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    The Distribution of 
Holy Communion 
at Home or in Hospital
     
to the Sick and Housebound
     
    An Outline Order (Order One)
     
For Notes, see here.
     
The Greeting
     
This may be
          Peace to this house and to all who live in it.
     
Words of Introduction
     
These or other suitable words may be used
     
    The Church of God, of which we are members, has taken bread and wine and given thanks over them according to our Lord's command. These holy gifts are now offered to us that, with  faith and thanksgiving, we may share in the communion of the body and blood of Christ.
     
[Prayer of Preparation]
     
Prayers of Penitence
     
These may include this invitation to confession
     
    [Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.]
     
    God shows his love for us
in that when we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Let us then show our love for him
by confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
     
The Collect
     
Reading(s) and Prayers
     
[Laying on of Hands and Anointing]
     
The Lord's Prayer
     
Invitation to Communion
     
[Prayer of Humble Access]
     
Giving of Communion
     
Prayer after Communion
     
This may include the following varied form
    
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.
Strengthen us
in the power of your Spirit
to live and work
to your praise and glory.
Amen.
     
The Grace or a Blessing
   
   
    The Distribution of 
Holy Communion 
at Home or in Hospital
     
to the Sick and Housebound
     
    An Outline Order (Order Two)
     
For Notes, see here.
The Greeting
This may be
          Peace be to this house, and to all that dwell in it.
     
Words of Introduction
     
These or other suitable words may be used
     
    The Church of God, of which we are members, has taken bread and wine and given thanks over them according to our Lord's command.  These holy gifts are now offered to us that, with faith and thanksgiving, we may share in the communion of the body and blood of Christ.
     
[Prayer of Preparation]
     
The Collect
     
Reading(s) and Prayers
     
Prayers of Penitence
     
    These may include this invitation to confession
     
    [Come unto me, all that travail and are heavy laden,
and I will refresh you.]
     
    God shows his love for us
in that when we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Let us then show our love for him
by confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
     
[Laying on of Hands and Anointing]
     
    [Prayer of Humble Access]
     
    Invitation to Communion
     
    Giving of Communion
     
The Lord's Prayer
     
Prayer after Communion
     
This may include the following varied form
     
All
  Almighty God,
    we thank thee for feeding us
with the body and blood of thy Son Jesus Christ.
Through him we offer thee our souls and bodies
to be a living sacrifice.
Strengthen us
in the power of thy Spirit
to live and work
to thy praise and glory.
Amen.
     
The Grace or a Blessing
 
    Notes to the Distribution of 
Holy Communion 
at Home or in Hospital
     
to the Sick and Housebound
     
1
  The Distribution of Communion to the  Sick and Housebound
    ¶    Ministers may be either ordained or lay persons authorized by the bishop to assist in the distribution of Holy Communion.
     
    ¶    When the consecrated bread and wine are to be conveyed directly from a celebration to those not present, they are given to the ministers at the distribution or at the end of the service. The ministers may receive communion either at the celebration or with those to whom they take the elements, or on both occasions.
     
    ¶    When Holy Communion is distributed at other times to those absent from a celebration, the minister may receive with them but need not do so.
     
    ¶    Words of introduction linking the consecrated elements with the celebration at which they were consecrated must be used.
     
2
  Prayers of Penitence 
    These may be omitted when the service has been preceded by a penitential rite.
     
3
  Seasonal Material 
    Seasonal or Sunday provision may be used in place of that provided here. At Christmas, Easter and Pentecost some at least of the seasonal provision for the Festival should be used.
     
4
  Laying on of Hands and Anointing  
    The form here may be used at the Prayers/Prayers of Intercession (Order One) or between the Absolution and Comfortable Words (Order Two).
     
5
  Anointing 
    Canon B 37 provides that the priest should use 'pure oil consecrated by the bishop of the diocese or otherwise by the priest himself' and that the anointing should be made on the forehead with the sign of the cross. In some circumstances it may also be appropriate to anoint on the hands.
     
6
  Reception of the Consecrated Bread and Wine 
    Communion should normally be received in both kinds separately, but where necessary may be received in one kind, whether of bread or, where the communicant cannot receive solid food, wine.
     
7
  Spiritual Communion  
    Believers who cannot physically receive the sacrament are to be assured that they are partakers by faith of the body and blood of Christ and of the benefits he conveys to us by them.
     
8
  Residential Homes
    These forms may be used in residential homes where pastorally appropriate.
     
© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
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