| A Form of Preparation | ||||
| This form may be used in any of three ways. | ||||
| It may be used by individuals as part of their preparation for Holy Communion. | ||||
| It may be used corporately on suitable occasions within Holy Communion where it replaces the sections entitled 'Prayer of Preparation' and 'Prayers of Penitence'. | ||||
| It may be used as a separate service of preparation. When used in this way, there should be added at the beginning a greeting and at the end the Peace and the Lord's Prayer. Hymns, psalms and other suitable liturgical material may also be included. | ||||
| Come, Holy Ghost (Veni creator Spiritus) | ||||
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All
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Come, Holy Ghost, our
souls inspire, And lighten with celestial fire; Thou the anointing Spirit art, Who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart. Thy blessed unction from above Is comfort, life and fire of love; Enable with perpetual light The dullness of our blinded sight. Anoint and cheer our soiled face With the abundance of thy grace; Keep far our foes, give peace at home; Where thou art guide no ill can come. Teach us to know the Father, Son, And thee, of Both, to be but One; That through the ages all along This may be our endless song: Praise to thy eternal merit, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. |
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| Exhortation | ||||
| As we gather at the Lord's table we must recall the promises and warnings given to us in the Scriptures and so examine ourselves and repent of our sins. We should give thanks to God for his redemption of the world through his Son Jesus Christ and, as we remember Christ's death for us and receive the pledge of his love, resolve to serve him in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life. | ||||
| The Commandments | ||||
| Hear the commandments which God
has given to his people, and examine your hearts. |
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| I am the Lord your God: you shall have no other gods but me. | ||||
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Amen. Lord, have mercy. | |||
| You shall not make for yourself any idol. | ||||
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All
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Amen. Lord, have mercy. | |||
| You shall not dishonour the name of the Lord your God. | ||||
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Amen. Lord, have mercy. | |||
| Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. | ||||
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Amen. Lord, have mercy. | |||
| Honour your father and your mother. | ||||
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Amen. Lord, have mercy. | |||
| You shall not commit murder. | ||||
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Amen. Lord, have mercy. | |||
| You shall not commit adultery. | ||||
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Amen. Lord, have mercy. | |||
| You shall not steal. | ||||
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Amen. Lord, have mercy. | |||
| You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour. | ||||
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Amen. Lord, have mercy. | |||
| You shall not covet anything which belongs to your neighbour. | ||||
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Amen. Lord, have mercy
upon us and write all these your laws in our hearts. |
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| Or one of the forms of the Commandments in the Supplementary Texts may be used. | ||||
| Or, in place of the Commandments, one of these texts may be used. | ||||
| Summary of the Law | ||||
| Our Lord Jesus Christ said: | ||||
| The first commandment is
this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' |
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| The second is this: 'Love your
neighbour as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. |
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All
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Amen. Lord, have mercy. | |||
| (or) | ||||
| The Comfortable Words | ||||
| Hear the words of comfort our
Saviour Christ says to all who truly turn to him: Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. |
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Matthew 11.28
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| God so loved the world that he
gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. |
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John 3.16
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| Hear what Saint Paul says: | ||||
| This saying is true, and worthy
of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. |
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1 Timothy 1.15
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| Hear what Saint John says: | ||||
| If anyone sins, we have an
advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins. |
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1 John 2.1, 2
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| (or) | ||||
| The Beatitudes | ||||
| Let us hear our Lord's blessing on those who follow him. | ||||
| Blessed are the poor in spirit, | ||||
| for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. | ||||
| Blessed are those who mourn, | ||||
| for they shall be comforted. | ||||
| Blessed are the meek, | ||||
| for they shall inherit the earth. | ||||
| Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, | ||||
| for they shall be satisfied. | ||||
| Blessed are the merciful, | ||||
| for they shall obtain mercy. | ||||
| Blessed are the pure in heart, | ||||
| for they shall see God. | ||||
| Blessed are the peacemakers, | ||||
| for they shall be called children of God. | ||||
| Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness' sake, | ||||
| for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. | ||||
| Silence for Reflection | ||||
| Confession | ||||
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All
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Father eternal, giver of
light and grace, we have sinned against you and against our neighbour, in what we have thought, in what we have said and done, through ignorance, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We have wounded your love and marred your image in us. We are sorry and ashamed 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 lead us out from darkness to walk as children of light. Amen. |
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| Or another authorized confession may be used. | ||||
| Absolution | ||||
| Almighty God, our heavenly
Father, who in his great mercy has promised forgiveness of sins to all those who with heartfelt repentance and true faith turn to him: have mercy on us; pardon and deliver us from all our sins; confirm and strengthen us in all goodness; and bring us to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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All
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Amen. | |||