Rite A & B Revised: Notes

NOTES: RITES A AND B

1

Preparation

Careful devotional preparation before the service is recommended for every communicant.

2

The President

In accordance with the provisions of Canon B12 'Of the ministry of the Holy Communion', the president must be an episcopally ordained priest. In order to preserve the unity of word and sacrament, the president presides over the whole service.

The president says the opening Greeting, the Absolution, the Collect, the Peace, and the Blessing. The president must say the Eucharistic Prayer, break the consecrated bread, and receive the sacrament on every occasion. The president may delegate the remaining parts of the service to others.

Only when a priest cannot be present at the beginning of the celebration, may another authorised minister lead the preparation and the Ministry of the Word, and say the greeting, the Absolution (using the us form) and the Collect.

The president may use appropriate gestures and actions in leading the people in worship.

When the Bishop is present, he is normally the president of the whole service.

3

The Deacon

The ministry of the deacon in the eucharist may include the bringing in of the Book of the Gospels, the invitation to confession, the reading of the gospel, a part in the prayers of intercession, the preparation of the table and of the gifts, a aprt in the distribution of communion, and the dismissal.

When there is no deacon present, the deacon's liturgical ministry provides an appropriate model on occasions for th eministry of an assistant priest, a reader or another authorised minister in the eucharist.

4

Posture

Local custom may be followed and developed in relation to posture. The people should stand for the reading of the gospel, for the creed, for the peace and for the dismissal. Any changes in posture during the Eucharistic Prayer should not detract from the unity of that prayer. It is appropriate that, on occasions, the congregation should kneel for prayers of penitence.

5

Traditional Texts

In addition to where they are printed in the service, traditional versions of texts may be used.

6

Hymns

The term 'hymn' is used here to cover the whole range of hymns, songs and chants appropriate to the service. Appropriate points are indicated for these, as for psalms and biblical canticles, but if occasion requires they may occur elsewhere.

7

Sentences

Sentences of scripture, appropriate to the season and to the place in the service, may be used as part of the president's greeting, in the invitation to confession, as an Acclamation before the Gospel (with alleluias except in Lent), at the peace, and after the Dismissal.

8

Greetings

In addition to the points where greetings are provided, at other suitable points (e.g. before the Gospel and before the Blessing or Dismissal) the greeting 'The Lord be with you' may be used.

9

Silence

Silence is particularly appropriate within the Prayers of Penitence and of Intercession, before the Collect, in response to the reading of the scriptures, after the Eucharistic Prayer and after the Distribution.

10

Notices

Banns of marriage and other notices may be published before the preparation (if possible by a minister other than the president), before the Prayers of Intercession or before the Dismissal.

11

The Prayers of Penitence

This section may be transposed to a later point in the service as a response to the Ministry of the Word. In the special seasonal rites for certain days, it is better at the later point.

On certain occasions, led by a deacon or other minister, it may precede the opening Hymn and Greeting. On these occasions, the deacon or other minister may say the Absolution, using the 'us' form.

The invitation to confession may take the form of the Summary of the Law, the Commandments, the Beatitudes or the Comfortable Words.

When the Kyries are used as a confession, short penitential sentences may be inserted between the petitions, suitable for seasons or themes. This form of confession should not be the norm on Sundays.

Authorised alternative forms of confession may be used in place of that in the main text.

12

The Collect

The Collect is introduced by the words 'Let us pray' or another bidding, silence is kept, and the president says the Collect. Only one collect is to be used.

13

The Readings

The Readings at the Eucharist are governed by the lectionary provisions, and are not a matter fro local decision except where those provisions permit.

Where only two readings are chosen, the minister should ensure that, in any year, a balance is maintained between readings from the Old and New Testament in the choice of first reading.

When announcing the gospel, if it is desired to give book, chapter and verse or page number, the reader may do this informally before saying 'Hear the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint N.'

14

The Sermon

The sermon is an integral part of the Ministry of the Word. A sermon should normally be preached at all celebrations on Sundays and Principal Holy Days.

The term sermon may on occasion include less formal exposition of scripture, the use of drama, interviews, discussion and audio-visuals.

15

The Prayers of the People

Several forms of intercession are provided. Other suitable forms may be used. They need not always conform to the sequence indicated in the service. The supplementary material provides a number of collects to conclude the intercession. These are appropriately said by the president.

16

The Peace

The Peace follows naturallyfrom the Prayer of Intercession, and begins the Ministry of the Sacrament. But this section may be transposed to the opening greeting, or may be used later in the service, as part of the Breaking of Bread or the Dismissal.

17

The Eucharistic Prayer

[Text of the Note to follow]

18

The Lord's Prayer

[Text of the Note to follow]

19

Breaking of Bread

The bread should not be broken during the words of institution in the Eucharistic Prayer.

The words provided at the Breaking of Bread must be used on Sundays and principal Holy Days. On other days the bread may be broken in silence or during '(Jesus) Lamb of God'.

Sufficient bread for the whole congregation to share may be broken by the president, if necessary assisted by other ministers, at this point in the service. The song '(Jesus) Lamb of God' may accompany this action.

20

Non-communicants

At the Distribution any of those distributing the sacrament, ordained or lay, may say to any non-communicants who come forward 'May God be with you' or 'May God bless you' or other suitable words. The words may be accompanied by a suitable gesture.

21

A Service without Holy Communion

When there is no communion, the minister leads the service as far as the Prayers of Intercession or the Peace, and then adds the Lord's Prayer, the General Thanksgiving, and/or other prayers, ending with the Grace.

1	Preparation Careful devotional preparation before the service is recommended for every communicant.
2	The President In accordance with the provisions of Canon B12 'Of the ministry of the Holy Communion', the president must be an episcopally ordained priest. In order to preserve the unity of word and sacrament, the president presides over the whole service. The president says the opening Greeting, the Absolution, the Collect, the Peace, and the Blessing. The president must say the Eucharistic Prayer, break the consecrated bread, and receive the sacrament on every occasion. The president may delegate the remaining parts of the service to others. Only when a priest cannot be present at the beginning of the celebration, may another authorised minister lead the preparation and the Ministry of the Word, and say the greeting, the Absolution (using the us form) and the Collect. The president may use appropriate gestures and actions in leading the people in worship. When the Bishop is present, he is normally the president of the whole service.
3	The Deacon The ministry of the deacon in the eucharist may include the bringing in of the Book of the Gospels, the invitation to confession, the reading of the gospel, a part in the prayers of intercession, the preparation of the table and of the gifts, a aprt in the distribution of communion, and the dismissal. When there is no deacon present, the deacon's liturgical ministry provides an appropriate model on occasions for th eministry of an assistant priest, a reader or another authorised minister in the eucharist.
4	Posture Local custom may be followed and developed in relation to posture. The people should stand for the reading of the gospel, for the creed, for the peace and for the dismissal. Any changes in posture during the Eucharistic Prayer should not detract from the unity of that prayer. It is appropriate that, on occasions, the congregation should kneel for prayers of penitence.
5	Traditional Texts In addition to where they are printed in the service, traditional versions of texts may be used.
6	Hymns The term 'hymn' is used here to cover the whole range of hymns, songs and chants appropriate to the service. Appropriate points are indicated for these, as for psalms and biblical canticles, but if occasion requires they may occur elsewhere.
7	Sentences Sentences of scripture, appropriate to the season and to the place in the service, may be used as part of the president's greeting, in the invitation to confession, as an Acclamation before the Gospel (with alleluias except in Lent), at the peace, and after the Dismissal.
8	Greetings In addition to the points where greetings are provided, at other suitable points (e.g. before the Gospel and before the Blessing or Dismissal) the greeting 'The Lord be with you' may be used.
9	Silence Silence is particularly appropriate within the Prayers of Penitence and of Intercession, before the Collect, in response to the reading of the scriptures, after the Eucharistic Prayer and after the Distribution.
10	Notices Banns of marriage and other notices may be published before the preparation (if possible by a minister other than the president), before the Prayers of Intercession or before the Dismissal.
11	The Prayers of Penitence This section may be transposed to a later point in the service as a response to the Ministry of the Word. In the special seasonal rites for certain days, it is better at the later point. On certain occasions, led by a deacon or other minister, it may precede the opening Hymn and Greeting. On these occasions, the deacon or other minister may say the Absolution, using the 'us' form. The invitation to confession may take the form of the Summary of the Law, the Commandments, the Beatitudes or the Comfortable Words. When the Kyries are used as a confession, short penitential sentences may be inserted between the petitions, suitable for seasons or themes. This form of confession should not be the norm on Sundays. Authorised alternative forms of confession may be used in place of that in the main text.
12	The Collect The Collect is introduced by the words 'Let us pray' or another bidding, silence is kept, and the president says the Collect. Only one collect is to be used.
13	The Readings The Readings at the Eucharist are governed by the lectionary provisions, and are not a matter fro local decision except where those provisions permit. Where only two readings are chosen, the minister should ensure that, in any year, a balance is maintained between readings from the Old and New Testament in the choice of first reading. When announcing the gospel, if it is desired to give book, chapter and verse or page number, the reader may do this informally before saying 'Hear the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint N.'
14	The Sermon The sermon is an integral part of the Ministry of the Word. A sermon should normally be preached at all celebrations on Sundays and Principal Holy Days. The term sermon may on occasion include less formal exposition of scripture, the use of drama, interviews, discussion and audio-visuals.
15	The Prayers of the People Several forms of intercession are provided. Other suitable forms may be used. They need not always conform to the sequence indicated in the service. The supplementary material provides a number of collects to conclude the intercession. These are appropriately said by the president.
16	The Peace The Peace follows naturallyfrom the Prayer of Intercession, and begins the Ministry of the Sacrament. But this section may be transposed to the opening greeting, or may be used later in the service, as part of the Breaking of Bread or the Dismissal.
17	The Eucharistic Prayer [Text of the Note to follow]
18	The Lord's Prayer [Text of the Note to follow]
19	Breaking of Bread The bread should not be broken during the words of institution in the Eucharistic Prayer. The words provided at the Breaking of Bread must be used on Sundays and principal Holy Days. On other days the bread may be broken in silence or during '(Jesus) Lamb of God'. Sufficient bread for the whole congregation to share may be broken by the president, if necessary assisted by other ministers, at this point in the service. The song '(Jesus) Lamb of God' may accompany this action.
20	Non-communicants At the Distribution any of those distributing the sacrament, ordained or lay, may say to any non-communicants who come forward 'May God be with you' or 'May God bless you' or other suitable words. The words may be accompanied by a suitable gesture.
21	A Service without Holy Communion When there is no communion, the minister leads the service as far as the Prayers of Intercession or the Peace, and then adds the Lord's Prayer, the General Thanksgiving, and/or other prayers, ending with the Grace.