therefore, his death and resurrection,
and proclaiming his eternal sacrifice,
we offer ourselves to you in praise and thanksgiving,
as we declare the mystery of faith:
All	Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

Send down your Holy Spirit 
that these gifts of bread and wine
may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Unite us with him for ever
and bring us with the whole creation 
to your eternal kingdom.
All	Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ,
in the power of the Holy Spirit,
we worship you in songs of everlasting praise.
Blessing and honour and glory and power
be yours for ever and ever.
Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread
 
The presiding minister breaks the bread 
in the sight of the people in silence, or saying:

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.
 
		Silence, all seated or kneeling
 
		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.

The Sharing of the Bread and Wine
 
The presiding minister, those assisting with the distribution, and the people receive, according to local custom.

The presiding minister may say these or other words of invitation:
 
Jesus said: 'I am the bread of life.
Those who come to me shall not hunger
and those who believe in me shall never thirst.'

Draw near with faith.
 
Words such as the following are said during the distribution:
 
The body of Christ keep you in eternal life.  Amen.

The blood of Christ keep you in eternal life.  Amen.
 
During the distribution there may be appropriate music.
The elements that remain are covered with a white cloth.

Prayers and Dismissal

Silence

Let us pray.

All	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 people.  Amen.

Or, from Ordinary Seasons (2)

God of glory,
We have seen with our eyes
And touched with our hands
the bread of heaven.
Strengthen us in our new life together
that we may grow in love
for you and for each other;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

		This or some other hymn may be sung.

Love's redeeming work is done,	Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won;	Alleluia!
Vain the stone, the watch, the seal;	Alleluia!
Christ has burst the gates of hell;	Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led,	Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head;		Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise;	Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies; 	Alleluia!

The presiding minister says this or some other blessing:

The blessing of God,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, 
remain with you/us always.
All	Amen.

The presiding minister says:

Go in peace in the power of the Spirit
to live and work to God's praise and glory.
All	Thanks be to God.  Amen.

An Alternative Prayer of Thanksgiving

This short Eucharistic Prayer may be preferred for Field or Family use..
From Methodist Worship,Holy Communion in a Home or Hospital.
The customary acclamations have been inserted.

            The presiding 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 thanks and praise.

            Father, almighty and everliving God,
            it is right to give you thanks and praise 
            at all times and in all places.
            With angels and archangels
            and with all your people on earth and in heaven,
            we proclaim your glorious name,
            evermore 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.

            Holy and blessèd God,
            you have created all things
            and made us in your own image.
            When we had fallen into sin
            you gave your only Son Jesus Christ
            to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption,
            making there the one perfect sacrifice
            for the sins of the whole world.

            On the night that he was betrayed he took bread;
            and when he had given 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 when he had given 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.

            Therefore, Father,
            we do as Christ your Son commanded;
            we remember his passion and death,
            we celebrate his resurrection and ascension,
            and we look for the coming of his kingdom.

            Accept through him 
            this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving;
            and grant that by the power of your life-giving Spirit,
            we who eat and drink these holy gifts
            may share in the body and blood of Christ
            and be united with all your people
            on earth and in heaven;

            through the same Jesus Christ our Lord,
            by whom, and with whom, 
            in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
            all honour and glory are yours,
            almighty Father,
            for ever and ever.  
All        Amen.