The Book of Common Prayer,
Formatted as the original

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Pastoral Offices

Concerning the Service

In the course of their Christian development, those baptized at an
early age are expected, when they are ready and have been duly prepared,
to make a mature public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the
responsibilities of their Baptism and to receive the laying on of hands
by the bishop.
 
Those baptized as adults, unless baptized with laying on of hands by a
bishop, are also expected to make a public affirmation of their faith
and commitment to the responsibilities of their Baptism in the presence
of a bishop and to receive the laying on of hands.
 
When there is no Baptism, the rites of Confirmation, Reception, and the
Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows are administered in the following form.
 
If desired, the hymn Gloria in excelsis may be sung immediately after
the opening versicles and before the salutation “The Lord be with you.”
 
The Nicene Creed is not used at this service.
 
It is appropriate that the oblations of bread and wine be presented by
persons newly confirmed.

 

Confirmation 
with forms for Reception and for 
the Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows

 
A hymn, psalm, or anthem may be sung
 
The people standing, the Bishop says
 
		Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 
People  	And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

In place of the above, from Easter Day through the Day of Pentecost
 
		Alleluia.  Christ is risen. 
People  	The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia.
 
In Lent and on other penitential occasions
 
Bishop  	Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins. 
People  	His mercy endures for ever.
 
The Bishop then continues
 
		There is one Body and one Spirit; 
People  	There is one hope in God's call to us; 
Bishop  	One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism;
People	One God and Father of all.

Bishop	The Lord be with you.
People	And also with you.
Bishop	Let us pray.

The Collect of the Day

People	Amen.

At the principal service on a Sunday or other feast, the Collect and 
Lessons are properly those of the Day.  At the discretion of the bishop,
however, the Collect (page 203 or 254) and one or more of the Lessons
provided "At Confirmation" (page 929) may be substituted.

The Lessons
 
The people sit.  One or two Lessons, as appointed, are read, the Reader
first saying
 
A Reading (Lesson) from ____________.
 
A citation giving chapter and verse may be added.
  
After each Reading the Reader may say
 
		The Word of the Lord. 
People  	Thanks be to God.
 
or the Reader may say    Here ends the Reading (Epistle).
 
Silence may follow.
 
A Psalm, hymn, or anthem may follow each Reading.
 
Then, all standing, the Deacon or a Priest reads the Gospel, first saying
 
		The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 
		according to ____________.
People  	Glory to you, Lord Christ.

 

After the Gospel, the Reader says
 
		The Gospel of the Lord. 
People  	Praise to you, Lord Christ.
 
The Sermon

Presentation and Examination
of the Candidates

The Bishop says
 
The Candidate(s) will now be presented.
 
Presenters  I present these persons for Confirmation.
 
or  		I present these persons to be received into this
		Communion.
 
or  		I present these persons who desire to reaffirm
		their baptismal vows.
 
The Bishop asks the candidates
 
Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil?
 
Candidate  I do.
 
Bishop
 
Do you renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?
 
Candidate
 
I do, and with God’s grace I will follow him as my Savior
and Lord.

After all have been presented, the Bishop addresses the congregation, saying
 
Will you who witness these vows do all in your power
 to support these persons in their life in Christ?
 
People  	We will.
 
The Bishop then says these or similar words
 
Let us join with those who are committing themselves
to Christ and renew our own baptismal covenant.

The Baptismal Covenant
 
Bishop  	Do you believe in God the Father? 
People  	I believe in God, the Father almighty,
		  creator of heaven and earth.
  
Bishop  	Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God? 
People  	I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 
		  He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
		     and born of the Virgin Mary. 
		  He 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,
		     and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 
		  He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
  
Bishop  	Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit? 
People  	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.
  
Bishop  	Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and
		fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the 		prayers? 
People  	I will, with God’s help.
 
Bishop  	Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever
 		you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord? 
People  	I will, with God’s help.
  
Bishop  	Will you proclaim by word and example the Good
		News of God in Christ? 
People  	I will, with God’s help.
 
Bishop  	Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving
		your neighbor as yourself? 
People  	I will, with God’s help.
  
Bishop  	Will you strive for justice and peace among all
		people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
People  	I will, with God’s help.

Prayers for the Candidates
 
The Bishop then says to the congregation
 
Let us now pray for these persons who have renewed their
commitment to Christ.
 
The petitions on pages 305-306 may be used.
 
A period of silence follows.

Then the Bishop says
 
Almighty God, we thank you that by the death and
resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ you have overcome sin
and brought us to yourself, and that by the sealing of your
Holy Spirit you have bound us to your service. Renew in
these your servants the covenant you made with them at their
Baptism. Send them forth in the power of that Spirit to
perform the service you set before them; through Jesus Christ 
your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

 
For Confirmation
 
The Bishop lays hands upon each one and says
 
Strengthen, O Lord, your servant N. with your Holy Spirit;
empower him for your service; and sustain him all the days 
of his life. Amen.
 
or this
 
Defend, O Lord, your servant N. with your heavenly grace,
that he may continue yours for ever, and daily increase in
your Holy Spirit more and more, until he comes to your everlasting kingdom.  Amen.
  
For Reception
 
N., we recognize you as a member of the one holy catholic
and apostolic Church, and we receive you into the fellowship
of this Communion.  God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless, preserve, and keep you.  Amen.
 
For Reaffirmation
 
N., may the Holy Spirit, who has begun a good work in you,
direct and uphold you in the service of Christ and his
kingdom.  Amen.
  
The Bishop concludes with this prayer
 
Almighty and everliving God, let your fatherly hand ever be 
over these your servants; let your Holy Spirit ever be with 
them; and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of
your Word, that they may serve you in this life, and dwell
with you in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
 
The Peace is then exchanged
 
Bishop  	The peace of the Lord be always with you. 
People  	And also with you.
 
The service then continues with the Prayers of the People or the Offertory of the Eucharist, at which the bishop should be the principal celebrant.
 
If there is no celebration of the Eucharist, the service continues with the Lord’s Prayer and such other devotions as the bishop may direct.
 
The bishop may consecrate oil of Chrism for use at Baptism, using the
prayer on page 307.

 

A Form of Commitment
to Christian Service

This form may be used when a person wishes to make or renew a
commitment to the service of Christ in the world, either in general
terms, or upon undertaking some special responsibility.
 
It is essential that the person seeking to make or renew a commitment
prepare in advance, in consultation with the celebrant, the Act of
Commitment, which may be in the form either of a statement of intention
or of a series of questions and answers, but which should include a
reaffirmation of baptismal promises.

Before the Offertory of the Eucharist, the person comes forward at the
invitation of the celebrant, and, standing before the congregation,
makes the Act of Commitment.
  
After this, the Celebrant says these or similar words
 
May the Holy Spirit guide and strengthen you, that in this,
and in all things, you may do God’s will in the service
of the kingdom of his Christ.  Amen.
 
In the name of this congregation I commend you to this
work, and pledge you our prayers, encouragement, and
support.

The Celebrant then says this or some other appropriate prayer
 
Let us pray.
 
Almighty God, look with favor upon this person who has
now reaffirmed his commitment to follow Christ and to serve
in his name. Give him courage, patience, and vision; and
strengthen us all in our Christian vocation of witness to the
world, and of service to others; through Jesus Christ our
Lord.  Amen.
 
A prayer for the special work in which the person will be engaged may
be added.
 
The service then continues with the exchange of the Peace and the
Offertory.