All 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,
so that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE COMMANDMENTS

Minister:

God spoke all these words saying: I am the Lord your God.

You shall have no gods other than me.

You shall not make for yourself an idol (in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath, or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them nor worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who punishes the children for the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but I show love to thousands who love me and keep my commandments).

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, (for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name).

Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy. (Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, or the foreigner living among you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.)

All:

Lord, have mercy on us, and incline
our hearts to keep these laws.

Minister:

Honour your father and your mother (so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you).

You shall not commit murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

You shall not covet (your neighbour's house. You shall not covet your neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, his maidservant, his ox or donkey, nor anything that belongs to him).

All:

Lord, have mercy on us, and write all these
your laws on our hearts, we beseech you.

THE SCRIPTURE READINGS

The first is usually from a New Testament letter or alternatively from the Old Testament and the second always from one of the four Gospels.

It is customary to stand for the Gospel reading.

After each reading the reader says:

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

THE NICENE CREED

All:

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things, visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only begotten Son of God,
begotten of the Father before all ages,
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 became incarnate by the Holy Spirit
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
according to the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He shall come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

I 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 spoke through the prophets.
I believe one catholic, and apostolic church,
and I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.
I look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

THE NOTICES and BANNS OF MARRIAGE are announced after which the OFFERING is brought forward and received.

(Prayers)
Each prayer may end with Amen, or this response:

Minister

All

Lord, in your mercy

hear our prayer.

Minister

All

Merciful Father,

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

The minister reads this EXHORTATION and INVITATION:

The Scriptures teach that those who intend to eat the bread and drink the cup of the Lord must examine their lives and repent of their sins. They must come to the Lord's table with a penitent heart and firm faith. Above all, they should come giving thanks to God for his love towards us in Christ Jesus.

You who truly and earnestly repent of your sins and are reconciled and at peace with your neighbours and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God and walking in his holy ways, draw near by faith, take this holy sacrament for your encouragement and make your humble confession to Almighty God.

CONFESSION

All:
Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
maker of all things, judge of all men,
we acknowledge and confess our many sins,
which we have committed by thought, word, and deed,
against your divine majesty,
provoking your wrath and indignation against us.
We earnestly repent,
and are truly sorry for all our misdoings.
The memory of them grieves us.
The burden of them is more than we can bear.
Have mercy on us, most merciful Father.
For your Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake
forgive us all that is past,
and grant that from now on we may always
serve and please you in lives wholly renewed by your Spirit,
to the honour and glory of your name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The minister declares GOD'S FORGIVENESS, and reads one or more of the following PROMISES of assurance from the Bible:

Almighty God our heavenly Father, who in his great mercy has promised forgiveness of sins to all who turn to him with heartfelt repentance and true faith: be merciful to you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and bring you to eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Listen to our Lord Jesus Christ's words of assurance to all who truly turn to him:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

The apostle Paul says:

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Timothy 1:15

The apostle John also says:

If anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defence - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 2:1-2

Minister

People

Minister

People

Minister

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and joy, that we should always and everywhere give thanks to you, O Lord, holy Father, mighty Creator and eternal God.

A seasonal PREFACE may be included here.

All:

Therefore with angels and archangels,
and with the whole company of heaven,
we praise and magnify your glorious name,
evermore praising you, and saying:

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Glory be to you, O Lord most high. Amen.

The minister says this PRAYER OF CONSECRATION:

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, in your tender mercy you gave your only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption. He made there, by his once and for all offering of himself, a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. He instituted and in his holy gospel commands us to continue a perpetual memory of his precious death until he comes again.

Hear us, O merciful Father, we humbly pray and grant that we who receive this bread and wine according to your Son Jesus Christ's holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed body and blood.

On the night that he was betrayed he took bread, (the minister takes the bread) and, when he had given thanks, he broke it (he breaks the bread) 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, (he takes the cup) and, when he had given 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. Amen.

THE ADMINISTRATION.

These words are said at the administration of the bread:
May the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for you, preserve your body and soul to eternal life. Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you and feed on him in your heart by faith with thanksgiving.

These words are said at the administration of the cup:
May the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for you, preserve your body and soul to eternal life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ's blood was shed for you and be thankful.

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.

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is 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 yours is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
now and for ever. Amen.

Almighty God,
we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food
of 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 into the world
in the power of your Spirit,
to live and work
to your praise and glory. Amen.

Almighty and everliving God,
we thank you for reassuring us at this communion
of your favour and goodness towards us;
that we are truly members of the body of your Son;
and that we are also heirs, through hope,
of your eternal kingdom.
We humbly beg you, heavenly Father,
to keep us as faithful members of your church
and to strengthen us by your Spirit
so that we may fulfil those good works
which you have prepared for us to do;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS may be used or a HYMN may be sung. The minister may say THE BLESSING, after which the minister says:

Go in peace and serve the Lord.
All: In the name of Christ. Amen.