HOLY COMMUNION

Modern Language

HYMN CP 95 

FORTY days and forty nights  

thou wast fasting in the wild;  

forty days and forty nights 

tempted, and yet undefiled:

Sunbeams scorching all the day; 

chilly dew-drops nightly shed; 

prowling beasts about thy way;  

stones thy pillow, earth thy bed.

Shall not we thy sorrows share,  

and from earthly joys abstain,  

fasting with unceasing prayer,  

glad with thee to suffer pain? 

And if Satan, vexing sore,   

flesh or spirit should assail,  

thou, his vanquisher before,   

grant we may not faint nor fail.

So shall we have peace divine;  

holier gladness ours shall be;  

round us too shall angels shine, 

such as ministered to thee.  

Keep, O keep us, Saviour dear,

ever constant by thy side;  

that with thee we may appear 

at the eternal Eastertide.

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In the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit. 

All           Amen.

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THE GREETING

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

All           and also with you.

PRAYER OF PREPARATION 

All           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.

PRAYERS OF PENITENCE​

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God so loved the world

that he gave his only Son Jesus Christ

to save us from our sins,

to be our advocate in heaven,

and to bring us to eternal life.

Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith,

firmly resolved to keep God's commandments

and to live in love and peace with all.

All            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.

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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.

All           Amen.

THE GLORIA    3

Glory be to God in heaven, 

peace to those who love him well; 

on the earth let all his people 

speak his grace, his wonders tell: 

Lord, we praise you for your glory, 

mighty Father, heaven's king; 

hear our joyful adoration 

and accept the thanks we bring.

Only Son of God the Father, 

Lamb who takes our sin away, 

now with him in triumph seated 

for your mercy, Lord, we pray: 

Jesus Christ, most high and holy, 

saviour, you are God alone 

in the glory of the Father 

with the Spirit: Three in One!

                                                                                                                    Tune:     Ode to Joy

                                                                                                                      What a friend we have in Jesus

                                                                                                                      or 8787D metrical index​​

THE COLLECT​

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Heavenly Father,

your Son battled with the powers of darkness,

and grew closer to you in the desert:

help us to use these days to grow in wisdom and prayer

that we may witness to your saving love

in Jesus Christ our Lord. 

All            Amen.

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¶The LITURGY OF THE WORD

A READING FROM THE BIBLE

Genesis 9.8-17

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, ‘As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark.  I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.’  God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations:  I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.  When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds,  I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.  When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.’  God said to Noah, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.’

This is the word of the Lord.

All           Thanks be to God.

HYMN CP 385

BE thou my guardian and my guide

and hear me when I call; 

let not my slippery footsteps slide

and hold me lest I fall. 

The world, the flesh, and Satan dwell 

around the path I tread;

O save me from the snares of hell, 

thou quickener of the dead.

And if I tempted am to sin,  

and outward things are strong,  

do thou, O Lord, keep watch within, 

and save my soul from wrong.

Still let me ever watch and pray, 

and feel that I am frail;  

that if the tempter cross my way, 

yet he may not prevail.

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GOSPEL READING Mark 1.9-15

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The Lord be with you

All            and also with you.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. 

All           Glory to you, O Lord.

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In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan.  And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.  And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’

And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.  He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,  and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’ 

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This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All            Praise to you, O Christ.

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SERMON

THE CREED

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All           I believe in God, the Father almighty,

                creator of heaven and earth.

                I believe 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, died, and was buried;

                he descended to the dead.

                On the third day he rose again;

                he ascended into heaven,

                he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

                and 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.

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PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION 

after each short prayer

Lord, in your mercy

All            hear our prayer.

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The prayers conclude with the following:

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Merciful Father,

All           accept these prayers

                for the sake of your Son,

                our Saviour Jesus Christ.

                Amen.

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¶THE LITURGY OF THE SACRAMENT 

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THE PEACE

The peace of the Lord be always with you

All           and also with you.

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Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

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HYMN CP 496

LEAD us, heavenly Father, lead us 

o'er the world's tempestuous sea; 

guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us 

for we have no help but thee; 

yet possessing every blessing,  

if our God our Father be.

Saviour, breathe forgiveness o'er us:

all our weakness thou dost know; 

thou didst tread this earth before us, 

thou didst feel its keenest woe;  

lone and dreary, faint and weary, 

through the desert thou didst go. 

Spirit of our God, descending, 

fill our hearts with heavenly joy, 

love with every passion blending, 

pleasure that can never cloy:

thus provided, pardoned, guided,  

nothing can our peace destroy.

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THE PREPARATION OF THE TABLE AND OFFERTORY

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God of grace, 

your limitless love gave us everything in Jesus, 

and through belief in him, 

you offer us life in your kingdom. 

Accept our gifts, but as we give, 

warm and soften our hearts 

to lead us into lives which reflect your generosity.                                            
Change us we pray.

All           Amen.

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THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

The Lord be with you     

All           and also with you.                    

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.

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It is indeed right, it is our duty and our joy, 

at all times and I all places to give you thanks and praise, 

holy Father, heavenly King, almighty and eternal God, 

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

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For he is your living Word; 

through him you have created all things from the beginning,

and formed us in your own image.

Through him you have freed us from the slavery of sin, 

giving him to be born of a woman and to die upon the cross;                                         
you raised him from the dead and exalted him to your right hand on high. 

Through him you have sent upon us your holy and life-giving Spirit, 

and made us a people for your own possession.

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Therefore with angels and archangels, 

and with all the company of heaven, 

we proclaim your great and glorious name, 

for ever praising you and saying:

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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.

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Accept our praises, heavenly Father, 

through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, 

and as we follow his example and obey his command, 

grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit 

our gifts of bread and wine may be to us his body and his blood; 

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.' 

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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."

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Therefore, heavenly Father, we remember his offering of himself 

made once for all upon the cross; 

we proclaim his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension; 

we look for the coming of your kingdom, 

and with this bread and this cup 

we make the memorial of Christ your Son our Lord.

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Great is the mystery of faith:

All           Christ has died:

                Christ is risen:

                Christ will come again.

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Accept through him, our great high priest, 

this our sacrifice of thanks and praise, 

and as we eat and drink these holy gifts 

in the presence of your divine majesty,

renew us by your Spirit, inspire us with your love

and unite us in the body of your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord.

Through him, and with him, and in him,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

with all who stand before you in earth and heaven,

we worship you, Father almighty,

in songs of everlasting praise:

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All          Blessing and honour and glory and power

                be yours for ever and ever. Amen.

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THE LORDS PRAYER

Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us           

All          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.

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BREAKING OF THE BREAD

The minister breaks the consecrated bread.

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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 faith.

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All           Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,

                have mercy on us.

                Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,

                have mercy on us.

                Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,

                grant us peace.

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INVITATION TO COMMUNION​

Draw together in faith.                

Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you,

and feed on him in your hearts

by faith with thanksgiving.

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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.

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PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION 

Lord God,

you have renewed us with the living bread from heaven;

by it you nourish our faith,

increase our hope,

and strengthen our love:

teach us always to hunger for him who is the true and living bread,

and enable us to live by every word that proceeds from out of your mouth;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All           Amen.

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All           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.

¶THE DISMISSAL

                The Lord be with you

All           and also with you.

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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.

All           Amen.

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HYMN CP 96

JESU, lover of my soul, 

let me to thy bosom fly, 

while the nearer waters roll, 

while the tempest still is high: 

hide me, O my Saviour, hide, 

till the storm of life is past; 

safe into the haven guide,

O receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none, 

hangs my helpless soul on thee; 

leave, ah, leave me not alone, 

still support and comfort me.

All my trust on thee is stayed, 

all my help from thee I bring; 

cover my defenceless head 

with the shadow of thy wing.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want; 

more than all in thee I find; 

raise the fallen, cheer the faint, 

heal the sick, and lead the blind.

Just and holy is thy name,

thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with thee is found, 

grace to cover all my sin; 

let the healing streams abound, 

make and keep me pure within. 

Thou of life the fountain art: 

freely let me take of thee, 

spring thou up within my heart, 

rise to all eternity.

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Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All           In the name of Christ.  Amen.

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Copyright: Liturgical material: primary sources, The Archbishops Council 2000