An Alternate Order For Holy Communion

The Order of Worship shall be followed until the conclusion of the Sermon.

The Congregation shall join in the singing of a Communion Hymn.

Then the Minister shall address the Congregation, saying,

Our blessed Savior, Jesus Christ, instituted the Holy Communion of his Body and Blood that it might be the abiding memorial of his atoning death; the seal of his perpetual presence in the Church through the Holy Spirit; the mystical representation of the sacrifice of himself on the cross; the pledge of his undying love for his people; and the bond of his living union and fellowship with them to the end of time.

The celebration of the Lord's Supper has ever been regarded by the Church as the innermost sanctuary of the whole Christian worship. We enter here into living communion with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and do show forth our fellowship with one another as members of his Church. Gathering about his table we profess our desire to be numbered among his people and to walk in his ways.

If the Confession of Sin has not been said in the preceding service, the Minister shall say,

Ye, then, who have earnestly searched your own hearts, and desire to forsake all sin, and follow after Christian holiness, approach with me now to the throne of grace, and let us make our humble confession to Almighty God.

Confession of Sin

The Minister and Congregation shall say,

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, We acknowledge and confess our manifold sins, Which we have committed against thee By thought and word and deed, And by which we have offended against thy holy laws, And have merited thy condemnation in this world And in the world to come. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our transgressions. Trusting in thy grace and goodness, Manifested in Christ Jesus our Lord, We ask of thee pardon and peace, And strength to lead a new and righteous life, By the power of thy Holy Spirit; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Then the Minister shall say,

Then, the vessels containing bread and wine having been made ready, and the Congregation standing, the service shall proceed as follows:

The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up unto the Lord.
Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God.
It is meet and right so to do.

The Minister, proceeding, shall say,

It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, Everlasting God. Therefore with the whole company of thy people we laud and magnify thy glorious Name, evermore praising thee, and saying,

The Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread; (Here the Minister shall take the bread into his hands) and when he had given thanks, he brake it, (Here the Minister shall break the bread) and said, Take, eat; this is my Body which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner, also, he took the cup, (Here the Minister shall take the cup into his hands) when he had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my Blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

All glory be to thee, Almighty God, our heavenly Father, for that thou of thy great goodness didst give thine only Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer death for our redemption. Wherefore having in remembrance his holy life, his suffering and death, we thy servants do set forth this memorial which he has commanded us to make; and we beseech thee, O merciful Father, to send thy Holy Spirit upon us, and upon these elements of bread and wine, that the bread which we break may be to us the Communion of the Body of Christ, and the cup of blessing which we bless, the Communion of the Blood of Christ. We beseech thee to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, together with the consecration of ourselves unto thee and to thy holy service; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Minister may say also,

Lord Jesus, for thee we live, for thee we suffer, for thee we die. Thine will we be in life and in death. Amen.

The AGNUS DEI may be sung or said in its traditional form or as a chorale.

Then the Minister may say,

Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Here the Holy Communion shall take place. The Communicants shall present themselves before the Lord's Table. The officiating Minister shall first receive the Communion in both kinds, and administer the same to his Assistants, and he shall then proceed with their help to administer it to the Communicants. But if the Communicants remain in the pews, the following order shall be observed: The Minister shall first receive the Communion in both kinds, and administer the same to his Assistants. Then he shall give the Bread to his Assistants, who shall administer it to the People. When all have received the Bread, the Assistants shall return to the Table, and the Minister shall in like manner, deliver the Cup to them. When all have communicated, the Minister shall pronounce the Blessing, and the Assistants shall return to the Table, after which the Service shall proceed according to the prescribed order.

The Minister, giving the Bread, shall say,

The Minister, giving the Cup, shall say,

After the People have communicated the Minister shall say,

When all have communicated, the elements shall be placed upon the Lord's Table and covered with a fair linen cloth. Then, the Congregation standing, the Minister shall say,

Let us give thanks.

Almighty God, we thank thee for thy great mercy given to us in this Sacrament, whereby we are made partakers of Christ and all his benefits. So enrich us by the Holy Spirit that the life of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal body, and all our days may be spent in thy love and service; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Doxology or the NUNC DIMITTIS or the TE DEUM shall be sung or said.

Benediction

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.