♫ 19/10/2025 Communion (2)

Holy Communion or The Lord’s Supper

First Form 

For this service the Lord’s table is to be covered with a clean, plain, white cloth.  Nothing other than the bread and wine, the plate(s) and the cup(s), Bible(s), prayer book(s) and hymn book(s) and the collection plate(s) or bag(s) may be placed on it. 

Both before and after the communion the bread and wine must be covered with a clean, plain, white cloth.  The bread is to be ordinary bread; grape juice may be used instead of wine.  No set apart bread or wine may be taken away from the church. 

The minister welcomes the congregation. And he announces the first hymn.

The Steadfast love of the Lord Thou art worthy We have come into His house Jesus paid it all

After the hymn has been sung he says :

Let us pray together :

Almighty God to You all hearts are open, all desires known, and from You no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You, and rightly honour Your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  

 The minister turns to the congregation and clearly reads the ten Commandments  -  Exodus 20:1-17

 Minister : God spoke these words and said : I am the Lord your God.   You shall have no other gods but Me. 

Congregation :  Lord have mercy on us, that we may keep this law. 

Minister : You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to thousands who love Me and keep My commandments.  

Congregation :  Lord have mercy on us, that we may keep this law. 

Minister : You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name. 

Congregation :  Lord have mercy on us, that we may keep this law. 

Minister : Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.  Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.  On it you shall not do any work neither you nor your son or daughter, not your man servant or maid servant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.  For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day.  Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 

Congregation :  Lord have mercy on us, that we may keep this law. 

Minister : Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Congregation :  Lord have mercy on us, that we may keep this law. 

Minister : You shall do no murder. - You shall not commit adultery. - You shall not steal. - You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour. - You shall not covet your neighbour’s house.  You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his man servant or maid servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour. 

Congregation : Lord, have mercy on us, write all these Your laws in our hearts and minds to keep them. 

Or the minister may read Christ’s summary of the law.  Matthew 23-34-40

Minister: Our Lord Jesus Christ said : “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it : Love your neighbour as yourself.  All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments”. 

Congregation : Lord have mercy on us, and write these commandments in our hearts and minds to keep them. 

Then follow the collect, epistle and gospel for the day.  The two readings are introduced with the words : “The epistle, or the gospel, is written in chapter … of … reading from verse …” and concluded “here ends the epistles, or the gospel”.  

The congregation stands for the gospel reading and the Nicene creed following, which is said together. 

Janet

Psalm Ps 23

First Reading Is 25:1–9

Jenny

Second Reading Php 4:4–13

Gospel Mt 22:1–14

The Nicene Creed :

I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all that is, seen and unseen. 

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God, from God; Light, from Light; True God, from True God; begotten not made, of one substance with the Father. Through Him all things were made, who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man.  For us He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He suffered and was buried.  On the third day He rose again in accordance with the scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.  He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead and His kingdom will have no end. 

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.  With the Father and the Son together He is worshipped and glorified.  He spoke through the prophets.  I believe in Christ’s holy universal and apostolic church.  I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.  Amen.  

Then follow :

The announcements. Mr John Oberholzer. Session Clerk.

The hymn before the sermon. When I survey the wondrous cross

The sermon.

WORDS OF LIFE  - SERIES 2 - BIBLE STUDY NOTES - THE LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS - by Francis W. Dixon

THE CHRISTIAN’S RELATIONSHIPS

(Scripture Portions:  Ephesians 5: 22-33 and   6: 1-19)

The importance of this subject is seen by the fact that the Holy Spirit has devoted such a large proportion of this letter to the relationships which should exist between Christian husbands and wives, parents and children, and masters and servants.

1. There is nothing more beautiful on earth than a Christian home.  In this portion of scripture we have an inspired picture of what God intends a Christian home to be, and of what it is possible for it to be with His enabling.

2. The Christian life must be lived effectively first and foremost in the home.  We are to carry our Christian experience into every relationship of life  -  personal, social, business, professional, recreational, etc., but first it must operate in the domestic sphere  -  look up and compare Mark 5:19 “19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”” and Luke 8:39 “39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.” .   Our lives must tell and our lips must tell first in the home  -  look up also 1 Timothy 5:4 “4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.” and Titus 2:5 “5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” .

3. The hardest place to live a really consistent life is in the home. This is because it is here that we most easily cast off restraint, and unless we have learned God’s way of victory and God’s plan for harmonious living, there is bound to be discord and friction.

4. The greatest testimony we can offer to the world is a happy, harmonious and peaceful Christian home. In the home Christianity is seen in action  -  look up 2 Kings 4:8–10 “8 One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. 9 She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. 10 Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.”” .

5. God has made provision for every one of His children to live a consistent Christian life in the home.  That provision is the infilling of the Holy Spirit  -   Ephesians 5:18 “18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,” .  God’s ideal for a home is only possible of attainment by the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

How, then, should believers behave in the exacting relationships of domestic life?  

The answer is in verse 21.  

In other words, the secret of a happy and a harmonious home is mutual submission;  not proud resistance, not striving to stand up for one’s “rights”, but a loving consideration of the other person, a mutual respect and loyalty, a Christ-like spirit.  

Consider in detail the relationships mentioned.

1. WIVES, submit to your husbands (5: 22-24 and 33).

These are not man’s ideas, they are God’s instructions.   Wives are to submit themselves to their husbands “as to the Lord…in everything.”   The Lord is the Head of the Body, the Church, and thus He cares for the Church, provides for it and protects it.   The husband is to do this for his wife, and thus the wife is to submit herself to him as her head.  “It is not a question of the superiority of the husband and the inferiority of the wife, but of the respective positions God, in His sovereign wisdom, has assigned to each.”   From Creation this has been God’s order  -  see Genesis 2:21–23 “21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.””   -  and if the order is reversed there will always be trouble.

2. HUSBANDS,  love your wives (5: 25-33).

The husband is to love his wife “just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” – that is, with a love that is unselfish and sacrificial.   How often there is lack of thoughtful consideration and of understanding on the part of the husband, and how frequently this causes unhappiness in the home!   A husband’s love for his wife must operate in every phase of the matrimonial, domestic and social life, which includes the more intimate relationships as well as those that are observed by others.

3. CHILDREN, obey your parents (6: 1-3)

These verses give us God’s order for a Christian home, and it is the only kind of home that He recognises.  What a need there is today for children to give heed to verse 2!  -  look up 2 Timothy 3:1–3 “1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,” , and notice that disobedience to parents is one of the signs of the apostasy of “the last days”.   In our Lord Jesus Christ we have the perfect example of obedience  -  look up Luke 2:51 “51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.” .

4. PARENTS, bring your children up for the Lord (6: 4)

Notice that this verse begins with a note of warning:  “Do not exasperate your children”  -  look up Deuteronomy 6:6–9 “6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” .  What a sacred ministry is entrusted to those who have children to “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord”  -  compare Proverbs 22:6 “6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” .

5. SERVANTS, be obedient to your masters (6: 5-6)

In Ephesus there were slaves in most households, and that is why the Holy Spirit has included this master-servant relationship here.   What a high standard is expected from servants!   We are to work for our earthly master just as if he were our heavenly Master (verses 5 and 7).  This means that we shall not watch the clock, we shall not be late, lazy or disloyal – and God will surely reward us (verse 8).

6. MASTERS, consider the welfare of your servants (6: 9)

This means that employers are to give the same consideration as they expect and to which they are entitled from their employees.  Here is food for thought for all employers!

These are God’s rules for happy, holy and harmonious human relationships, and they are only possible as we live in obedience to Ephesians 5:18 “18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,”   -  that is, as wives and husbands, children and parents, servants and masters seek to live their lives under the control of and in obedience to the Holy Spirit.

The hymn after the sermon (when the collection may be taken). Let us break nread together

Then the minister says : Let us pray for Christ’s church on earth:

 Almighty, eternal God, we are taught by Your holy word to make prayers and requests and to give thanks, for all people; we pray that You will graciously hear us and accept our thanksgiving which we bring to Your divine majesty.  We pray You to give to all Christians Your Spirit of truth, unity and love and that all who take Christ’s name will acknowledge the truth of Your holy word and live by it.  We pray You to lead the governments of the nations in ways of righteousness and peace and to bless and direct, especially, Your servant the State President, that he, his ministers, and all in authority in our land will rule with wisdom, judge impartially and uphold truth and right.  Give grace, heavenly Father, to all Christian ministers that they may obey Your holy living word, faithfully teach it and rightly administer the sacraments.  Lord, give grace to all Your people and, especially, to this congregation, that they may hear and receive Your word reverently and serve You in holiness and righteousness all their lives.  We pray You to help and deliver all who are in trouble, sorrow, sickness or in any other need, and we bless You, for all Your servants who have died in Your faith and fear; give us grace to follow their example that with them we may share Your heavenly kingdom.  Grant our prayers, Father, in the name of our advocate and mediator Jesus Christ.  Amen.  

 The minister says:

 Brothers and sisters in Christ, Holy Scripture teaches us that we are to examine our lives before we take part in the holy fellowship of the Lord’s Supper.  

 God, in His infinite love and mercy, gave His only beloved Son Jesus Christ to die for us, sinners, on the cross.  He atoned there for our sins, that we might become God’s children by adoption and have everlasting life.  We have come to remember Christ’s death and all that it means, as He Himself instructed.  But, before we do this we must judge ourselves, we must repent of the sins we have committed, we must firmly trust in Christ our Saviour and above all we must praise and thank Him for His great love for us. 

 You therefore, who truly and earnestly repent of your sins, love your neighbours and intend to lead a new life, obeying God’s commandments and following in His holy ways, come near with faith and take this holy sacrament to strengthen you, and let us make our humble confession to Almighty God. 

 The general confession – said together 

 Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker of all things, judge of all men, we acknowledge and mourn for the many sins which we have committed, by thought, word and deed, against Your divine majesty, provoking most justly Your anger and indignation against us.  We earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for our misdoings which we remember with shame.  Have mercy on us, most merciful Father.  Forgive us all that is past and grant that from this time forward we may serve and please You in newness of life, to the honour and glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  

 Minister – standing:

 Almighty God, our heavenly Father who of His greatest mercy has promised to forgive the sins of all who, with heartfelt repentance and true faith, turn to Him, have mercy on you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all that is good and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

 Hear these words of encouragement from our Lord Jesus Christ to all who truly turn to Him: 

 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 

Matthew 11:28

 God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.  

John 3:16

 Hear the Apostle Paul’s words:

 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 

1 Timothy 1:15

 Hear the Apostle John’s words:

 If anybody sins we have one who speaks to the Father in our defence – Jesus Christ the righteous one.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.  1 John 2:1,2.

Minister : Lift up your hearts. 

Congregation : We lift them up to the Lord.

Minister : Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. 

Congregation :  It is fitting and right to do so. 

Minister : It is entirely fitting, right and our duty at all times, and in all places to give thanks to You Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God. 

Congregation : Therefore, with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven, we praise Your glorious name for ever, saying : Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of Your glory.  Glory to You, Lord most high.  Amen. 

The minister, kneeling at the Lord’s table, leads the congregation in the prayer of humble access. 

We do not presume to come to Your table merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, only in Your great mercy.  We are not fit to gather up the crumbs under Your table.  But You, Lord, are always the same, Your mercy is everlasting, grant therefore gracious Lord that we may by faith eat the flesh and drink the blood of Your dear Son Jesus Christ, that we may be united to Him and He to us.  Amen.  

The minister sets apart the bread and wine for orderly distribution.  Then he says the prayer of consecration still standing at the north side of the table. 

 Almighty God our heavenly Father, of Your infinite mercy You gave Your only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption; who made there by His one offering of Himself, never to be repeated, a full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, and who instituted and in His holy gospel commanded us to continue, a perpetual memory of His precious death until He comes again.  Hear us merciful Father, and grant that we, receiving this bread and wine in accordance with Your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ’s holy institution to remember His death and suffering, may share in His most blessed body and blood; who on the night He was betrayed took bread and when He had given You thanks He broke it and gave it to His disciples saying: “Take, eat; this is My body which is given for you; do this is remembrance of Me”.  In the same way after supper He took the cup and when He had given You thanks, He gave it to them saying: “Drink from 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”.  Amen. 

The minister takes the bread and wine for himself and then to anyone duly appointed to assist him.  The congregation comes to the Lord’s table in an orderly way and kneels there or remains seated for the bread and wine to be brought to them.  Before the minister distributes the bread and the wine he says to them in a clear voice:

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for you, preserve your body and soul to everlasting life; take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you and feed on Him in your heart by faith with thanksgiving.  

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which was shed for you, preserve your body and soul to everlasting life; drink this in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for you, and be thankful. 

As he hands the bread and wine to them individually he says :

 Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you and feed on Him in your heart by faith with thanksgiving.

Drink this in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for you and be thankful. 

 After the Communion the Lord’s Prayer and one of the two following prayers is said together. 

Lord, heavenly Father, mercifully accept our praise and thanksgiving and grant that by the righteousness and the death of Your Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in His blood, we and Your whole church may receive forgiveness of our sins, and all other benefits of His suffering.  Lord, we bring You ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be an acceptable, holy and living offering to You, and we pray that all who share in this holy communion may be filled with Your grace and heavenly blessing.  Although our many sins make us unfit to bring You any offering accept this duty and service we owe, and forgive us through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are Yours, Father Almighty for ever and ever.  Amen.   

 Or this prayer. Almighty and everlasting God, accept our heartfelt thanks for giving us the spiritual food of the most precious body and blood of Your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.  We praise You for this assurance of Your kindness and goodness to us, and that by the righteousness, death and suffering of Your dear Son, we are members of His body, the blessed company of all faithful people, and heirs, through hope, of Your eternal kingdom.  Heavenly Father, give us grace that we may continue in that holy fellowship and do all the good works You have prepared for us, through Jesus Christ our Lord; to Him with You, and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory for ever and ever.  Amen.  

 Minister and congregation say together : 

 Glory to God in the highest and peace to His people on earth.  We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we give thanks to You for Your great glory, Lord God, heavenly king, God the Father Almighty.  

Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, You who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.  

Lamb of God, You who take away the sins of the world have mercy on us. 

Lord God You who sit at the right hand of God the Father have mercy on us. For You alone are the Holy One, You alone are Lord, You alone with the Holy Spirit are most high in the glory of God, the Father.  Amen.  

The minister says the blessing : 

 The peace of God which is above 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 Spirit be amongst you, and remain with you always.  Amen. 

Doxology

The order of the Church of England expects participants in the Lord’s Supper to kneel in reverent gratitude for all that Christ did for them.  But kneeling does not imply any adoration of the bread or wine nor is their adoration intended or permitted.  On the contrary, it is stated explicitly, first, that the natural body and blood of Christ are in heaven not on earth and, second, that at the Lord’s Supper both the bread and the wine stay the same as they are.  To adore them is idolatry.  Visitors from other Christian churches are welcome at the Lord’s table in the Church of England.