INTRODUCTION

    The Archbishops of the Anglican Communion in Africa met in April 1961 and asked that consultations should take place between the Provinces with a view to composing a new Liturgy for the Holy Communion. The Archbishops hoped that such a Liturgy might win wide acceptance and form a bond of unity between Anglicans all over the continent. This Liturgy, prepared in answer to that request, was drafted at a meeting in Kampala in April 1963 of representatives of the Provinces of South Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, and Uganda, and has been amended in the light of criticisms made by the Provincial Liturgical Commissions, and by the Liturgical Consultation of the Anglican Communion held at Toronto in August 1963. It is expected that further revision will be undertaken only after some years of experimental use. The Liturgy is intended for such experimental use as the Bishop of the Diocese shall authorize subject to the regulation of the competent Body in each Province.
    The Liturgy is intended to be used as the chief Sunday service of a congregation when a priest is present. Even when there is no priest available, the first three sections of the Liturgy, namely the Preparation, the Service of the Word of God, and the Intercession, may be used, so that the congregation, though unable to receive the Sacrament, may join with their brethren in a common worship.
    Where it is felt that the pattern of Mattins and Evensong according to the Prayer Book should be maintained, celebrations of the Holy Communion which follow these Offices could properly be according to this Liturgy, starting with the Service of the Lord’s Supper. In such a case it is suggested that the Intercession should be used in place of the prayers after the Third Collect at Morning or Evening Prayer. This avoids any necessity for the shortening of the Choir Office or the abbreviation of the Prayer Book Order of Holy Communion.
    At this stage no attempt is made to deal with a suggested revision of the whole pattern of daily and Sunday worship, but it is recognized that in due course attention will have to be given to this and, in particular, a new table of psalms and readings will have to be provided for use on Sundays and Holy Days.
    Asterisks in the text indicate those sections which may be omitted at the discretion of the minister. An order, thus shortened, may also be used at extra celebrations on Sunday, additional to the main Sunday celebrations of the congregation.
    The Liturgy is designed to ensure the fullest possible active participation of all God’s people in worship. The full Liturgy, including the Service of the Lord’s Supper, requires the presence of the bishop or a priest. In this case he should be assisted by a deacon (whether a man in deacon’s orders or a priest acting in that capacity) and men authorized by the parish priest. In the absence of a priest, deacons or authorized laymen may conduct the Preparation, the Service of the Word of God, and the Intercession, as already noted. They may not celebrate the Service of the Lord’s Supper.
    Throughout the Liturgy the word “minister” is used to denote the person conducting that part of the Liturgy.
 

Directions for the use of the Liturgy

Position of the Minister

It is recommended that the celebrant does not go to the Lord’s Table until the beginning of the Service of the Lord’s Supper and that he stand either behind the Table facing the people, or in the customary position.
The Preparation, the Service of the Word of God, and the Intercession may be conducted from the place where the prayers are accustomed to be said, and the Bible read.

The Congregation’s Part

Those parts of the Liturgy to be said by the congregation are printed in heavier type.

Singing in the Service

The use of the words “say” or “said” in the rubrics of the Liturgy does not preclude the singing of suitable parts of the service.

The Posture of the Worshippers

Usually directions have not been given as customs vary greatly between the Provinces. It is recommended that each Province follows local custom in this matter.

The Lessons

If it is necessary to shorten the Service, either the Old Testament Lesson or the Epistle may be used, the other being omitted.

Reading the Lessons

The Old Testament Lesson and Epistle are introduced as follows: The Lesson (or Epistle) is written in such and such a Book (or the Epistle of ... to the ...), chapter ..., beginning at verse ...
    After the reading the reader says: Here ends the Lesson (or the Epistle).
    The Gospel thus: The Holy Gospel is written in that according to St ..., chapter ..., beginning at verse ...
    The reader does not say anything at the end of the reading.
    After announcing each lesson the reader may pause while the people find the text in their Bibles.

The Sermon

A Sermon is to be preached, but at extra Celebrations of Holy Communion on Sundays, and at weekday Celebrations, it may be omitted if necessary.

Announcements

Announcements may be made after the creed.

The Collection of Alms and Gifts

It is recommended that such arrangement for the collection of the alms of the people be made as shall avoid the interruption or undue lengthening of the action in the Service of the Lord’s Supper. If some persons leave before the Lord’s Supper, they should be given opportunity to make their offerings before they leave.

Proper Prefaces

No Proper Prefaces are prescribed for use with this Liturgy, the season being sufficiently marked by the collect, readings, hymns, and other proper prayers.

A LITURGY FOR AFRICA

The Preparation

* At the entry of the Ministers the Venite, verses 1-7, is said, otherwise a hymn or psalm may be used.

The Minister says:
Let us pray.

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are 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 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

 
* Then the Minister exhorts the people in these or like words:

You who truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead the new life, following the commandments of God and walking from henceforth in his holy ways, make your humble confession to Almighty God, that you may be reconciled anew to him to one another through our Lord Jesus Christ.
 

If a Priest is present, he says:

The Almighty and Merciful Lord grant unto you pardon, absolution, and remission of all your sins. Amen.

* Then all say:

    Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased. 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 Jesus Christ, O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us; thou who takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer. Thou who sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.
    For thou only art holy, thou only art Lord, thou only art most high, O Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Service of the Word of God

The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.

Then the Minister says the Collect of the day and additional Collects if prescribed.
 

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON

*After the Old Testament Lesson, one of the Proper Psalms or the Benedicite is said.

THE EPISTLE

*After the Epistle, the Te Deum, or in Advent and Lent the Benedictus, is said. Otherwise, a hymn or psalm may be used.

THE HOLY GOSPEL

After the Gospel has been announced the people say:

Glory be to thee, O Lord.

When the reading is ended the people say:

Praise be to thee, O Christ.

THE SERMON
 

* THE CREED COMMONLY CALLED NICENE:

    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 the 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; Through whom all things were made: Who for us men and for our Salvation came down from heaven, And was incarnate b the Holy Spirit 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 sits at the right hand of the Father: And he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.
    And I 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 spoke by the prophets. And I believe 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.

Where there is no Communion, the Apostles’ Creed may be used instead.

The Intercession
 

* If the Service of the Lord’s Supper follows, all may say this prayer:

We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Father, 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 mercy never fails. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the Flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his Blood, that we being cleansed in body and soul may evermore dwell in him and he in us. Amen.

If there is no celebration of the Lord’s Supper a hymn is sung. Then the alms are brought to the Minister. He places them on the Lord’s Table and says:

Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty.

And the people answer:

All that is in the heaven and the earth is thine, and of thine own do we give to thee.

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and lovingkindness to us and to all men. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace and for the hope of glory. And we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives: by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Spirit be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

Our Father, who 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 grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.
 

The Service of the Lord’s Supper

A hymn may be sung. The gifts of the people and the bread and wine for Communion are made ready for bringing to the Lord’s Table.

THE PEACE

The Priest turns to the people and says:

The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

And the people answer:

And with thy spirit.

Or the Priest may touch hands with those in the Sanctuary, saying the same words, and they in turn may pass the greeting in like manner to the people.

THE PLACING OF THE GIFTS

The gifts of the people and the bread and wine are brought to the Minister, who places them upon the Lord’s Table and says:

Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty.

And the people answer:

All that is in the heaven and the earth is thine, and of thine own do we give to thee.
 

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up unto the Lord.
Let us give thanks unto the Lord, our God.
It is meet and right so to do.

    It is most meet and right that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom thou hast made and dost sustain the worlds. We praise thee for the order of thy creation, and for all the material blessings of our life.
    But chiefly we praise thee for thy love for fallen man in giving thy Son to take our nature upon him, to die for our sins and to be raised from the dead for our justification. We praise thee, O God, who hast set him in glory at thy right hand, where he ever lives to make intercession for us, who draw near to thee through him.
    Again, we praise thee, O Father, for sending to us the promised Holy Spirit, through whom thou dost pour out upon us thy manifold gifts of grace and hast made us a royal priesthood, to set forth thy praises who hast called us out of darkness into the glory of thy light.
    Therefore with angels and archangels, with patriarchs and prophets, apostles and martyrs, and with all the holy company of heaven, we cry aloud with joy, 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.

All glory be to thee, O heavenly Father, who in thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ that all who believe in him might have eternal life. Hear us, O merciful Father, we humbly beseech thee, and grant that we receiving this Bread and this Cup, in remembrance of the death and passion of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, may be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood: for in the same night that he gave himself to death, he took Bread, and when he had given thanks to thee 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, and when he had given thanks to thee he gave it to them, saying, Drink this, all of you, 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 often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

His death, O Father, we proclaim. His resurrection we confess. His coming we await. Glory to thee, O Lord.

Wherefore, O Father, we do this as thy Son commanded, offering to thee, with this holy Bread and Cup, our praise and thanksgiving for his one sacrifice once offered upon the cross, for his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension. Accept us in him, we beseech thee, and grant that all we who are partakers of this holy communion may be filled with thy Holy Spirit and made one in thy holy Church, the body of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be to thee, O Father Almighty, for ever and ever. Amen.

As our Saviour Christ has taught us, we say:

Our Father, who 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 BREAKING OF THE BREAD

After a short silence the Priest breaks the Bread, saying:

The Bread which we break, is it not a sharing of the Body of Christ?
We who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

THE COMMUNION

Then the Priest receives the Holy Communion himself, and afterwards ministers it to the congregation, first saying:

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

When he delivers the Bread to any one, he says:

The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee. Amen.

And when he delivers the Cup, he says:

The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee. Amen.

If any of the consecrated Elements remain, the Ministers reverently consume them when all have received Communion or immediately after the Dismissal.

THE DISMISSAL

Silence is kept for a space, while all make their thanksgiving to God. Then the Priest says:

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious.
And his mercy endureth for ever.

* Then is said:

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name;
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits;
Who forgives all your iniquity,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
Who satisfies you with good as long as you live,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion,
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Gloria in excelsis or Te Deum (from the sentence: Thou art the King of glory, O Christ), or Nunc Dimittis, or another Psalm may be used instead of the above Psalm 103.

The Priest says this or another prayer:

Holy Father, we beseech thee to keep in thy truth all whom thou hast made one in thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Grant us strength and power through thy spirit in our inner being, that we may keep our eyes fixed on the hope that thou dost set before us, and walk worthily of our calling. Make us faithful in our witness and constant in our service. Help us to meet whatever comes with fortitude, patience, and joy, to the praise and glory of thy holy name, through the same thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.
Go forth in the name of the Lord
Thanks be to God.

If the consecrated Bread be finished before all have communicated, the Priest is to consecrate more, saying:

Holy art thou, O Father, and worthy to receive blessing and honour and glory; for that thou didst send thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, who in the same night that he gave himself to death after supper took Bread, 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.

If more Wine is to be consecrated, the Priest says:

Holy art thou, O Father, and worthy to receive blessing and honour and glory; for that thou didst send thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, who in the same night that he gave himself to death after supper took the Cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, Drink this, all of you, 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 often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

PRAYERS
which may be used in the Dismissal

GENERAL

Almighty and Everlasting God, we most heartily thank thee for graciously feeding us, in these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son Jesus Christ, assuring us thereby of thy favour and goodness towards us; and that we are living members of his mystical body and are also heirs through hope of thy eternal kingdom. Here we offer and present to thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice unto thee. And although we are unworthy, yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and sacrifice, not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory for ever. Amen.

Remember, O Lord, what thou hast wrought in us and not what we deserve; and as thou hast called us to thy service, make us worthy of our calling ; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Grant us, O Lord, not to mind earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and, while we sojourn among things that are passing away, to cleave to these that shall abide; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

ADVENT

Grant, O Almighty God, that as thy blessed Son Jesus Christ at his first advent came to seek and to save that which was lost, so at his second and glorious appearing he may find in us the fruits of the redemption which he wrought; who liveth and reigneth, with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

CHRISTMAS DAY
until the eve of the Epiphany, inclusive

O Merciful Jesus, who, when thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, didst not abhor the Virgin’s womb: vouchsafe evermore to dwell in the hearts of us thy servants; inspire us with thy purity; strengthen us with thy might; make us perfect in thy ways; guide us into thy truth; and unite us to thyself and to thy whole Church by thy holy mysteries; that we may conquer every adverse power, and may be wholly devoted to thy service and conformed to thy will; to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

THE EPIPHANY
and seven days after

Almighty and Everlasting God, who didst bring the nations to thy light and kings to the brightness of thy rising: fill, we pray thee, the world with thy glory, and show thyself unto all mankind, through him who is the true Light, the bright and morning star, even thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

ASH WEDNESDAY
until the Saturday before Passion Sunday, inclusive

O God, whose nature and property is ever to have mercy and to forgive: receive our humble petitions; and though we be tied and bound with the chain of our sins, yet let the pitifulness of thy great mercy loose us; for the honour of Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Advocate, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

PASSION SUNDAY
until Maundy Thursday, inclusive

O God, whose blessed Son did overcome death for our salvation: mercifully grant that we who have his glorious passion in remembrance may take up our cross daily and follow him; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

EASTER DAY
until the eve of the Ascension, inclusive

O God, who for our redemption didst give thine only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection hast delivered us from the power of our enemy: grant us so to die daily unto sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

ASCENSION DAY
until the eve of Whitsun, inclusive

O God, whose blessed Son did as at this time ascend unto the throne of thy majesty in heaven: grant that, as he reigneth in glory at thy right hand, so he may be enthroned in the hearts of us thy servants, who, with thee and the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth ever one God, world without end. Amen.

WHITSUN
and six days after

O Almighty God, who on the day of Pentecost didst send the Holy Spirit the Comforter to abide in thy Church for ever: bestow upon us his manifold gifts of grace, that, enlightened by his truth and purified by his presence, we may daily be strengthened with his power; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

SAINTS’ DAYS

O God, the King of Saints, we praise and magnify thy holy name for all thy servants who have finished their course in thy faith and fear; and we beseech thee that, encouraged by their example, and aided by their prayers, we may at length enjoy their company in the eternal gladness; through the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

THE FEAST OF THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH

O God, who hast brought us again to the feast of the dedication of this thy holy temple, and dost allow us to present ourselves in safety at thy holy mysteries: hear the prayers of thy people, and grant that whosoever shall enter this temple to ask thy blessing, may rejoice that he has gained all his petitions; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.