Easter

Holy EucharistCommon Worship - Order One

The Parish of Greater Whitbourne

Easter is the great Christian festival that proclaims theresurrection of Jesus from the dead. The season’s colour is

white or gold for celebration.

This is the season of the Great Fifty Days from Easter Day to

Pentecost (Whitsunday). Easter Day is the ‘feast of feasts’, and

is the only day in the year that members of the Church of

England are bound to receive Holy Communion.

This ancient period of celebration, affirms the unique place of

Eastertide in the Church’s year. It begins with the resurrection of

the Lord, and ends with the celebration of the gift of the Holy

Spirit.�����

The Eucharist is the main service of Holy Communion in ourparish. Eucharist is the Greek word, used in the original

language of the New Testament, and means ‘thanksgiving’.

Thanksgiving lies at the heart of this service, which

concentrates on the saving acts of Jesus, in his life and death,

resurrection and ascension. This service of the Eucharist is

divided into two main parts:

The Liturgy of the Word contains several sub-sections.

Readings from the Old and the New Testaments, a variety of

prayers, of preparation, sorrow, for our own needs and those of

the church and the world. It also contains our statement of faith,

the Nicene Creed which was formulated at the council of Nicea

in the 4th century.

The Liturgy of the Sacrament developed in the new Church in

response to Jesus’ command at the last supper to share bread

and wine in remembrance of him. The two parts came together

sometime in the early days of the Church.

The Gathering Stand

Hymn

In the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Greeting

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Prayer of Preparation Sit or kneel

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

that we may perfectly love you,

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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Prayers of Penitence

Christ our passover lamb has been sacrificed for us.

Let us therefore rejoice by putting away all malice and evil

and confessing our sins with a sincere and true heart.

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.

May almighty God have mercy on you,

forgive you your sins,

and bring you to everlasting life.

Amen.

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The Gloria Stand

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 sin of the world:have mercy on us;you 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 Collect

The president introduces a period of silent prayer

The Collect is said, and all respond

Amen.

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The Liturgy of the Word Sit

There may be readings from the Old Testament, the

Psalms, and the New Testament.

After the reading(s) the reader says

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Hymn Stand

Gospel Reading

Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the first and the last, says the Lord,

and the living one;

I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore.

Alleluia.

When the Gospel is announced the reader says

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to…

Glory to you, O Lord.

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At the end

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon Sit

The Creed Stand

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is,

seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down

from heaven,

was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary

and was made man.

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For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death 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 in glory to judge the living

and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is worshipped

and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of

sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

Prayers of Intercession Sit or kneel

This response is used after each paragraph

Life-giving God,

give us new life in you.

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At the end

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

The Liturgy of the Sacrament

The Peace Stand

The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples

and said, ‘Peace be with you.’

Then were they glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

and also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

Preparation of the Table

Taking of the Bread and Wine

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Hymn

During the hymn a collection may be taken

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:

through your goodness we have this bread to set

before you,

which earth has given and human hands have made.

It will become for us the bread of life.

Blessed be God for ever.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:

through your goodness we have this wine to set

before you,

fruit of the vine and work of human hands.

It will become for us the cup of salvation.

Blessed be God for ever.

Be present, be present,

Lord Jesus Christ, our risen high priest;

make yourself known in the breaking of bread.

Amen.

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The Eucharistic Prayer Remain standing

The Lord is here.

His Spirit is with us.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,

always and everywhere to give you thanks,

almighty and eternal Father,

and in these days of Easter

to celebrate with joyful hearts

the memory of your wonderful works.

For by the mystery of his passion

Jesus Christ, your risen Son,

has conquered the powers of death and hell

and restored in men and women the image of your glory.

He has placed them once more in paradise

and opened to them the gate of life eternal.

And so, in the joy of this Passover,

earth and heaven resound with gladness,

while angels and archangels and the powers of all creation

sing for ever the hymn of your glory:

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Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

The people may sit or kneel

We praise and bless you, loving Father,

through Jesus Christ, our Lord;

and as we obey his command,

send your Holy Spirit,

that broken bread and wine outpoured

may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.

On the night he was betrayed he had supper

with his friends

and, taking bread, he praised you.

He broke the bread, gave it to them and said:

Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;

do this in remembrance of me.

When supper was ended he took the cup of wine.

Again he praised you, gave it to them and said:

Drink this, all of you;

this is my blood of the new covenant,

which is shed for you and for many

for the forgiveness of sins.

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Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did,

in him we plead with confidence

his sacrifice made once for all upon the cross.

Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation,

we proclaim his death and resurrection

until he comes in glory.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus:

Dying you destroyed our death,

rising you restored our life:

Lord Jesus, come in glory.

Lord of all life,

help us to work together for that day

when your kingdom comes

and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth.

Look with favour on your people,

gather us in your loving arms

and bring us with all the saints

to feast at your table in heaven.

Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father,

for ever and ever.

Amen.

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The Lord’s Prayer

Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name;thy kingdom come;thy will be done;on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespass against us.And lead us not into temptation;but deliver us from evil.For thine is the kingdom,the power and the glory,for ever and ever. Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

Every time we eat this bread

and drink this cup,we proclaim the Lord's deathuntil he comes.

Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world,

have mercy on us.

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Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world,

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world,

grant us peace.

Giving of Communion

Alleluia. Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.

Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

Most merciful Lord,

your love compels us to come in.

Our hands were unclean,

our hearts were unprepared;

we were not fit

even to eat the crumbs from under your table.

But you, Lord, are the God of our salvation,

and share your bread with sinners.

So cleanse and feed us

with the precious body and blood of your Son,

that he may live in us and we in him;

and that we, with the whole company of Christ,

may sit and eat in your kingdom.

Amen.

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The people receive communion

Prayer after Communion Sit or kneel

Silence is kept

The post-communion Collect is said, followed by

We thank you, Lord,

that you have fed us in this sacrament,

united us with Christ,

and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet

prepared for all peoples.

Amen.

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All baptised Christians of Churches who believe in the

Holy Trinity are welcome to receive Holy Communion.

If you feel unable to do this you are welcome to come to

the altar rail (bringing a hymn book with you) for a

blessing from the priest.

The Dismissal

The God of peace,

who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,

that great shepherd of the sheep,

through the blood of the eternal covenant,

make you perfect in every good work to do his will,

working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight;

and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you, and remain with you always.

Amen.

Go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.

Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

Hymn Stand

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Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which

is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council (2000)

Parish of Greater Whitbourne

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The Parish of Greater Whitbourne is in Hereford Diocese.

It is a group of six parishes: Edvin Loach, Tedstone Delamere,

Tedstone Wafre†, Whitbourne, Wolferlow†, and Upper Sapey.

The parishes marked † no longer have a church in use.

Produced in 2008 by the Parish of Greater Whitbourne. Design: John Bland. Photo (sheep at Rosemore Farm): Paul Lack.

The Parish of Greater Whitbourne