THE MINISTRY OF THE SACRAMENT
The Sharing of the Peace
THE MINISTRY OF THE SACRAMENT
The Sharing of the Peace
The people stand
Minister The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
Minister Let us offer one another a sign of peace
The people greet each other with a handshake or other appropriate gesture.
As the Holy Table is prepared for communion, bread and wine may be brought to the minister by the people or by his assistant. A hymn may be sung, during which the offering is collected. If there is no collection the minister bypasses the following prayer and response.
Minister All things come from you O Lord
People And of your own have we given you
The Prayer of Thanksgiving
The People remain standing.
Minister We remain standing for thanksgiving and remembrance. Is the Father with us?
People He is.
Minister Is Christ among us?
People He is.
Minister Is the Spirit here?
People He is.
Minister This is our God.
People Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Minister We are his people.
People We are redeemed.
Minister Lift up your hearts.
People We lift them to the Lord.
Minister Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Minister It is right and our delight to give you thanks and praise, great Father, living God, supreme over the world. Creator, Provider, Saviour and Giver. From a wandering nomad you created your family; for a burdened people you raised up a leader; for a confused nation you chose a king, for a rebellious crowd you sent your prophets. In these last days you have sent us your Son, your perfect image, bringing your kingdom, revealing your will, dying, rising, reigning, remaking your people for yourself. Through him you have poured out your Holy Spirit, filling us with light and life.
Special Thanksgivings shall be said at this point when appropriate.
Therefore with angels, archangels, faithful ancestors and all in heaven, we proclaim your great and glorious name, forever praising you and saying.
People Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
The presiding minister performs the traditional actions of taking the bread and breaking it etc., either during the words of institution or immediately prior to distributing the bread and wine.
The people remain standing.
Minister Almighty God, Owner of all things, We thank you for giving up your only son to die on the cross for us who owe you everything. Pour your refreshing Spirit on us as we remember him in the way he commanded, through these gifts of your creation. On the same night that he was betrayed he took bread and gave 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 for the remembrance of me."
People Amen. His body was broken for us.
Minister In the same way, after supper he took the cup and gave 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 the remembrance of me."
People Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Minister We are brothers and sisters through his blood
People We have died together, We will rise together, We will live together.
Minister Therefore, heavenly Father, hear us as we celebrate this covenant with joy, and await the coming of our Brother, Jesus Christ. He died in our place, making a full atonement for the sins of the whole world, the perfect sacrifice, once and for all. You accepted his offering by raising him from death, and granting him great honour at your right hand on high.
People Amen. Jesus is Lord.
Minister This is the feast of victory
People The lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Hallelujah
The Communion
The people kneel
Minister As Jesus taught us, so we pray:
All Our Father in heaven, holy 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. Do not bring us to the test, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
Minister Christ is alive for ever
People We are because he is
Minister We are one body
People We share one bread
Minister Draw near with faith
People Christ is the host and we are his guests
The presiding minister and his assistants receive the bread and wine. Then he holds the bread and one of the assistants holds the wine and they declare to the people:
Minister The body of our Lord Jesus Christ which was given for you, keep your body and soul in eternal life. take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts, by faith, with thanksgiving.
Assistant The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for you, keep your body and soul in eternal life. Drink this, in remembrance that Christ's blood was shed for you and be thankful.
As the bread and wine are distributed, the minister or his assistant may say to each communicant.
Minister The body of Christ keep you in eternal life
Assistant The blood of Christ keep you in eternal life
Each time the communicant replies Amen and then receives
If the bread and wine are used up they are replaced by more from the Holy Table without any additional prayers. Reconsecration is necessary only if the bread and wine on the Holy Table run out.
During Communion prayerful songs may be sung.
