THE CHURCH IN WALES

AN ORDER FOR THE CELEBRATION
OF THE
HOLY EUCHARIST AND THE
ADMINISTRATION
OF THE HOLY COMMUNION

PROPOSED REVISED SERVICE FOR EXPERIMENTAL USE
April, 1966

Penarth, Glamorgan: Church in Wales Publications, 1966.

GENERAL RUBRICS

1. It is the duty of every communicant to receive the Holy Communion frequently, after due preparation, especially on Sundays and on the greater Holy-days, and without fail at Easter.

2. It is the duty of the priest to teach the people what is required of those who come to receive the Holy Communion as set forth in the Catechism and the Exhortation.

The priest of the parish shall warn any communicants living in open sin, or between whom malice and hatred are seen to exist, not to receive the Holy Communion unless they repent. If they do not heed the warning, the priest shall report the whole matter to the bishop and proceed as the bishop directs.

For the safeguarding of the Holy Mysteries and for the well-being of the Church, the bishop of a diocese may exclude offenders from Communion.

3. It is the duty of a Christian to contribute regularly, according to his means, to the maintenance of the worship of God and the spread of the Gospel.

4. The Holy Table at the time of the Ministry of the Sacrament shall be covered with a fair white linen cloth.

The Bread shall be the purest wheat bread, whether leavened or unleavened, and the Wine pure grape wine, to which a little water may be added.

The Bread and the Wine are to be provided by the Churchwardens at the charge of the parish.

5. Upon Sundays and other Holy-days, if there is no celebration of the Holy Eucharist, there may be said all that is appointed in the first part of this order, pages 11-19, namely the Preparation, the Ministry of the Word and the Intercession, after which the service shall conclude with the Lord’s Prayer and the Grace.

In the case of necessity, this service of the Word of God and the People’s Prayers may be conducted by a Deacon or Reader at the Reading Desk, Lectern and Pulpit, the Absolution being omitted.

6. There shall be no celebration of the Holy Eucharist unless there is at least one person present to communicate with the priest.
 

A SERVICE OF PREPARATION
FOR THE HOLY COMMUNION

The Service may be used on the evening before the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

It may also be used as an alternative to the Preparation in the service itself.

The Priest standing, and the People kneeling, he shall say:

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Let us pray.

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Priest, turning to the People, shall read the Ten Commandments.

After each of the first nine commandments shall be said, or sung:

Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

After the tenth commandment shall be said, or sung:

Lord have mercy upon us, and write all these thy laws in our hearts, we beseech thee.

God spake these words, and said,

1. I am the Lord thy God: thou shalt have none other gods but me.

2. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them.

3. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.

4. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath Day.

5. Honour thy father and thy mother.

6. Thou shalt do no murder.

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

8. Thou shalt not steal.

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

10. Thou shalt not covet anything that is thy neighbour’s.

Then shall the Priest say:

Ye that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways: Draw near with faith, and make your humble confession to Almighty God.

Then shall the Priest and People say the Confession:

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Maker of all things,
Judge of all men;

We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness,
Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed.
By thought, word and deed.
Against thy Divine Majesty,
Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us.

We do earnestly repent.
And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings;
The remembrance of them is grievous unto us;
The burden of them is intolerable.

Have mercy upon us.
Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father;
For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,
Forgive us all that is past;

And grant that we may ever hereafter
Serve and please thee in newness of life,
To the honour and glory of thy Name;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then the Priest (or the Bishop being present) shall pronounce this Absolution:

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him; Have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the Priest say:

Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all that truly turn to him:

Come unto me all that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.

So God loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Hear also what Saint Paul saith:

This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

Hear also what Saint John saith:

If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins.

Then shall the Priest and People say together:

We do not presume to come to thy Table, O merciful Lord,
Trusting in our own righteousness
But in thy manifold and great mercies.
We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table.
But thou art the same Lord.
Whose property is always to have mercy:
Grant us therefore, gracious Lord,
So to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ,
And to drink his blood.
That our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body,
And our souls washed through his most precious blood,
And that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us.
Amen.

When this Preparation is used as a separate service, it may conclude with the Grace.

When it is used instead of THE PREPARATION in the Holy Communion Service, after the Prayer of Humble Access there shall follow on the days when it is to be said, Gloria in excelsis, or else the Collect of the Day.

(Turn to page 13)
 

AN ORDER FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE HOLY
EUCHARIST AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE
HOLY COMMUNION

THE PREPARATION

The Priest standing, and the People kneeling, he shall say:—

* KNEEL

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Let us pray.

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our help is in the Name of the Lord.
Answer:           Who hath made heaven and earth.

Then shall the Priest and People say this Confession:

We confess to God Almighty,
    The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,
    That we have sinned in thought, word, and deed,
    Through our most grievous fault.
Wherefore we pray God to have mercy upon us,
    To forgive us all our sins,
    And to bring us to everlasting life.
The Confession as approved is quite similar to that in the Preparation above. It and the absolution follow the Kyries below in the approved text.

Then, turning towards the congregation, the Priest (or the Bishop, being present) shall say this Absolution:

Almighty God have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(STAND)

Here may be sung a hymn, anthem or psalm for the Introit or Procession.

Then shall be said or sung the Kyries:

Or they may be said in this form:

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
 

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS

(STAND)

On Sundays and Holy Days, the People standing, the following hymn shall be sung or said:

Glory be to God on high
And in earth peace, goodwill towards men.
We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee.
We give thanks to thee for thy great glory,
O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesu Christ;
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
That takest away the sins of the world,
    Have mercy upon us.
Thou that takest away the sins of the world,
    Receive our prayer.
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father,
    Have mercy upon us.

For thou only art Holy;
Thou only art the Lord;
Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art Most High
    In the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Priest:              The Lord be with you
People:            And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Then shall be said the COLLECT or COLLECTS OF THE DAY.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

SIT

Then shall follow the Ministry of the Word as appointed.

The People shall sit until the Epistle has been read.

In announcing each Reading it shall be sufficient to name the book only without chapter and verse.

If an OLD TESTAMENT LESSON be appointed, the Reader shall say:

The Reading from ......

The Reader of the EPISTLE shall say:

The Reading from......

The Psalmody appointed in the Propers is to be used after the Old Testament Lesson (if there be one) and the Epistle. On weekdays, not being Holy-days, Psalmody may be omitted.

STAND

The People standing, the Deacon or Priest who reads the GOSPEL shall say:

Hear the Holy Gospel according to Saint......

People:            Glory be to thee, O Lord.

After the Gospel shall be said:

Praise be to thee, O Christ.

(SIT)

THE SERMON shall follow the reading of the Gospel.

STAND
 

On Sundays and Holy Days the NICENE CREED shall be said or sung, the People standing.

I believe in one God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
And of all things visible and invisible:

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
The only-begotten Son of God,
Begotten of his Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God,
Begotten, not made,
Being of one substance with the Father,
By whom all things were made:
Who for us men, and for our salvation came down from heaven.
And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary,
And was made man,
And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried,
And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures,
And ascended into heaven,
And sitteth on the right hand of the Father.
And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead:
Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost,
The Lord, the Giver of life.
Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son,
Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified.
Who spake by the Prophets.

And I believe in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.
And I look for the Resurrection of the dead.
And the Life of the world to come. Amen.

Here shall follow the Notices, Banns of Marriage and anything prescribed by the Ordinary.

Here also may notice be given of special objects of prayer and of thanksgiving.

Then shall the Priest begin

KNEEL

THE INTERCESSION

Let us pray for the whole Church of Christ and for all men according to their needs.

Almighty and everlasting God, we humbly beseech thee to inspire continually the universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord, that all who confess thy holy Name may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and live in unity and godly love.

Hear us, good Lord.

Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all Bishops, Priests and Deacons, and specially to thy servant N. our Bishop, that they may by their life and doctrine proclaim thy true and lively Word, and rightly and duly administer thy Holy Sacraments.

Hear us, good Lord.

To all thy people give thy heavenly grace; and specially to this congregation here present; that they may serve thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life.

Hear us, good Lord.

We beseech thee, O Lord, to direct with thy heavenly wisdom those who rule over the nations of the world; bless thy servant Elizabeth our Queen and all who exercise authority under her, that thy people may be truly and justly governed.

Hear us, good Lord.

Of thy goodness, O Lord, help and comfort all those who are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity.

Hear us, good Lord.

We commend to thy gracious keeping, O Lord, all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear, beseeching thee to grant them everlasting light and peace.

Hear us, good Lord.

Finally, we bless thy holy Name for the grace and virtue declared in all thy Saints: Grant that we, rejoicing in their fellowship and following their good examples, may at thy Son’s appearing be set with them on his right hand and be made partakers of thy heavenly kingdom.

Hear us, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake, our only Mediator and Advocate, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.
 

THE MINISTRY OF THE SACRAMENT

STAND

The people standing, the Priest shall say:

The peace of the Lord be always with you.
Answer:           And with thy spirit.

Then shall the Priest begin

THE OFFERTORY

saying one of the Sentences below.

After the Sentence the offering of the People shall be brought to the Priest and placed upon the Altar.

The Priest shall set upon the Altar as much bread and wine as he shall think sufficient.

A hymn, psalm or anthem may be sung during the Offertory.

I will offer unto thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call upon the Name of the Lord: I will pay my vows unto the Lord in the sight of all his people. Ps. 116.17,18.

I will offer in his dwelling an oblation with great gladness: I will sing and speak praises unto the Lord. Ps. 27.6.

Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his Name: Bring an offering and come into his courts. Ps. 96.8.

I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12.1.

Seeing that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4.14,16.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matt. 5.16.

The Priest may conclude the Offertory by saying:

All things come of thee:
People:            And of thine own do we give thee.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

Then the Priest, turning to the People, shall say:

The Lord be with you.

Then shall the Priest turn to the Lord’s Table and 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 Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God.

Here shall follow the Proper Prefaces (see below), if any be specially appointed, or else shall follow on Sundays:

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who by his death hath destroyed death, and by his rising to life again hath restored to us everlasting life. Therefore with angels, etc.

On other days shall follow immediately:

Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising thee and saying,

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts,
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to thee, O Lord most high.
Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord:
Hosanna in the highest.

PROPER PREFACES

On Christmas Day and seven days after.

Because thou didst give Jesus Christ thine only Son to be born as at this time for us, who, by the operation of the Holy Ghost, was made very man of the substance of the Virgin Mary his mother; and that without spot of sin, to make us clean from all sin. Therefore with Angels, etc.

On the Epiphany and seven days after; and also on the Feast of the Transfiguration.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord; who, in substance of our mortal flesh manifested forth his glory, that he might bring us out of darkness into his own glorious light.

During Passiontide.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord; who being found in fashion as a man, humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross, that being lifted up from the earth, he might draw all men unto him.

On Easter Day and seven days after.

But chiefly are we bound to praise thee for the glorious Resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord; for he is the very Paschal Lamb, which was offered for us, and hath taken away the sin of the world; who by his death hath destroyed death, and by his rising to life again hath restored to us everlasting life.

On Ascension Day and seven days after.

Through thy most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who after his most glorious Resurrection manifestly appeared to all his Apostles, and in their sight ascended up into heaven to prepare a place for us; that where he is, thither we might also ascend, and reign with him in glory.

On Whitsunday and six days after.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord; according to whose most true promise, the Holy Ghost came down as at this time from heaven with a sudden great sound, as it had been a mighty wind, in the likeness of fiery tongues, lighting upon the Apostles, to teach them, and to lead them to all truth; giving them both the gift of divers languages, and also boldness with fervent zeal constantly to preach the Gospel unto all nations; whereby we have been brought out of darkness and error into the clear light and true knowledge of thee, and of thy Son Jesus Christ.

Or this may be used:

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who after he had ascended up on high and was set down at the right hand of thy Majesty, did pour forth upon the Church thy Holy Spirit: that through his glorious power the whole world might offer unto thee the sacrifice of praise.

On Trinity Sunday only.

Who with thine only-begotten Son and the Holy Ghost art one God, one Lord, in Trinity of Persons and in Unity of Substance; for that which we believe of thy glory, O Father, the same we believe of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, without any difference or inequality.

On Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Because thou didst give Jesus Christ, thine only Son, to be born for our salvation; who by the operation of the Holy Ghost, was made very man of the substance of the Virgin Mary his mother; and that without spot of sin, to make us clean from all sin.

On Red-Letter Saints’ Days, except Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Feasts in the Octaves of Christmas or the Ascension.

Because thou hast manifested the grace of Jesus Christ in all thy Saints, who declared thy glory in their lives, and in fellowship with us offer thanks and praise to thee.

When the Collect, Epistle and Gospel “For the Guidance of the Holy Spirit” are used, the alternative Proper Preface of Whitsun may be used.

At Commemorations of the Departed, the Sunday Preface may be used.
 

After the Proper Preface shall follow immediately:

Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising thee and saying,

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts,
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to thee, O Lord most high.
Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord:
Hosanna in the highest.

KNEEL

The People kneeling, the Priest shall continue the Consecration:

All glory, praise and thanksgiving be unto thee Almighty God our heavenly Father for that thou hast created heaven and earth and all that is in them, and didst make man in thine own image, and of thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son, Jesus Christ, to take our nature upon him and to suffer death upon the Cross for our redemption; who made there, by his one oblation of himself once offered, a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world; and did institute, and in his Holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memorial of that his precious death until his coming again.

Therefore we beseech thee, O merciful Father, to sanctify these thy gifts of Bread and Wine, that we, receiving them according to thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ’s holy institution, may be partakers of his most precious Body and Blood:

Who in the same night that he was betrayed, took Bread

(Here the Priest is to take the Bread into his hands)

and when he had given 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.

Likewise after supper he took the Cup

(Here the Priest is to take the Cup into his hands)

and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of this, for this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins: Do this, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me.

Wherefore, O Lord and heavenly Father, making the memorial of the blessed Passion, mighty Resurrection, and glorious Ascension, of thy dearly beloved Son as he hath commanded us, rejoicing in his gift of the Holy Spirit, and looking for his coming again with power and great glory, we thy servants, with all thy holy people, do set forth before thy Divine Majesty this Bread of eternal life and this Cup of everlasting salvation.

And we beseech thee to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, and to grant to us and thy whole Church remission of our sins and all other benefits of his Passion. And we pray that all we who are partakers of this holy Communion, may be fulfilled with thy grace and heavenly benediction and be numbered in the glorious company of thy saints.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honour and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, throughout all ages, world without end.

Then shall all the people say: AMEN.
 

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD

Here shall the Priest break the bread, saying:

The approved text optionally inserts the Prayer of Humble Access here.

THE COMMUNION

Then shall the Priest say:

As our Saviour Jesus Christ has taught us we are bold to say:

Then shall the Priest and People say together the Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done,
    In earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses.
    As we forgive them that 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.

The Priest shall receive the Holy Communion in both kinds and then proceed to administer the same into the hands of those who are to communicate, first saying:

Draw near and receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ given for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

When he administers the Bread, he shall say:

The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life.

When he administers the Cup, he shall say:

The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life.

During the Communion, this anthem may be sung:

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world; have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world; have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world; grant us thy peace.

If the consecrated Bread or Wine be all spent before all have communicated, the Priest is to consecrate more according to the Form before prescribed: beginning at Our Saviour Christ in the same night and ending at Do this in remembrance of me for the blessing of the Bread: and at Likewise after supper, and ending at Do this as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me for the blessing of the Cup.

After the Communion, the Priest, and such other of the communicants as he shall call unto him, shall consume reverently what remains of the consecrated elements and the vessels shall be cleansed in the accustomed manner.

While this is being done a hymn may be sung.

(STAND)

THE POST-COMMUNION

KNEEL

Then shall the Priest say:
O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious:
Answer:           For his mercy endureth for ever.

Then shall the Priest begin this Prayer:

Almighty and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee for the spiritual food of the Body and Blood of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, which thou hast given us in these holy mysteries, assuring us thereby of thy favour and goodness towards us who are members of the mystical body of thy Son and heirs through hope of thy eternal kingdom;

Here the People join with the Priest in saying:

Wherefore, we offer and present unto thee, O Lord,
Ourselves, our souls and bodies,
To be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto thee,

Beseeching thee, by thy grace,
To keep us in this holy fellowship
And to enable us to do all those good works
Which thou hast prepared for us to walk in;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
To whom with thee and the Holy Ghost,
Be all honour and glory.
World without end. Amen.

Then shall the Priest (or the Bishop, if he be present) let the people depart with this Blessing:

The peace of God which passeth 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 Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.

OR