A Service of Word and Table IV

This is a traditional text from the rituals of the former Methodist and former Evangelical United Brethren churches. [Pg. 26]

Invitation

Ye that do truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways: Draw near with faith, and take this Holy Sacrament to your comfort, and make your humble confession to almighty God.

Confession

ALMIGHTY GOD, FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, MAKER OF ALL THINGS, JUDGE OF ALL PEOPLE:

WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND BEWAIL OUR MANIFOLD SINS AND WICKEDNESS, WHICH WE FROM TIME TO TIME MOST GRIEVOUSLY HAVE COMMITTED, BY THOUGHT, WORD, AND DEED, AGAINST THY DIVINE MAJESTY.

WE DO EARNESTLY REPENT, AND ARE HEARTILY SORRY FOR THESE OUR MISDOINGS; THE REMEMBRANCE OF THEM IS GRIEVOUS UNTO US. HAVE MERCY UPON US, HAVE MERCY UPON US, MOST MERCIFUL FATHER.

FOR THY SON OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST'S SAKE, FORGIVE US ALL THAT IS PAST;

AND GRANT THAT WE MAY EVER HEREAFTER SERVE AND PLEASE THEE IN NEWNESS OF LIFE, TO THE HONOR AND GLORY OF THY NAME; THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN.

Prayer for Pardon

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of thy great mercy hast promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn to thee:

Have mercy upon 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.

AMEN.

[Pg. 27]

Words of Assurance

Hear what comfortable words the Scriptures say to all that truly turn to the Lord:

The leader says one or more of the following sentences:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15)

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

If any one sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (From 1 John 2:1 -2)

[Signs and words of God's peace may be exchanged at this point. If an offering has not been received earlier in the service, it may be received at this time.]

Taking the Bread and Cup

[The pastor takes the bread and cup, and the bread and wine are prepared for the meal.]

The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.

AND WITH THY SPIRIT

Lift up your hearts.

WE LIFT THEM UP UNTO THE LORD

Let us give thanks unto the Lord.

IT IS MEET AND RIGHT TO DO SO

[Pg. 28]

It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, almighty, everlasting God.

[Here the pastor may add a preface proper to the season. Then the pastor continues:]

Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name, evermore praising thee and saying (singing):

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD OF HOSTS: HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE FULL OF THY GLORY! GLORY BE TO THEE, O LORD MOST HIGH!

BLESSED IS HE THAT COMETH IN THE NAME OF THE LORD! HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST!

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption;

who made there, by the one offering of himself, a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world;

and didst institute, and in his holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of his precious death until his coming again:

[Pg. 29]

Hear us, O merciful Father, we most humbly beseech thee;

and bless and sanctify with thy Word and Holy Spirit these thy gifts of bread and wine,

that we, receiving them according to thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ's holy institution, in remembrance of his passion, death, and resurrection, may be partakers of the divine nature through him:

Who, in the same night that he was betrayed, 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."

-------

Likewise after supper he took the cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying,

"Drink ye all of this; for this is my blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins; do this as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me."

O LORD, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE, THY HUMBLE SERVANTS, DESIRE THY FATHERLY GOODNESS MERCIFULLY TO ACCEPT THIS OUR SACRIFICE OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING;

MOST HUMBLY BESEECHING THEE TO GRANT THAT, BY THE MERITS AND DEATH OF THY SON JESUS CHRIST, AND THROUGH FAITH IN HIS BLOOD,

WE AND THY WHOLE CHURCH MAY OBTAIN FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS, AND ALL OTHER BENEFITS OF HIS PASSION.

AND HERE WE OFFER AND PRESENT UNTO THEE, O LORD, OURSELVES, OUR SOULS AND BODIES, TO BE A REASONABLE, HOLY, AND LIVELY SACRIFICE UNTO THEE;

HUMBLY BESEECHING THEE THAT ALL WE WHO ARE PARTAKERS OF THIS HOLY COMMUNION MAY BE FILLED WITH THY GRACE AND HEAVENLY BENEDICTION.

AND ALTHOUGH WE BE UNWORTHY, THROUGH OUR MANIFOLD SINS, TO OFFER UNTO THEE ANY SACRIFICE,

YET WE BESEECH THEE TO ACCEPT THIS OUR BOUNDEN DUTY AND SERVICE, NOT WEIGHING OUR MERITS, BUT PARDONING OUR OFFENSES;

[Pg. 30]

THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, BY WHOM, AND WITH WHOM, IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, ALL HONOR AND GLORY BE UNTO THEE, O FATHER ALMIGHTY, WORLD WITHOUT END.

AMEN.

[If the Lord's Prayer has not been prayed earlier in the service it is prayed at this time.]

Breaking the Bread

[The pastor breaks the bread and then lifts the cup, in silence or with appropriate words. The following prayer may then be prayed:]

Prayer of Humble Access

WE DO NOT PRESUME TO COME TO THIS THY TABLE, O MERCIFUL LORD, 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 PROPERTY IS ALWAYS TO HAVE MERCY.

GRANT US, THEREFORE, GRACIOUS LORD, SO TO PARTAKE OF THIS SACRAMENT OF THY SON JESUS CHRIST, THAT WE MAY WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE, MAY GROW INTO HIS LIKENESS, AND MAY EVERMORE DWELL IN HIM, AND HE IN US.

AMEN.

Giving the Bread and Cup

[When the bread is given, one or both of the following sentences are said:]

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee, preserve thy soul and body unto everlasting life.

Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and feed on him in thy heart by faith with thanksgiving.

[When the cup is given, one or both of the following sentences are said:]

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy soul and body unto everlasting life.

Drink this in remembrance that Christ's blood was shed for thee, and be thankful.

[The congregation sings hymns while the bread and cup are given. When all have received, the Lord's table is put in order, and a prayer may be offered.]

Dismissal with Blessing

The peace of God, which passeth 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 among you, and remain with you always.

AMEN