VERSION: 9 April 2002
SIMPLIFIED FORM OF THE COMMUNION SERVICE
NOTES
This simplified form of the communion service is a shortened form of the Service - Alternative Form for pastors and congregations needing a simpler form than those previously authorised by the church. It may be spoken, or selected parts may be sung (eg see the sung paraphrases of the 'Holy, holy, holy' in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Holy, holy, holy', in the 'General and seasonal' folder).
This order contains the basic parts of the service. While some of the remaining 'sacrificial' parts are also not essential, the 'sacramental' parts such as the absolution and the blessings should be retained as performative declarations (rather than expressed merely as wishes), and care should be taken not to deform the basic structure and balance of the service. Pastors are encouraged, where time and circumstances permit, to restore other parts of the complete service.
SIMPLIFIED FORM OF THE COMMUNION SERVICE
PREPARATION
IN THE NAME
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
HYMN/SONG
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Friends in Christ: Let us confess our sins to God our Father and ask him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us.
We confess that we are born in bondage to sin
and cannot free ourselves.
We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done
and by what we have failed to do.
We have not loved you with our whole heart,
and we have not loved our neighbour as ourselves.
We deserve your eternal punishment.
For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us.
Amen.
As a called and ordained servant of the word, I announce the grace of God to all of you. On behalf of my Lord Jesus Christ, and by his command, I forgive the sins of all of you who repent and believe, in the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you.
Amen.
HYMN/SONG/PSALM
An entrance hymn or song may be sung, or the appointed psalm may be sung or said. The psalm if used here concludes with:
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
GREETING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)
Let us pray (for . . . )
. . . now and forever.
Amen.
READINGS
One or two readings may be read. The psalm may be said or sung between the readings. The readings are announced and ended as follows:
A reading from . . .
After the reading:
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL
The holy gospel according to . . .
Glory to you, O Lord.
The minister reads the gospel.
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
HYMN/SONG
SERMON
CREED
The Nicene Creed is said, or the Apostles' Creed.
EITHER
NICENE CREED
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* and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit
and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
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,
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped
and glorified,
who 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.
* This means: us human beings
** or: Christian; 'catholic' here means 'universal'
OR
APOSTLES' CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
and sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty,
from thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen
*or: Christian; 'catholic' here means 'universal'
OFFERING
An hymn/song may be sung while the offering is collected.
When the offering is presented, the congregation may say or sing one of the following offertory prayers:
EITHER
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing Spirit.
OR
Gracious Father, we offer with joy and thanks
what you have first given us -
ourselves, our time and our possessions -
as signs of your goodness and symbols of our love.
Accept them for the sake of Jesus Christ,
who offered himself for us. Amen.
OR
Suitable hymns/songs, or selected verses, eg:
LHS 336*, 337*, 340*, 341*, 342*, 344*, 345*, 352*, 353*, 355*, 356*, 357*, 358*,359, 360, 361* 362*, 363, 364* (TIS 559), 365, 366 (TIS 589), 367*, 368*, 369, 370*, 371* (TIS 595), 372, 373*, 374, 375*, 376, 377* (TIS 599), 378 (TIS 596), 379 (TIS 626), 380, 381, 382, 383, 858 (TIS 607), 859 (TIS 464)
AT 95 (TIS 607), 269 (TIS 712), 353, 354, 357, 358, 464
TIS 464, 559, 571, 583, 589, 594, 595, 596, 599, 607, 626, 712
OR another hymn/song of self-offering
* Modernised version available
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
LITURGY OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
HYMN/SONG
PREFACE
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is indeed right and good, Lord God, holy Father, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The seasonal preface may be added.
And so, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we adore and praise your glorious name:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
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.)
LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed 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.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and forever. Amen.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, and said: Take and eat; this is + my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way he took the cup, after the supper, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, Drink of it, all of you; this is + my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
DISTRIBUTION
DISMISSAL
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ make you strong in body and soul to life eternal. Go in peace.+
Amen.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER
Let us pray.
We give you thanks, almighty God,
that you have refreshed us through this healing gift;
and we pray that through it
you would graciously strengthen us
in faith toward you and in love toward one another;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
BLESSING
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favour,+ and give you peace.
Amen.
HYMN/SONG OF PRAISE
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