Ye, who do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, and intend to lead a new life, following the commands of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy way, draw near with faith, and take this holy ordinance to your comfort, and make your humble confession to Almighty God, meekly kneeling on your knees. General Confession, to be made by Minister and People together: Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; we acknowledge and lament our manifold sins, which we from time to time most grievously have committed, by thought, word, and deed, against thy Divine Majesty ; against our Master Jesus Christ, against our own souls, and against our brethren. We do earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for all these sins of action and omission. The remembrance of them is grievous unto us. The burden is greater than we can bear. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father. In the name of thy Son Jesus Christ we beseech thee to forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then the Minister may read some of these verses: Hear what words of comfort our Saviour says to all who desire his help. Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavyladen, and I will give you rest. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. The bread of God is he that cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world. I am the living bread, which came down from heaven if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever. Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. He that esteth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me, and I in him. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth give I unto you. If ye abide in words abide in you, me, and my ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. Then may follow this prayer : Heavenly Father, we pray thee to fill this church with holy awe, while we seal the vows of a new obedience. May we examine ourselves, and so eat of this bread and drink of this cup. May we remember that to come together in one place, without coming together in one faith, hope, and love, is not to eat the Lord's Supper. Bless, then, this bread and wine, that the bread, symbol of strength, may be the occasion and means, while we partake it together, of our receiving a common strength in our souls, that the wine, symbol of joy, may be the means, when we receive it, of entering anew into thy reconciling love and peace. May our minds be fed with the knowledge of Jesus Christ; may his action and suffering, his life and death, his holy virtue and divine patience, his body and his blood, enter into us, and become a part of our own lives. So may the cup of blessing which we bless be to us the communion of the blood of Christ; and the bread which we break be the communion of the body of Christ. So likewise may we become the body of Christ, and members one of another. May we, being many, be one bread and one body, partaking all of that one bread. In this hour may nothing separate us, but may we all be one, - as thou, Father, art in Christ, and he in thee, that we also may be one, -thou in him, and he in us. So may we be perfectly at one with thee our God, with our Saviour, and with each other, according to his holy prayer; which we offer anew in his spirit and in his name. Amen. Minister. Lift up your hearts. Answer. We lift them up unto the Lord. Minister. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God. Answer. It is meet and right so to do. Minister. It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God; Minister and People together. Therefore with angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name; evermore praising thee, and saying, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty, heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, O Lord, most high. Amen. As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, Take, eat, this is my body. And he took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. He may then offer an extempore prayer. After which he may break and distribute the bread, and hand the cup to the People. And in handing the bread he may say, Take and eat this in remembrance of Christ. When all have received the Communion, a hymn may be sung, and at the close the following anthem may be said by the Minister and People: Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good-will towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we give thanks to thee, for the various manifestations of thy great glory, O Lord God, Heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. We bless thee for sending thy beloved Son into the world to save sinners; for exalting him unto thy right hand in heaven; for all the gifts and graces of thy holy spirit; and for the hope of eternal life. For thou only art wise and holy and good; thou only art the Lord; thou only dost govern all things, both in heaven and earth. Therefore, blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be unto thee, who sittest upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and Amen. ever. BENEDICTION. And now may the Lord God Almighty bless, preserve, and keep you. The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you, and give you peace, now and for ever. Amen. |