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The Eucharist in the Epiphany Season


Structure


The Greeting

Prayers of Penitence, and Absolution

Bible Readings, and Sermon

Prayers of Intercession

The Peace

Preparation of the Altar

The Eucharistic Prayer

Breaking of the Bread

The Giving of Communion, and Prayer after Communion

Blessing, and Dismissal


 

Before the service begins we hear any notices/Banns of Marriage, and then hold a short time of silence.


The Gathering


A Hymn may be sung.



The Greeting

In the name of the Father

And of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit

Amen.


The Lord be with you.

and also with you.


The president introduces the service.



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

We are invited to confess our sins in these or other suitable words.

The grace of God has dawned upon the world

through our Saviour Jesus Christ,

who sacrificed himself for us to purify a people as his own.

Let us confess our sins.


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.



Absolution

May God who loved the world so much

that he sent his Son to be our Saviour

forgive us our sins

and make us holy to serve him in the world,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.



Gloria in Excelsis


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 time of prayer.

Grateful for the glory revealed today through God made flesh, let us pray.


Silence is kept.

O God,

who by the leading of a star

manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth:

mercifully grant that we,

who know you now by faith,

may at last behold your glory face to face;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Amen.





The Liturgy of the Word


We sit to hear readings from the Bible.

Old Testament Reading

After the reading:

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.



New Testament Reading


After the reading:

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.



Gospel Reading

We stand and face the Gospel book to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.
This acclamation may be used.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Christ was revealed in flesh,

proclaimed among the nations

and believed in throughout the world.

Alleluia.


When the Gospel is announced the reader says:

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

According to Matthew.

Glory to you, O Lord.


After the Gospel:

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.




Sermon

A sermon is preached. A short time of silence may follow.


Nicene Creed

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.

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

The president introduces the prayers in these or some other suitable words.

In the power of the Spirit,

and in union with Christ,

let us pray to the Father.


Please sit or kneel to pray.
The prayers may end with:

Merciful Father

Accept these prayers

For the sake of your Son

Our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.




The Liturgy of the Sacrament


Peace

Stand. The president introduces the Peace.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

since as members of one body you are called to peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.


We share a sign of God’s Peace with one another. The gifts are gathered and the altar is prepared. To give a financial offering, click here. A hymn is sung.




Preparation of the Table

When the altar is prepared, the following prayer is said.

Lord, accept your people’s gifts,

not gold, frankincense or myrrh,

but hearts and voices raised in praise of Jesus Christ,

our light and our salvation.

Amen



Eucharistic Prayer
Prayer B

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.

All honour and praise be yours always and everywhere,

mighty creator, ever-living God,

through Jesus Christ your only Son our Lord:

for at this time we celebrate your glory

made present in our midst.

In the coming of the Magi

the King of all the world was revealed to the nations.

In the waters of baptism

Jesus was revealed as the Christ,

the Saviour sent to redeem us.

In the water made wine

the new creation was revealed at the wedding feast.

Poverty was turned to riches, sorrow into joy.

Therefore with all the angels of heaven

we lift our voices to proclaim the glory of your name

and sing our joyful hymn of praise:


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.

Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness;

grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit,

and according to your holy will,

these gifts of bread and wine

may be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ;

who, in the same night that he was betrayed,

took bread and gave you 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 gave you thanks;

he gave it to them, saying:

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.


Great is the mystery of faith:

Christ has died:

Christ is risen:

Christ will come again.


And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross,

his perfect sacrifice made once for the sins of the whole world;

rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension,

and looking for his coming in glory,

we celebrate this memorial of our redemption.

As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving,

we bring before you this bread and this cup

and we thank you for counting us worthy

to stand in your presence and serve you.

Send the Holy Spirit on your people

and gather into one in your kingdom

all who share this one bread and one cup,

so that we, in the company of Mary, the mother of our Lord, and all the saints,

may praise and glorify you for ever,

through Jesus Christ our Lord;

by whom, and with whom, and in whom,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father,

for ever and ever.

Amen.



The Lord’s Prayer

Believing the promises of God,

as our Saviour taught us, so we pray:


Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be your name,

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done,

On earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

As we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

And the glory are yours

Now and forever.

Amen.


Breaking of the Bread

The president breaks the consecrated bread and says:

We break the bread of life,

and that life is the light of the world.

God here among us,

light in the midst of us,

bring us to light and life.



The Agnus Dei may be said or sung as the bread is broken:

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,

Have mercy on us.


Lamb of God,

You take away the sin of the world,

Grant us peace.



Giving of Communion

We are all invited to receive the sacrament.

God’s holy gifts

for God’s holy people.

Jesus Christ is holy,

Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.


All are welcome to come to receive Holy Communion or a Blessing. During the distribution of Communion Anthems and Hymns may be sung. Otherwise, silence is kept.



Prayer after Communion

This prayer is said.

Lord God,

the bright splendour whom the nations seek:

may we who with the wise men have been drawn by your light

discern the glory of your presence in your Son,

the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.


Almighty God,

We thank you for feeding us

With the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies

to be a living sacrifice.

Send us out in the power of your Spirit

To live and work to your praise and glory.

Amen.


A Hymn may be sung.


Blessing and Dismissal

Christ our Lord,

to whom kings bowed down in worship and offered gifts,

reveal to you his glory

and pour upon you the riches of his grace;

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.

In the name of Christ. Amen.






Copyright acknowledgement: Material used in this service is copyright: Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England © The Archbishops’ Council 2000; © Common Worship: Times & Seasons.

Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Monkseaton. Registered Charity No. 1131532

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