The Liturgy of the Word 

The opening hymn is sung as the ministers enter. The people stand. 

The Priest says: 

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you! 

People and also with you. 

The Priest says: 

Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith. 

The Priest introduces the confession. 

All say: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned against you and against our neighbour in thought and word and deed, through negligence, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name.   

Amen 

The Priest says 

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

All stand and sing:one of the following versions of Gloria in excelsis Deo (not during Advent or Lent)

Said 

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. 

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, 

we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. 

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, 

you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; 

you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. 

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, 

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, 

with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. 

Amen. 

Or sung 

Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo! (Sung twice) 

Lord God, heavenly King, peace you bring to us, 

we worship you, we give you thanks, we sing our song of praise. (Refrain) 

Jesus Saviour of all, Lord God, Lamb of God, 

you take away our sin, O Lord: have mercy on us all. (Refrain) 

At the Father’s right hand, Lord, receive our prayer.    

For you alone are the Holy One and you alone are Lord. (Refrain). 

Glory, Father and Son, glory, Holy Spirit. 

To you we lift our hands up high; we glorify your name. (Refrain). 

In Advent and Lent instead of the Gloria, we say or sing: 

Lord, have mercy. 

Christ, have mercy. 

Lord, have mercy. 

The Collect 

The Priest says to the people 

Let us pray 

The Priest says the Collect. At the end all say: Amen. 

The Readings 

The people sit. 

The reader announces: A reading from the book of … 

After the reading the reader says: This is the word of the Lord. 

All Thanks be to God. 

There may be a time of silence after the reading. 

All stand to sing: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! 

A minister reads the Gospel beginning with these words: 

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to … 

All Glory to you, O Lord. 

At the end of the reading the minister says: This is the Gospel of the Lord. 

All Praise to you, O Christ. 

The Sermon 

After this all stand and say The 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 from the Holy Spirit and 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 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. 

Prayers of Intercession 

The prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence: 

¶ The Church of Christ 

¶ Creation, human society, those in authority 

¶ The local community 

¶ Those who suffer 

¶ The communion of saints 

These responses may be used 

Lord, in your mercy 

All : hear our prayer. 

And at the end 

Merciful Father, 

All accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, 

our Saviour Jesus Christ. 

Amen. 

The Peace 

All stand: The Priest introduces the Peace and says 

The peace of the Lord be always with you 

People and also with you. 

Let us offer one another a sign of peace. 

All may exchange a sign of peace. 

Preparation of the Table 

Taking of the Bread and Wine 

A hymn is sung. 

The gifts of the people are gathered and presented. 

The table is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it. A prayer may be said. 

The Priest takes the bread and wine, saying these words. 

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation: 

through your goodness we have this bread to set before you, 

which earth has given and human hands have made.  

It will become for us the bread of life. 

All Blessed be God for ever. 

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation: 

through your goodness we have this wine to set before you, 

fruit of the vine and work of human hands. 

It will become for us the cup of salvation. 

All Blessed be God for ever. 

The Prayer of Thanksgiving 

(If a long Preface is used, it replaces all words between the opening dialogue and the Sanctus.) 

Priest: The Lord is here. 

All: His Spirit is with us. 

Lift up your hearts. 

All: We lift them to the Lord. 

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. 

All: It is right to give thanks and praise. 

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,

always and everywhere to give you thanks,

holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

From sunrise to sunset this day is holy,

for Christ has risen from the tomb

and scattered the darkness of death

with light that will not fade.

This day the risen Lord walks with your gathered people,

unfolds for us your word,

and makes himself known in the breaking of the bread.

And though the night will overtake this day

you summon us to live in endless light,

the never-ceasing sabbath of the Lord.

And so, with choirs of angels

and with all the heavenly host,

we proclaim your glory

and join their unending song of praise: 

All:  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, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness; grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit, and according to your holy will, these gifts of bread and wine may be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ; who, in the same night that he was betrayed, 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 in remembrance of me. In the same way, after supper he took the cup and gave you 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.  

Great is the mystery of faith: 

All Christ has died: 

Christ is risen: 

Christ will come again. 

And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross, his perfect sacrifice made once for the sins of the whole world; rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, and looking for his coming in glory, we celebrate this memorial of our redemption. As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, we bring before you this bread and this cup and we thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you. Send the Holy Spirit on your people and gather into one in your kingdom all who share this one bread and one cup, so that we, in the company of (St N. and) all the saints, may praise and glorify you for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever. 

All Amen. 

Breaking bread and sharing in Communion 

The Priest says 

Let us pray as our Saviour has taught us. 

All: 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 for ever.  Amen. 

The Priest breaks the consecrated bread, saying: 

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ 

All: Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread. 

All: Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, mercy on us. (said twice) 

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, grant us peace. 

Priest: Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Blessed are those who are called to his supper. 

All Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, 

but only say the word, and I shall be healed. 

Or from Easter to Pentecost 

Alleluia!  Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us, 

All: Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia! 

Or during Christmastide and on other special occasions 

God’s holy gifts for God’s holy people. 

All Jesus Christ is holy, 

Jesus Christ is Lord, 

to the glory of God the Father. 

The ministers receive the Sacrament in both kinds, then distribute it to the people. 

All who have been confirmed in the Church of England, or who belong to other Christian traditions and are used to receiving communion in their own church, are welcome to share in the bread and wine.   Those who wish to receive a blessing are asked to come forward carrying their order of service, so that the ministers can recognise them. 

The bread and cup are offered to the communicants with these words: 

The Body (Blood) of Christ. [Amen.] 

During the distribution of Communion hymns and Psalms may be sung. 

After the Communion the Priest says: Let us pray and may say a prayer. 

All may say: 

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

A hymn is sung. 

The Priest blesses the people in these or other suitable words, 

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, 

keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, 

and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; 

and the blessing of God almighty, 

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 

be among you and remain with you always. 

Amen. 

A minister says 

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. 

All In the name of Christ. Amen. 

Or in Eastertide 

Go in the peace of Christ.  Alleluia, alleluia! 

All Thanks be to God.  Alleluia, alleluia! 

Common Worship, material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council  2000-2006.