Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
Listen to or read a Service of Holy Communion for the Wednesday after the Fourth Sunday of Easter, 6 May 2020, and make your own act of Spiritual Communion.
The Gathering
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Prayer of Preparation
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.
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.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you
and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
through negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry
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 grant that we may serve you in newness of life
to the glory of your name.
Amen.
Almighty God,
who forgives all who truly repent,
have mercy upon us,
pardon and deliver us from all our sins,
confirm and strengthen us in all goodness,
and keep us in life eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Collect
Risen Christ,
faithful shepherd of your Father’s sheep:
teach us to hear your voice
and to follow your command,
that all your people may be gathered into one flock,
to the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
Reading
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
But the word of God continued to advance and gain adherents. Then after completing their mission Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem and brought with them John, whose other name was Mark.
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul.
While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John also to assist them.
Acts 12:24 – 13:5 (NRSV)
This is the word of the Lord.
Psalm
God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,That your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.O let the nations rejoice and be glad,
for you will judge the peoples righteously
and govern the nations upon earth.Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.Then shall the earth bring forth her increase,
and God, our own God, will bless us.God will bless us,
Psalm 67
and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
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.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.
Then Jesus cried aloud: ‘Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.’
John 12:44–end
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Prayers of Intercession
In the power of the Spirit, and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father.
Almighty God and Father, help us to be still in your presence, that we may know ourselves to be your people, and you to be our God.
We pray for your Church in this world.
Lord, you have consecrated the world
by sending your Son into our midst,
and by making all things new in him.
We ask you to give us and all your people
the courage and power we need
to share fully in his mission to the world
and to further his kingdom in the lives of all
to the honour and glory of his name.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for this troubled and divided world.
Sovereign Lord of all nations and peoples,
we pray for rulers and statemen
who are called to positions of leadership.
Give them vision to see far into the issues of their time,
courage to uphold what they believe to be right,
and integrity in their words and motives;
and may their service to their people
promote the welfare and peace of mankind.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who struggle to find peace and security in their lives.
Father, we bring to you a world where much is amiss
because your will is not done:
a world where people are at war with one another,
a world where the hungry are not fed,
a world where people suffer through the prejudices of others,
a world where the love of many has grown cold.
Give all peoples an understanding of your will,
that the whole of humanity may walk your way of love and mutual respect.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for the parishes in our benefice.
Lord, you have called us to be you witnesses in the world:
give us grace to hear and obey your call.
Release us from the bondage of anxiety and fear;
restore us to love, joy and peace as we trust in you;
strengthen us by your Holy Spirit that, by word and good example,
we may glorify you in our daily lives.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who sick in body, mind or spirit.
Loving Father, remember in your mercy
those who are passing through illness,
and especially those who we now offer to you in prayer …
Bless all that is being done for their good,
and surround them with your healing love and power.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We remember those who now rest in God’s nearer presence.
We remember those who have recently departed this life,
and those who were once near and dear to us in this world.
God of hope and giver of all comfort,
we commend to your keeping those who mourn the loss of loved ones.
Give them the peace that passes all understanding,
and help them to know that neither death nor life can separate them from you.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Be with us, Lord, in all our prayers,
and direct our way toward the attainment of salvation,
that among the changes and chances of this mortal life,
we may always be defended by your gracious help;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Sacrament
The Peace
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
Preparation of the Table
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
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.
The Eucharistic Prayer
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:
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.
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 before he died 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.
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.
Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
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.
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 death until he comes.
Giving of Communion
Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word, and I shall be healed.
The priest receives communion.
The people are invited to participate in an Act of Spiritual Communion.
The Book of Common Prayer instructs us that if we offer ourselves in penitence and faith, giving thanks for the redemption won by Christ crucified, we may truly ‘eat and drink the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ’, although we cannot receive the sacrament physically in ourselves.
The Church of which we are members is not defined by the walls of a building but by the Body of Christ of which we are members. In making our communion spiritually, we are joining with Christians everywhere to be nourished by the one who tells us, ‘I am the Bread of Life’.
Church of England: Guidance on Spiritual Communion
Prayer after Communion
Merciful Father,
you gave your Son Jesus Christ to be the good shepherd,
and in his love for us to lay down his life and rise again:
keep us always under his protection,
and give us grace to follow in his steps;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Father of all,
we give you thanks and praise,
that when we were still far off
you met us in your Son and brought us home.
Dying and living, he declared your love,
gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory.
May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life;
we who drink his cup bring life to others;
we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world.
Keep us firm in the hope that you have set before us,
so we and all your children shall be free,
and the whole earth live to praise your name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Blessing and 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 peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.
In the name of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.