Holy Communion or Lord’s Supper – Longer Form

Let us pray together:Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden. 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.

God spoke these words (Exodus 20):“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.You shall have no other gods before me.”

Lord, have mercy on us and change our hearts.

“You shall not make for yourself an image 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 parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”

Lord, have mercy on us, and fill us with your Spirit.

“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, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 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.”

Lord, have mercy on us, that we may keep these laws.

“Honour your father and your mother.”“You shall not murder.”“You shall not commit adultery.”“You shall not steal.”“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.”“You shall not covet.”

Lord, have mercy on us, and write these laws in our hearts and minds so that we may keep them.

Or may be said: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.” (Matt 22:37-40)

Lord, have mercy on us, and write these your commandments in our hearts and minds so that we may keep them. Amen.

The PrayersAlmighty and eternal God, we are taught by your holy word to give thanks, and to make prayers and requests for all people. We pray that you will graciously hear us and accept our thanksgiving, which we bring to your divine majesty.

We thank you for our creation, salvation and preservation. We thank you for your revelation of yourself, the justifying work of your Son, and the sanctifying work of your Spirit. We thank you for the forgiveness of sins and our adoption as your children. We thank you for the comfort of your presence and the hope of eternal life.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers. We pray that you will give to all Christians the 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 for your name to be hallowed in all the world and amongst all peoples. We pray for the advance of your kingdom and for your will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

We pray you to lead the governments of the nations in ways of righteousness and peace. Bless and direct your servant the president, and all authorities in our land, that they may rule with wisdom, judge impartially, and uphold truth and righteousness.

Give grace, heavenly Father, to all Christian ministers, that they may believe and obey your holy and living word, faithfully teaching it and rightly administer your sacraments.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

Lord, give grace and perseverance to all your people, especially to this congregation, that we may hear and receive your word, and serve you in holiness and righteousness all our lives.

We pray for you to help and deliver all who are in trouble, sorrow, sickness or in any other need. We bless you for all your servants who have endured persecution and have died professing Christ. Give us grace to follow their example of radical devotion, that with them we may share in your heavenly kingdom.

Grant our prayers, Father, in the name of our advocate and mediator. Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Nicene Creed

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

I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten 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 and who, for us and 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 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.

The notices

The Reading of God’s Word:“Hear the word of God as it is written in…”

“This is God’s word to us.”Thanks be to God.

The sermon

Holy Communion

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 grace, 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 we must praise and thank him for his great love for us.You 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 in your daily life. But first, let us make our humble confession to Almighty God together:

Almighty God, you are the creator of the universe and the judge of all. We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, in word, and deed. We have not loved you as we ought, we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves, and we are sinners by nature. Most merciful Father, through your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us all the evil we have done, and the good we have left undone, and grant that we may serve and please you from this time forward, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, through the sacrifice of your Son Jesus Christ, you have promised forgiveness of sins to all who truly repent and firmly trust in him. Have mercy on us. Pardon and deliver us from all our sins and strengthen us to do your will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

As we approach the Lord’s Table, hear again the words of our Saviour Jesus Christ.“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28)

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

Hear also what the Apostle Paul wrote:“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:15)

Hear also what the Apostle John wrote:“If anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 2:1,2)

Lift up your hearts.We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our GodIt is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, and our duty at all times and in all places is to give thanks to you, Lord, holy Father, mighty creator, and eternal God.Therefore, with angels and archangels, and with the whole company of Heaven, we proclaim your great and glorious name, evermore praising you and 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 may briefly explain the purposes and meaning of the Lord’s Supper, making use of one or more of the following Scriptures:

Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 10:14-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-33.

Merciful Lord, we do not presume to come to your table trusting in our own righteousness. Instead, we trust in your great mercy. We are not fit to gather up the crumbs under your table, but your mercy is everlasting; grant therefore that we may, by faith, eat the flesh and drink the blood of your dear Son, Jesus Christ, to be united to him and he to us.

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. By his one offering of himself, Jesus made there on that cross a never to be repeated, full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.Hear us merciful Father, and grant that we who trust the death and suffering of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, may receive this bread and wine and, in so doing, may share in his most blessed body and blood. Christ Jesus, who on the night 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.”In the same way after supper, he took the cup and when he had given 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 whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” Amen.

As the minister and those appointed distribute the bread and wine he may say:The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for you, preserve your body and soul to everlasting life. Take and eat this, remembering 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, remembering that Christ’s blood was shed for you, and be thankful.

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. We thank you that by the righteousness, death, and suffering of your Son, we are members of his body, included in the blessed company of all faithful people, and heirs of your eternal kingdom. Heavenly Father, give us grace that we may persevere in this holy fellowship, and do all the good works that you have prepared for

us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. To him, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.Lord God, Heavenly king, Almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us. You who are seated at the right hand of the Father, receive our prayer.For you alone are the holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.Amen.

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.