THE
EUCHARISTIC LITURGY OF LIMA
introduction / celebration
and celebrants / sources and meanings / possible
simplifications / the eucharist at the centre of
the community and its mission / notes
the
liturgy
INTRODUCTION
This
liturgy was prepared for the plenary session of the Faith and Order
Commission in Lima and was used for the first time there on 15 January
1982. It was also used in the Ecumenical Centre Chapel in Geneva
on 28 July 1982 during the meeting of the Central Committee of the
World Council of Churches, with Dr Philip Potter, the General Secretary,
as the presiding minister. It will also be used at the Sixth Assembly
of the World Couneil of Churches in Vancouver in 1983.
In
composing this liturgy for the Lima Conference, the aim was to illustrate
the solid theological achievements of the Faith and Order document,
Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry (cited henceforth as BEM).
The Lima liturgy is not the only possibility: the convergences registered
in BEM could be expressed in other liturgical forms, ac-cording
to other traditions, spiritualities or cultures. No “authority”
attaches to this particular liturgy, save that accruing to it from
the fact of its having been used on certain significant ecumenical
occasions.
The
Lima liturgy is characterized by its fullness and is perhaps more
suitable for a particularly solemn celebration. It has already been
used in a simplified form by a number of groups. Some ex-amples
of possible simplification will be given at the end of this introduction.
CELEBRATION
AND CELEBRANTS
According
to the indications given in the BEM document, the Christian liturgy
should be regularly celebrated, at least every Lord's Day and on
feast days. This eucharistic celebration will include the proclamation
of the Word of God and the communion of the members of the Body
of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit (E31). The eucharistic
liturgy thus consists of three parts. The introductory part unites
the people of God in confession, supplication and praise (confession
of sins, litany of the Kyrie, and the Gloria). The second part,
the liturgy of the Word, begins with a prayer of preparation. It
includes the three proclamations: of a prophet (first lesson), an
apos-tle (second lesson), and Christ (the Gospel). Then the voice
of the Church is heard in the sermon, making the eternal word contem-porary
and living. The sermon is followed by silent meditation. The faith
of the Church is then summarized in the Creed and all human needs
presented to God in the intercession. The third part, the liturgy
of the eucharist, consists essentially of the great eucharistic
prayer, preceded by a short preparation and followed by the Lord's
Prayer, the sign of peace, and communion. We shall return to these
elements in more detail. (They are listed in E27.)
The
liturgy is an act of the community. This is even indicated in the
etymology of the term “liturgy” - leitourgia
- service of the people. It is not a clerical solo performance but
a concert of the whole Christian community, in which certain
of its members play a special part, in accordance with their different
charisms and mandates. At ecumenical meetings, the liturgy of the
Word will be shared by wor-ship leaders (officiants) of several
traditions, while the liturgy of the eucharist will associate as
assistants of the principal celebrant those authorized by their
own church to concelebrate on such occasions.
Normally
the presiding pastor at the liturgy (bishop or presbyter,
M29-30) gives the salutation, the absolution and the prayer; the
pastor leads the liturgy of the Eucharist by praying the great eucharistic
prayer: the preface, the epiclesis (I and II), the institu-tion,
the anamnesis and the conclusion; the pastor also offers
the prayer of thanksgiving and gives the benediction. The congregation
sings or says all the responses and the Amens; it recites together
the confession, the Gloria (or it alternates with an officiant,
unless it is sung), the Creed (said or sung) and the Lord' s Prayer
(said or sung). The biddings in the litany of the Kyrie and in the
intercessions, the verses of the Gloria, the preparation and the
mementos, the in-troduction to the Lord's Prayer and the prayer
of peace, may be shared among other officiants. Three readers
are assigned to read the lessons (the Gospel is read or sung by
a deacon in the Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Anglican traditions);
a preacher is assigned to deliver the sermon.
SOURCES
AND MEANINGS
The
entry hymn which accompanies the procession of the offi-ciants,
or even of the entire community, should preferably be a psalm, appropriate
to the liturgical season or the festival being celebrated, punctuated
by a suitable antiphon, simple enough for all to join in between
the verses sung by the choir. On the first Sunday in Advent, for
example, the entry hymn is Psalm 25, with the antiphon:
To
you, Lord, I lift my heart;
They whose hope is in you will not be disappointed.
The
psalm may, however, be replaced by a chorale or a hymn whose liturgical
use is well-attested. In the Lutheran tradition, for ex-ample, the
chorales mark certain Sundays. When the procession ends, the Gloria
is sung (“Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the
Holy Spirit ...”) and the antiphon is repeated a last time.
The
principal celebrant then gives the salutation, a custom which probably
goes back to primitive liturgical usage, and the text for which
is provided for us by St Paul (2 Cor. 13:13). It was restored to
favour in the revised post-conciliar Roman Catholic liturgy, and
it often forms part of Reformed and Lutheran celebrations.
The
confession, said by the whole congregation, is followed by the ab-solution
pronounced by the principal celebrant. Both have been taken from
the Lutheran Book of Worship published by the Joint Lutheran
Liturgical Commission for the churches in the United States and
Canada. [1]
Slight
alterations have been made in the English text to employ more inclusive
language.
The
litany of the Kyrie is a brief initial supplication. This litany
derives traditionally from the Byzantine Liturgy which always begins
with it. Here, however, it is shorter, containing only three petitions
on the themes of baptism, eucharist and ministry, which take their
cue from three New Testament passages: Eph. 4:3-5, 1 Cor. 10:16-17
and 2 Cor. 5:18-20. These petitions may be altered to suit the circumstances.
Provision could also be made for penitential peti-tions in place
of the confession, and these would then come im-mediately after
the salutation.
The
form used in the revised Roman Catholic liturgy is familiar:
Lord
Jesus, sent by the Father
to heal and save us all,
have mercy on us.
- Kyrie eleison.
O Christ,
who came into the world
to call all sinners,
have mercy on us.
- Kyrie eleison.
Lord,
lifted up into the glory of the Father
where Thou dost intercede for us,
have mercy on us.
- Kyrie eleision.
May
the almighty God
have mercy on us all;
may He pardon our sins
and bring us to eternal life.
- Amen.
The
opening litany of the Orthodox Liturgy of St John Chrysostom could
also be used.
This
litany of supplication is followed by the hymn of praise: “Glory
to God in the highest ...” From the beginning of the liturgy,
therefore, place is provided for the three fundamental attitudes
of Christian prayer: penitence, supplication and praise.
The
liturgy of the Word opens with prayer. In contemplation, preparation
is made for hearing the Word of God. This prayer varies according
to seasons, festivals and circumstances. Here it is based on the
themes of the BEM document. It evokes Jesus' baptism in the River
Jordan, the messianic anointing of Christ who is consecrated
prophet, priest and king. It asks for a fresh outpouring of the
Spirit upon the baptized, the deepening of desire for communion
with Christ in the eucharist, and consecration to the service
of the poor and those in special need of Christian love.
The
first reading is taken either from the Old Testament, or from the
Acts of the Apostles or the Book of Revelation. At Lima, the passage
chosen was Ezekiel 47:1-9, on the water flowing from the source
in the Temple, recalling the baptismal immersion which purifies,
cleanses and gives life. The meditative hymn which follows is usually
the fragment of a psalm, sung responsively. Appropriate verses to
follow this Ezekiel passage about the life-giving water would be
Psalm 42:2-3, 8-9, with the antiphon taken from Ezekiel 36:25:
I will
sprinkle clean water upon you
and will cleanse you from all your uncleannesses.
The
second reading is a short passage from one of the Epistles. At Lima
it was 1 Peter 5:1-11, on the theme of ministry. The Alleluia then
sounds out as an acclamation of welcome to the Gospel. For example:
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
The disciples of Emmaus
recognized the Risen Lord
in the breaking of the bread. Alleluia!
The
Gospel is then read by a deacon or a third reader. At Lima the Emmaus
passage from Lk. 24:25-32 was read, on the theme of the eucharistic
meal preceded by Christ's exposition of the Scriptures.
The
sermon applies the message of the Word of God to our life to-day.
It is the voice of the Church, echoing that of the prophets, apostles
and Christ. A moment of silent recollection gives time for each
to meditate on the Word received.
The
Creed is then said or sung as a résumé of the history
of salva-tion. Either the Nicaeno-Constantinopolitan (Nicene) Creed
or the Apostles' Creed may be used. In an ecumenical spirit of fidelity
to the original text of the Nicene Creed, we use here that form
approved at the Council of Constantinople in 381, as was done at
the Lima Conference and at the WCC Central Committee meeting in
Geneva. The 1600th commemoration of this Council in 1981 by and
large restored this primitive text to its rightful place of honour,
reconciling East and West in the expression of fundamental faith.
The
prayer of intercession unites the believing community, now nourished
by the Word of God, in prayer for the needs of the Church and the
world. The pattern and style adopted here are those of the litany
of Pope Gelasius († 496) which reflects the Kyrie in use in
Rome at the end of the fifth century.[2] The themes
of the six inten-tions include the outpouring of the Spirit on the
Church; the leaders of the nations, justice and peace; the oppressed
and all the victims of violence; then (following the BEM themes)
the unity of the churches in baptism; the communion of the churches
around the one table; the mutual recognition of ministries by the
churches.
The
liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the presentation of the bread
and wine, accompanied by two benedictions from the Jewish liturgy
(also used in the revised Roman Catholic liturgy), and by a prayer
inspired by the Didache. This preparation is completed
by the very ancient eucharistic acclamation "Maranatha"
(“Come, Lord!” or “The Lord is coming”,
1 Cor. 16:22).
The
great eucharistic prayer begins with a composite preface, which
also take its themes from the BEM document. First of all, thanksgiving
for creation is focused on the life-giving Word, giving life in
particular to the human being who reflects the glory of God. In
the fullness of time Christ was given as the way, the truth and
the life. In the account of Jesus' life, the preface recalls the
consecration of the Servant by baptism, the last supper of the eucharist,
the memorial of the death and resurrection, and the presence of
the Risen Saviour in the breaking of the bread. Finally, the preface
refers to the gift of the royal priesthood to all Christians, from
among whom God chooses ministers who are charged to feed the Church
by the Word and sacraments and thereby to give it life.
In
conformity with the Alexandrian and Roman traditions, the in-vocation
of the Holy Spirit (the epiclesis) precedes the words of
the institution of the Holy Supper.[3] The reminder
of the work of the Ho-ly Spirit in the history of our salvation
is inspired by the liturgy of St James, (4th century). This is also
used in the liturgy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of France
(1977, alternative VIII). The epiclesis asks for the Holy
Spirit to be poured out, as on Moses and the prophets, on the Virgin
Mary, on Jesus at the River Jordan, and on the apostles at Pentecost,
to transfigure the thanksgiving meal, so that the bread and the
wine become for us the Body and the Blood of Christ. The idea of
transfiguration by the Spirit of life and fire is in-tended to point
to the consecration of the bread and wine in a sacramental and mystical
manner transcending all our understanding and all our explanation
(E14-15). The congregation punctuates this epiclesis with the sung
response: “Veni Creator Spiritus - Come, Creator Spirit!”
Just
as the beginning of the epiclesis took up the themes of
the preceding Sanctus (O God, Lord of the universe, you
are holy and your glory is beyond measure), so too the
beginning of the institution links up with the epiclesis and to
its response, by referring to the Ho-ly Spirit. This indicates the
unity of the action of the Spirit and of Christ in the eucharistic
mystery. The Holy Spirit accomplishes the words of the Son who,
“on the night in which he was betrayed, took bread ...”
By the Holy Spirit, these historical words of Jesus become alive
and contemporary: bread and wine become the Body and the Blood of
Christ. “The Holy Spirit makes the crucified and risen Christ
really present to us in the eucharistic meal, fulfilling the pro-mise
contained in the words of institution” (E14). The Holy Spirit
“makes the historical words of Jesus present and alive”
(E14). The blessing of the bread and the cup is accompanied, as
in the Jewish liturgy, the passover meal in particular, by thanksgiving.
The rendering of “Do this for the remembrance of me”
is preferred in order to avoid the subjective idea of a mere souvenir.
The eucharist is a memorial, an anamnesis, i.e. making
present and alive the saving event of the cross and the presentation
of Christ’s unique sacrifice to the Father as an urgent prayer
of the Church. The acclamation which concludes the institution has
been adopted in many recent liturgical revisions: Roman Catholic,
Anglican, Swedish, American Lutheran. It associates the congregation
with the proclamation of the memorial. The anamnesis is
the celebration of the “memorial of our redemption”.
The sacrifice of the cross and resurrection, made present and active
for us today in the eucharist, is central in the anamnesis.
But, as the BEM document says, what is recalled in thanksgiving
in the eucharist is the whole existence of Christ (E6).
In
the present liturgy, certain events are emphasized because they
correspond to the BEM themes: the baptism of Jesus, his last meal
with the apostles, his ministry as High Priest who makes intercession
for us all. In the eucharist the whole people of God are united
with Christ's unique priesthood, each member in accordance with
the charism and ministry received. We present the memorial of Christ,
i.e. we show forth to the Father the unique sacrifice of the Son
as the urgent supplication of the Church and we say to God: “Do
you remember the sacrifice of the cross and, in virtue of this unique
sacrifice, source of all blessings, grant us and all human beings
the abundance of blessings obtained for us in the work of salvation
and liberation accomplished by Jesus Christ.” This is the
anamnesis or memorial, the making of the unique sacrifice
livingly present and the intercession that the Father may remember
Christ's work on our behalf. The eschatological acclamation is uttered
as an act of faith affirming the coming of the Lord: “Maranatha”!
The
eucharist, given in the Spirit to the church as a precious gift,
is received by the Father as an intercession and a thanksgiving,
one with the very offering of the Son which reestablishes us in
the cove-nant with God.
In
a very beautiful text of 1520, Luther showed how the interces-sion
of Christ and the offering of the Church are intimately united in
the eucharist:
It
is not we who offer Christ, but Christ who offers us (to the Father).
In this way, it is permissible, indeed helpful, to call the ceremony
a sacrifice; not in itself, but because in it we offer ourselves
in sacrifice with Christ. In other words, we lean on Christ with
a firm faith in his covenant, and we present ourselves before God
with our prayer, thanksgiving and sacrifice, only in the name of
Christ and by his mediation ... without doubting that He is our
Priest in heaven before the face of God. Christ welcomes us, he
presents us, ourselves, our prayers and our praise (to God); he
also offers himself in heaven for us ... He offers himself for us
in heaven and with himself, he offers us. [4]
A second
epiclesis then invokes the Holy Spirit on the congrega-tion,
a fresh outpouring consequent on communion in the Body and Blood
of Christ. This effusion of the Spirit rallies together the Body
of Christ, the Church, and inspires it to spiritual unity; it makes
the congregation a living offering to the glory of God; it anticipates
the coming Kingdom. Here, once again, the eucharistic prayer is
punc-tuated by an acclamation: either the response “Veni Creator
Spiritus”, echoing the second epiclesis, or, once
again, the eschatological “Maranatha”.
According
to the Western tradition, this is where we mention all those for
whom we wish especially to pray, remember those who preceded us
in the faith, and all the cloud of witnesses by whom we are compassed
about. These mementos make explicit our concern for the
whole Christian community on which the Holy Spirit has just been
invoked, which explains their location here after the second epiclesis.
In a shorter liturgy they could be omitted and their content transferred
to the moment of intercession (No 16). The wording of the mementos
is inspired by the Eucharistic Prayer III in the draft text “Word,
Bread and Cup”. [5] After a final “Maranatha”,
the eucharistic prayer is rounded off by a trinitarian conclusion,
tradi-tional in Western liturgies.
The
introduction to the Lord's Prayer recalls the unity of all Chris-tians
in baptism, which incorporates them into the Body of Christ and
gives them life by the one Spirit. This unity of Christians permits
them to say together the prayer of the children of God, the Lord's
Prayer. It also permits them to renew among themselves the peace
of Christ and they give each other a sign of reconciliation and
friendship.
The
breaking of the bread during the Agnus Dei hymn is announced
in the manner of the Reformed tradition: “The bread which
we break is the communion in the body of Christ ...” (1 Cor.
10:16).
In
the prayer of thanksgiving we give thanks to God for the unity of
baptism and the joy of the eucharist; we pray for full visible unity
and for recognition of the signs of reconciliation already given;
final-ly, we pray in hope that those who have already tasted of
the meal of the Kingdom may also share the heritage of the saints
in light (Col. 1:12). After the final hymn before the benediction,
the presiding minister may give a brief message of dispatch on mission,
for exam-ple, by repeating the central biblical text on which the
sermon was preached.
POSSIBLE
SIMPLIFICATIONS
This
eucharistic liturgy may also be shortened in order to adapt it to
different circumstances.
The
introductory part may consist only of the hymn, the saluta-tion,
the litany of the Kyrie and the Gloria (1-2, 5-6), omitting the
confession. It may even consist simply of a hymn - a psalm or Gloria
- and then go straight into the prayer (1 or 6, then 7).
The
liturgy of the Word always begins with a prayer, suited to the season,
the festival or circumstances. There may be only two lessons instead
of three: the first lesson or the Epistle, and always the Gospel.
Between the two readings a psalm and alleluia, or simply the alleluia,
may be sung. The sermon should always focus on some aspect of the
message of the Word of God. The Creed has not always formed part
of the eucharistic liturgy and it may be reserved for Sun-days and
feast days. A choice may be made between the intercession (16) and
the mementos (25), using only one or the other. This would
then give the simplified pattern: sermon, silence, preparation for
the eucharist (13, 14, 17).
The
liturgy of the Eucharist always begins with preparation (17). It
necessarily includes the following elements: the preface (19) adapted
to the season, festival or circumstances, and permissibly in a shorter
version; the first and second epiclesis (21 and 24); the
institution (22); the anamnesis (23) and the conclusion
(26). The mementos may be omitted if already integrated
in the intercession (16). The prayer of peace after the Lord’s
Prayer can be omitted, retaining only the announcement: “The
peace of the Lord be with you always ... “ (28).
The
prayer of thanksgiving may be a free prayer, provided it is always
brief and well-structured. The liturgy ends with a final hymn, if
possible, by a brief word of dispatch on mission, according to the
occasion, and by the benediction.
THE
EUCHARIST AT THE CENTRE OF THE COMMUNITY AND ITS MISSION
The
life of the first Christian community is described in the Acts of
the Apostles as follows: “And they devoted themselves to the
apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of the bread
and prayers ... And day by day, attending the temple together and
break-ing the bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad
and generous hearts, praising God and having favour with all the
people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who
were be-ing saved” (2:42-47).
These
verses epitomize the whole life of the Church through the ages.
The Church will assume different faces through the centuries but
only if these fundamental elements are found within it will it tru-ly
be the Church of Christ. We have here the model by which it will
be able to measure this fidelity in the course of history. All periods
of renewal in the Church will be due to the return to these original
springs.
In
this description of the primitive Christian community, seven elements
may be discerned which must always be respected by the Church if
it is to remain faithful to its origins and keep within the succession
of Christ's purpose and of the apostolic founda-tion: the hearing
of the Word of God, the celebration of the breaking of the bread,
the offering of prayers, concern for com-munion as brothers and
sisters, the sharing of material blessings, the unity of praising
God and witnessing in the world, and the mission accomplished by
the Lord who builds the church and in-creases it.
The
Christian community is born of the hearing of the Word of God: the
reading of the Bible and the preaching of the Word. Thanks to the
meditation on this living Word, it is gradually built up and strengthened.
The Holy Scriptures, read, preached and meditated on, distinguish
the Christian community radically from every other human society
or religious group. The increasing assimilation of the main themes
of the Word transforms the com-munity; it becomes a place of liberation,
peace, joy, celebration, friendship, influence and hope ... The
Church cannot live unless it constantly returns to this life-giving
source, the Word of God. This is why its worship is focused on the
reading of the prophets and apostles, on the proclamation of the
Gospel of Christ, on the preaching of and reverent reflection on
the Truth in the Spirit. This Word of God feeds the Christian community
and makes it grow; it makes it a centre of attraction and it sends
it out into the world to announce the glad tidings.
On
Easter evening, the Risen Lord, joining his disciples on their way
to Emmaus, interpreted to them the things concerning himself in
all the scriptures. His Word prepared their hearts to recognize
him. But it was when he sat at table with them, when he took the
bread, blessed it and gave thanks, that their eyes were opened and
their hearts, set on fire by his Word, recognized him in the breaking
of the bread (Lk. 24:27-32).
This
is why, when the Church celebrates the presence of the Risen Lord
in its midst, chiefly on the Lord's Day, it proclaims his Word and
is fed in the thanksgiving Meal: it recognizes him in the Scriptures
and in the Breaking of the bread. Thus the complete Christian liturgy
includes the proclamation of the Word of God and the celebration
of the Eucharist.
This
proclamation and this celebration are surrounded by the prayers
of the Church. The first Christians “devoted themselves to
... the prayers” and “they attended the temple day by
day”. The primitive Church continued the discipline of Jewish
prayers. It wished to observe day by day, with regularity, “the
prayers of the hours”, in the Temple in Jerusalem, which would
be at the origin of the liturgy of the daily office. This liturgy
included the singing of psalms, the reading of the Word, and intercessions.
This regular offering of prayers by the Christian community seals
the communion of the Church and constitutes a sacrifice of praise
and intercession in which its communion with God is constantly renewed.
Brotherly
and sisterly communion and concord are the conse-quences of this
relationship between the community and its Lord by means of the
Word, Eucharist, and Prayer. They are the marks of an authentic
ecclesial life. They are expressed concretely in such actions as
the agape meals when Christians take food together and
share their material possessions with those in need. Joy and simplicity
are the distinctive marks of this communion of solidarity among
brothers and sisters. There is no contradiction between the praise,
of God and presence in the world; the one does not detach us from
the other. The community whose primary work is the celebration of
the praise of God is welcomed by the people around it, because it
is one of brotherhood and sisterhood, simple and joyous.
The
Eucharist is at the very heart of the Church’s life. With
the Word and the prayers, it creates the communion of brothers and
sisters, their sharing with one another, and makes the community
present for the world and radiant with Christ. The eucharist builds
up the Church, in unity and for the world, and makes it the missionary
Church.
MAX
THURIAN
NOTES
[1]
Lutheran Book of Worship, Minneapolis, Augsburg Publishing
House, Minister’s Edition, 1978, p.195.
[2] B. Capelle, “Le Kyrie de la messe et le
pape Gélase”, Revue Bénédictine,
1934, pp.136-138. A. Hamman, Prières des premiers chrétiens,
Paris, Fayard, 1952, pp.349-352.
[3]
Fragment of Der-Balyzeh (sixth century), attesting the
liturgy of St Mark; Quam oblationem of the Roman Canon
and epiclesis of the new liturgical prayers. See my book,
Le mystère eucharistique, Paris, Centurion-Taizé,
1981, pp.89-99, to be published by Mowbray, Oxford, 1983.
[4]
WA VI, 369.
[5]
Consultation on Church Union, USA.
THE EUCHARIST
LITURGY
OF ENTRANCE
P =
Presiding Minister
C = Congregation
O = Another Celebrant
1 ENTRANCE
PSALM (with antiphon and Gloria Patri; or hymn)
2 GREETING
P.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with you all.
C.
And also with you.
3 CONFESSION
C.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we are in bondage to sin
and cannot free ourselves.
We have sinned against you
in thought, word and deed,
by what we have done
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.
Forgive us, renew us, and lead us,
so that we may delight in your will
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
4 ABSOLUTION
P.
Almighty God
gave Jesus Christ to die for us
and for the sake of Christ forgive us all our sins.
As a called and ordained minister of the Church
and by the authority of Jesus Christ,
I therefore declare to you
the entire forgiveness of all your sins,
in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
C.
Amen.
5 KYRIE
LITANY
O.
That we may be enabled to maintain the unity
of the Spirit in the bond of peace and together confess
that there is only one Body and one Spirit,
only one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
let us pray to the Lord. (Eph. 4:3-5)
C.
Kyrie eleison
O.
That we may soon attain to visible communion
in the Body of Christ, by breaking the bread
and blessing the cup around the same table,
let us pray to the Lord. (1 Cor. 10:16-17)
C.
Kyrie eleison.
O.
That, reconciled to God through Christ,
we may be enabled to recognize each other’s ministries
and be united in the ministry of reconciliation,
let us pray to the Lord. (2 Cor. 5:18-20)
C.
Kyrie eleison.
6 GLORIA
Glory
to God in the highest,
- And peace to God’s 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 take away the sin of the world: receive our prayer;
- You are seated at the right hand of the Father: have mercy on
us.
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.
LITURGY
OF THE WORD
7 COLLECT
P.
Let us pray:
Lord God, gracious and merciful,
you anointed your beloved Son with the Holy Spirit
at his baptism in the Jordan,
and you consecrated him prophet, priest and king:
pour out your Spirit on us again
that we may be faithful to our baptismal calling,
ardently desire the communion of Christ’s body and blood,
and serve the poor of your people and all who need our love,
through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
ever one God, world without end.
C.
Amen.
8
FIRST LESSON (Old Testament, Acts or Revelation)
9 PSALM
OF MEDITATION
10
EPISTLE
11
ALLELUJA
12
GOSPEL
13
HOMILY
14
SILENCE
15
NICENE-CONSTANTINOPOLITAN CREED (text of 381)
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,
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;
by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate
form the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
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.
He 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;
with the Father and the Son
he is worshiped and glorified;
he has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in the 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
16
INTERCESSION
O.
In faith let us pray to God our Father,
his Son Jesus Christ
and the Holy Spirit.
C.
Kyrie eleison.
O.
For the Church of God throughout all the world,
let us invoke the Spirit.
C.
Kyrie eleison.
O.
For the leaders of the nations,
that they may establish and defend justice and peace,
let us pray for the wisdom of God.
C.
Kyrie eleison.
O.
For those who suffer oppression or violence,
let us invoke the power of the Deliverer.
C.
Kyrie eleison.
O.
That the churches may discover again their visible unity
in the one baptism which incorporates them in Christ,
let us pray for the love of Christ.
C.
Kyrie eleison.
O.
That the churches may attain communion
in the eucharist around one table,
let us pray for the strength of Christ.
C.
Kyrie eleison.
O.
That the churches may recognize each other’s ministries
in the service of their one Lord,
let us pray for the peace of Christ.
C.
Kyrie eleison.
(Spontaneous
prayers of the congregation)
O.
Into your hands, O Lord,
we commend all for whom we pray,
trusting in your mercy;
through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C.
Amen.
LITURGY
OF THE EUCHARIST
17
PREPARATION
O.
Blessed are you, Lord God of the universe,
you are the giver of this bread,
fruit of the earth and of human labour,
let it become the bread of Life.
C.
Blessed be God, now and for ever!
O.
Blessed are you, Lord God of the universe,
you are the giver of this wine,
fruit of the vine and of human labour,
let it become the wine of the eternal Kingdom.
C.
Blessed be God, now and for ever!
O.
As the grain once scattered in the fields
and the grapes once dispersed on the hillside
are now reunited on this table
in bread and wine,
so, Lord, may your whole Church
soon be gathered together
from the corners of the earth into your Kingdom
C.
Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!
18
DIALOGUE
P.
The Lord be with you.
C.
And also with you.
P.
Lift up your hearts.
C.
We lift them to the Lord.
P.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
19
PREFACE
P.
Truly it is right and good to glorify you,
at all times and in all places,
to offer you our thanksgiving O Lord, Holy Father,
Almighty and Everlasting God.
Through your living Word you created all things,
and pronounced them good.
You made human beings in your own image,
to share your life and reflect your glory.
When the time had fully come, you gave Christ to us
as the Way, the Truth and the Life.
He accepted baptism and consecration as your Servant
to announce the good news to the poor.
At the last supper
Christ bequeathed to us the eucharist,
that we should celebrate the memorial
of the cross and resurrection,
and receive his presence as food.
To all the redeemed Christ gave the royal priesthood
and, in loving this brothers and sisters,
chooses those who share in the ministry,
that they may feed the Church with your Word
and enable it to live by your Sacraments.
Wherefore, Lord, with the angels and all the saints,
we proclaim and sing your glory:
20
SANCTUS
C.
Holy, Holy, Holy …
21
EPICLESIS I
P.
O God, Lord of the universe,
you are holy and your glory is beyond measure.
Upon your eucharist send the life-giving Spirit,
who spoke by Moses and the prophets,
who overshadowed the Virgin Mary with grace,
who descended upon Jesus in the river Jordan
and upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost.
May the outpouring of this Spirit of Fire
transfigure this thanksgiving meal
that this bread and wine may become for us
the body and blood of Christ.
C.
Veni Creator Spiritus!
22
INSTITUTION
P.
May this Creator Spirit accomplish the words
of your beloved Son,
who, in the night in which he was betrayed,
took bread,
and when he had given thanks to you,
broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take, eat:
this is my body,
which is given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
After supper he took the cup
and when he had given thanks,
he 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 for the remembrance of me.
Great is the mystery of faith.
C.
Your death, Lord Jesus, we proclaim!
Your resurrection we celebrate!
Your coming in glory we await!
23
ANAMNESIS
P.
Wherefore, Lord,
we celebrate today the memorial of our redemption:
we recall the birth and life of your Son among us,
his baptism by John,
his last meal with the apostles,
his death and descent to the abode of the dead;
we proclaim Christ’s resurrection and ascension in glory,
where as our Great High Priest
he ever intercedes for all people;
and we look for his coming at the last.
United in Christ’s priesthood, we present to you
this memorial: Remember the sacrifice of your Son
and grant to people everywhere the benefits
of Christ’s redemptive work.
C.
Maranatha, the Lord comes!
24
EPICLESIS II
P.
Behold, Lord, this eucharist
which you yourself gave to the Church
and graciously receive it,
as you accept the offering of your Son
whereby we are reinstated in your Covenant.
As we partake of Christ’s body and blood,
fill us with the Holy Spirit
that we may be one single body and one single spirit
in Christ,
a living sacrifice to the praise of your glory.
C.
Veni Creator Spiritus!
25
COMMEMORATIONS
O.
Remember, Lord,
your one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church,
redeemed by the blood of Christ.
Reveal its unity, guard its faith,
and preserve it in peace.
Remember, Lord, all the servants of your Church:
bishops, presbyters, deacons,
and all to whom you have given special gifts of ministry.
(Remember especially … )
Remember
also all our sisters and brothers
who have died in the peace of Christ,
and those whose faith is known to you alone:
guide them to the joyful feast prepared
for all peoples in your presence,
with the blessed Virgin Mary,
with the patriarchs and prophets, the apostles and martyrs …
and all the saints for whom your friendship was life.
With all these we sing your praise
and await the happiness of your Kingdom
where with the whole creation,
finally delivered from sin and death,
we shall be enabled to glorify you
through Christ our Lord;
C.
Maranatha, the Lord comes!
24
CONCLUSION
P.
Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ,
all honour and glory is yours,
Almighty God and Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
C.
Amen.
27
THE LORD’S PRAYER
O.
United by one baptism
in the same Holy Spirit and the same Body of Christ,
we pray as God’s sons and daughters:
C.
Our Father, …
28
THE PEACE
O.
Lord Jesus Christ, you told your apostles:
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.
Look not on our sins but on the faith of your Church;
In order that your will be done,
grant us always this peace
and guide us
towards the perfect unity
of your Kingdom for ever
C.
Amen.
P.
The peace of the Lord be with you always
C.
And also with you.
O.
Let us give one another a sign of reconciliation and peace.
29
THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD
P.
The bread which we break
is the communion of the Body of Christ,
the cup of blessing for which we give thanks
is the communion in the Blood of Chris.
30
LAMB OF GOD
C.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb
of God, you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb
of God, you take away the sins of the world,
grant us peace.
31
COMMUNION
32
THANKSGIVING PRAYER
P.
In peace let us pray to the Lord:
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for uniting us by baptism in the Body of Christ
and for filling us with joy in the eucharist.
Lead us towards the full visible unity of your Church
and help us to treasure all the signs of reconciliation
you have granted us.
Now that we have tasted of the banquet
you have prepared for us in the world to come,
may we all one day share together
the inheritance of the saints
in the life of your heavenly city,
through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
ever one God, world without end.
C.
Amen.
33
FINAL HYMN
34
WORD OF MISSION
35
BLESSING
P.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favour and give you peace.
Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
bless you now and forever.
C.
Amen. |