Rite A Eucharist

The Order for
Holy Communion

also called
The Eucharist

and
The Lord's Supper

Rite A

GENERAL NOTES FROM THE ALTERNATIVE SERVICE BOOK 1980

NOTES

The Order for
Holy Communion
Rite A

THE PREPARATION

At the entry of the ministers AN APPROPRIATE SENTENCE may be used; and A HYMN, A CANTICLE, or A PSALM may be sung.

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

All

The Lord be with you
and also with you.

The Lord is here.
His Spirit is with us.

or Easter Day to Pentecost

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

All

He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

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

THE PRAYERS OF PENITENCE (sections 5--8) may be said here, or after section 23; if they are said, here sections 6--8 are always used.
Alternative confessions may be used (see section 80.)

THE COMMANDMENTS (section 78) or the following SUMMARY OF THE LAW may be said

Minister

Our Lord Jesus Christ said: The first commandment is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these.

All

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

The minister invites the congregation to confess their sins in these or other suitable words (see section 25).

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 with all men.

All

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.

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.

KYRIE ELEISON may be said (see also section 79).

Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS may be said.

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 president says THE COLLECT.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

Either two or three readings from scripture follow, the last of which is always the Gospel.

Sit

OLD TESTAMENT READING

At the end the reader may say

This is the word of the Lord.

All

Thanks be to God.

A PSALM may be used.

Sit

NEW TESTAMENT READING (EPISTLE)

At the end the reader may say

This is the word of the Lord.

All

Thanks be to God.

A CANTICLE, A HYMN, or A PSALM may be used.

Stand

THE GOSPEL. When it is announced

All

Glory to Christ our Saviour.

At the end the reader says

This is the Gospel of Christ.

All

Praise to Christ our Lord.

Sit
THE SERMON

Stand
THE NICENE CREED is said on Sundays and other Holy Days, and may be said on other days.

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 of 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 INTERCESSION

INTERCESSIONS AND THANKSGIVINGS are led by the president, or by others. The form below, or one of those in section 81, or other suitable words, may be used.

This form may be used
(a) with the insertion of specific subjects between the paragraphs;
(b) as a continuous whole with or without brief biddings.

Not all paragraphs need be used on every occasion. Individual names may be added at the places indicated. This response may be used before or after each paragraph.

Minister

Lord, in your mercy

All

hear our prayer.

Let us pray for the Church and for the world, and let us thank God for his goodness.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, you promised through your Son Jesus Christ to hear us when we pray in faith.

Strengthen N our bishop and all your Church in the service of Christ; that all who confess your name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.

Bless and guide Elizabeth our Queen; give wisdom to all in authority; and direct this and every nation in the ways of justice and of peace; that men may honour one another, and seek the common good.

Give grace to us, our families and friends, and to all our neighbours; that we may serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.

Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit...; give them courage and hope in their troubles; and bring them the joy of your salvation.

Hear us as we remember those who have died in the faith of Christ...; according to your promises, grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of (N and of) all your saints, we commend ourselves and all Christian people to your unfailing love.

Merciful Father,

All

accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Order following the pattern of the Book of Common Prayer continues at section 57.

PRAYERS OF PENITENCE

THE PRAYERS OF PENITENCE (sections 24--28) are said here, if they have not been said after section 4; if they are said, here sections 26--28 are always used.
Alternative confessions may be used (see section 80.)

THE COMMANDMENTS (section 78) or the following SUMMARY OF THE LAW may be said

Minister

All

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

The minister may say

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.

or one or more of these SENTENCES.

Hear the words of comfort our Saviour Christ says to all who truly turn to him:
Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11.28

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3.16

Hear what Saint Paul says:
This saying is true and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Timothy 1.15

Hear what Saint John says:
If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 2.1

Minister

Let us confess our sins, in penitence and faith, firmly resolved to keep God's commandments and to live in love and peace with all men.

All

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you and against our fellow men,
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.

President

All may say

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 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 alternative prayer at section 82 may be used.

THE MINISTRY OF THE SACRAMENT

THE PEACE

Stand
The president says either of the following or other suitable words (see section 83).

Christ is our peace.
He has reconciled us to God in one body by the cross.
We meet in his name and share his peace.

We are the Body of Christ.
In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.
Let us then pursue all that makes for peace
and builds up our common life.

He then says

The peace of the Lord be always with you

All

and also with you.

The president may say

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

and all may exchange a sign of peace.

THE PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS

The bread and wine are placed on the holy table.

The president may praise God for his gifts in appropriate words to which all respond

Blessed be God for ever.

The offerings of the people may be collected and presented. These words may be used.

Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power,
the glory, the splendour, and the majesty;
for everything in heaven and on earth is yours.
All things come from you,
and of your own do we give you.

At the preparation of the gifts A HYMN may be sung.

THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

THE TAKING OF THE BREAD AND CUP AND
THE GIVING OF THANKS

The president takes the bread and cup into his hands and replaces them on the holy table.

The president uses one of the four EUCHARISTIC PRAYERS which follow.

FIRST EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

SECOND EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

THIRD EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

FOURTH EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

THE COMMUNION

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD AND
THE GIVING OF THE BREAD AND CUP

THE LORD'S PRAYER is said either as follows or in its traditional form.

President

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray.

All

Our Father...

The president breaks the consecrated bread, 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.

Either here or during the distribution one of the following anthems may be said.

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

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

Jesus, Lamb of God: have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins: have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world: give us your peace.

Before 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 shed for you.

Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

Additional words of invitation may be used (see section 85).

The president and people receive the communion. At the distribution the minister says to each communicant

The body of Christ keep you in eternal life.
The blood of Christ keep you in eternal life.

The body of Christ.
The blood of Christ.

The communicant replies each time Amen, and then receives.

Alternative words of distribution may be found in section 66.

During the distribution hymns and anthems may be sung.

If either or both of the consecrated elements be likely to prove insufficient, the president himself returns to the holy table and adds more, saying these words.

Father, giving thanks over the bread and the cup according to the institution of your Son Jesus Christ, who said, Take eat; this is my body (and/or Drink this; this is my blood), we pray that this bread/wine also may be to us his body/blood, to be received in remembrance of him.

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.

AFTER COMMUNION

AN APPROPRIATE SENTENCE may be said and A HYMN may be sung.

Either or both of the following prayers or other suitable prayers are said (see section 86).

President

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

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.

THE DISMISSAL

The president may say this or an alternative BLESSING (section 77).

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.

President

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All

In the name of Christ. Amen.

President

Go in the peace of Christ.

All

Thanks be to God.

From Easter Day to Pentecost 'Alleluia! Alleluia!' may be added after both the versicle and the response.

The ministers and people depart.

57-75 The Order following the pattern of the Book of Common Prayer continued from section 22