The New Room, John Wesley’s Chapel, Bristol
AN ORDER FOR HOLY COMMUNION

1 The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

2 Let us 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,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy Name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen

3 Let us confess our sins to God.

A short silence

Most merciful God,
we have sinned against you and our neighbour,
in thought, word and deed,
and in what we have failed to do;
we ask you to have mercy on us, and to forgive us.

God our Father, who forgives all who truly repent,
have mercy on you/us,
pardon and deliver you/us from all your/our sins,
and bring you/us to newness of life; through Christ our Lord. Amen

4 The collect of the day or some other prayer

5 A short reading from the Gospels

Page 1

6. This, or some other short act of intercession

Current or topical issues may be referred to briefly.

Lord God, we ask you to give us your blessing,
to your church, holiness;
to the world, peace;
to this nation, justice;
and to all people, knowledge of your law.
Keep safe our families,
protect the weak, heal the sick,
comfort the dying, and bring us all to a joyful resurrection.
We ask these things through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

7 As our Saviour taught his disciples, we pray:

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.

8 The presiding minister takes the bread and wine and prepares them for use.

9 The presiding minister leads the great prayer of thanksgiving

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.
Page 2
Almighty and everliving God,
it is right always and everywhere to give you thanks and praise.
Therefore with angels and archangels
and with all your people on earth and in heaven,
we proclaim your glory, forever praising you and saying:

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.

Holy and blessed God, you have created all things
and made us in your own image.
When we had fallen into sin, you gave your Son Jesus Christ
to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption
and to offer a perfect sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.

On the night in which he was betrayed he took the bread;
and when he had given 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 when he had given you thanks,
he gave it to them, saying,
‘Drink this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant
shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’

Therefore, Father, with this bread and this cup,
we remember his passion and death,
we celebrate his resurrection and ascension,
and we look for the coming of his kingdom.

Page 3
Accept, through him, this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.
Grant that by the power of your life-giving Spirit,
we who share in the body and blood of Christ
may be united with all your people on earth and in heaven;
through the same Christ our Lord,
by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father,
for ever and ever. Amen.

10 The presiding minister breaks the bread, saying:

The bread which we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.
The cup which we bless is a sharing in the blood of Christ.

11 Silence, after which the minister and people say:

Lord I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word and I shall be healed.

12 The minister(s) receive(s) communion and the people are invited to draw near with faith and receive the body and blood of Christ.

13 Communion is given with these or similar words:

The body of Christ given for you. Amen.
The blood of Christ shed for you. Amen.

14 Silence

We thank you, O Lord,
that you have fed us in this sacrament,
united us with Christ,
and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet
prepared for all people. Amen.

15 The blessing of almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
remain with you/us now and always. Amen.

16 Go in the peace of Christ. Amen. Thanks be to God. Page 4

copyright NWallwork