The Gathering

Our worship begins at the sound of the bell, please stand as the sacred ministers enter, during which the introit hymn is sung.

We hail thy presence glorious,
O Christ our great High Priest,
o’er sin and death victorious,
at thy thanksgiving feast:
as thou art interceding
for us in heav’n above,
thy Church on earth is pleading
thy perfect work of love.

Through thee in ev’ry nation
thine own their hearts upraise,
off’ring one pure oblation,
one sacrifice of praise:
with thee in blest communion
the living and the dead
are joined in closest union,
one Body with one Head.

O living bread from heaven,
Jesu, our Saviour good,
who thine own self hast given
to be our souls’ true food;
for us thy body broken
hung on the cross of shame:
this bread its hallowed token
we break in thy dear name.

O stream of love unending,
poured from the one true vine,
with our weak nature blending
the strength of life divine;
our thankful faith confessing
in thy life-blood outpoured,
we drink this cup of blessing
and praise thy name, O Lord.

May we, thy word believing,
thee through thy gifts receive,
that, thou within us living,
we all to God may live;
draw us from earth to heaven
till sin and sorrow cease,
forgiving and forgiven,
in love and joy and peace.

Words: Richard Godfrey Parsons (1882-1948)
Music: melody adapted from Michael Haydn (1737-1806)
Hymn Tune: OFFERTORIUM

In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The Greeting

Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you

and also with you.

Words of Welcome

Prayers of Penitence

As we prepare to celebrate the mystery of God’s love,
revealed in Word and Sacrament,
let us call to mind our sins.

Silence is kept.

Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life:
Lord have mercy.

Lord have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you forgive our sins:
Christ have mercy.

Christ have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you feed us with your body and blood:
Lord have mercy.

Lord have mercy.

May almighty God,
who sent his Son into the world to save sinners,
bring you his pardon and peace,
now and for ever.

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 period of silent prayer with the words ‘Let us pray’.

Lord Jesus Christ,
we thank you that in this wonderful sacrament
you have given us the memorial of your passion:
grant us so to reverence the sacred mysteries
of your body and blood
that we may know within ourselves and show forth in our lives
the fruits of your redemption;
for you are alive and reign with the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word

Please sit.

A reading from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. 

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

1 Corinthians 11.23-26

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Please stand as the gradual hymn is sung. During the hymn a procession will make its way to the centre of the nave from where the Gospel for the day is read. To symbolise our desire to turn to Christ in our daily lives, at the end of the hymn we remain standing and turn to face the place where the Gospel is proclaimed.

Sweet sacrament divine,
hid in thine earthly home,
lo, round thy lowly shrine,
with suppliant hearts we come;
Jesu, to thee our voice we raise
in songs of love and heartfelt praise:
sweet sacrament divine,
sweet sacrament divine.

Sweet sacrament of rest,
ark from the ocean’s roar,
within thy shelter blest
soon may we reach the shore;
save us, for still the tempest raves,
save, lest we sink beneath the waves:
sweet sacrament of rest,
sweet sacrament of rest.

Sweet sacrament divine,
earth’s light and jubilee,
in thy far depths doth shine
thy Godhead’s majesty;
sweet light, so shine on us, we pray,
that earthly joys may fade away:
sweet sacrament divine,
sweet sacrament divine. 

Words & Music: Francis Stanfield (1835-1914)
Hymn Tune: DIVINE MYSTERIES

Gospel Reading

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

Glory to you, O Lord.

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live for ever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live for ever.”

 John 6.51-58

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Please sit after the preacher leads us in prayer.

Prayers of Intercession

Following an invitation to pray from the intercessor we kneel or sit to pray:

We pray to the Lord.
Lord, listen to the prayers of your people,
gathered at your table.

In faith we pray:

we pray to you our God.

Here, where we celebrate how Christ gave us his body
to be our spiritual food,
listen as we pray for his body the Church,
spread throughout the world …

In faith we pray:

we pray to you our God.

Here, where we recognise the presence of Christ,
who takes away the sin of the world,
listen as we pray for that world
and for its peoples for whom his blood was shed …

In faith we pray:

we pray to you our God.

Here, where we come together as Christ gathered with his
friends to give us this meal of holy fellowship,
listen as we pray for all whom you have given us,
our friends and all whose lives are joined with ours …

In faith we pray:

we pray to you our God.

Here, where we remember the night of Christ’s agony and trial,
listen as we pray for all who share his sufferings
through fear or pain or distress of many kinds …

In faith we pray:

we pray to you our God.

Here, where we join our praises with the whole company of heaven, listen as we pray for all who have trusted Christ’s promise to raise up on the last day those who eat his flesh and drink his blood …

In faith we pray:

we pray to you our God.

Lord, satisfy our hunger with the food that lasts,
the bread of God which comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world,
Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

Amen. 

Prayer for Servers and Lay Eucharistic Ministers

After the prayers those who serve in the sanctuary in any capacity or who distribute the Sacrament to those unable to get to church gather at the steps of the sanctuary and this prayer is said.

Strengthen for service, O God
the hearts and minds,
hands and voices
of these your servants.
May they be ever mindful
of the privilege of serving you
whether here at the altar
or visiting the homes of your people
and bringing the hope and new life
of our Saviour Jesus Christ
to all who seek him.

Amen.

The Liturgy of the Sacrament

Please stand.

The Peace

Our Lord Jesus Christ says:
If, when you are bringing your gift to the altar,
you remember your brother or sister has a grievance against you,
leave your gift where it lies before the altar.
Go, make peace; and only then come and offer your gift.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

and also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

This is usually a handshake shared with those near you.

Preparation of the Table

The table is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it.

A hymn is sung.

Alleluia, sing to Jesus,
his the sceptre, his the throne;
alleluia, his the triumph,
his the victory alone:
hark, the songs of peaceful Sion
thunder like a mighty flood:
Jesus, out of ev’ry nation,
hath redeemed us by his blood.

Alleluia, not as orphans
are we left in sorrow now;
alleluia, he is near us,
faith believes, nor questions how;
though the cloud from sight received him
when the forty days were o’er,
shall our hearts forget his promise,
‘I am with you evermore’?

Alleluia, bread of angels,
thou on earth our food, our stay;
alleluia, here the sinful
flee to thee from day to day;
intercessor, friend of sinners,
earth’s redeemer, plead for me,
where the songs of all the sinless
sweep across the crystal sea.

Alleluia, King eternal,
thee the Lord of lords we own;
alleluia, born of Mary,
earth thy footstool, heav’n thy throne;
thou within the veil hast entered
robed in flesh, our great High Priest;
thou on earth both priest and victim
in the Eucharistic Feast.

Words: William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898)
Music: Rowland Huw Pritchard (1811-1887)
arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Hymn Tune: HYFRYDOL

Taking of the Bread and Wine

Be present, be present Lord Jesus Christ.
Make yourself known in the breaking of the bread.

Amen.

The Eucharistic Prayer

Please kneel or sit.

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 and good,
our duty and our salvation
always and everywhere to give you thanks and praise
holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Jesus Christ our great high priest.
He offered himself to you as the Lamb without blemish,
the acceptable gift that gives you perfect praise.
At the Last Supper, seated with his apostles,
he left this memorial of his passion
to bring us its saving power until the end of time.
In this great sacrament you feed your people
and strengthen them in holiness,
so that throughout the world the human family
may be enlightened by one faith
and drawn together in one communion of love.

We come to this foretaste of your heavenly banquet
to be transformed by your grace
and restored in the image and likeness of the risen Christ.
Therefore, earth unites with heaven
to sing a new song of praise;
we too join with angels and archangels
as they proclaim your glory without end:

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. 

Accept our praises, heavenly Father,
through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ,
and as we follow his example and obey his command,
grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit
these gifts of bread and wine
may be to us his body and his blood;

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.

Therefore, heavenly Father,
we remember his offering of himself
made once for all upon the cross;
we proclaim his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension;
we look for the coming of your kingdom,
and with this bread and this cup
we make the memorial of Christ your Son our Lord.

Great is the mystery of faith:

Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.

Accept through him, our great high priest,
this our sacrifice of thanks and praise,
and as we eat and drink these holy gifts
in the presence of your divine majesty,
renew us by your Spirit,
inspire us with your love
and unite us in the body of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him, and with him, and in him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
with all who stand before you in earth and heaven,
we worship you, Father almighty,
in songs of everlasting praise:

Blessing and honour and glory and power
be yours for ever and ever.
Amen.

Silence is kept.

The Lord’s Prayer

Rejoicing in the presence of God here among us,
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

The president breaks the consecrated bread.

Jesus is the living bread which came down from heaven;
if anyone eats of this bread, they will live for ever.

Lord, give us this bread always.

The Agnus Dei is sung as the bread is broken for distribution. 

Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.

Jesus, bearer of our sins,
have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the world,
grant us peace. 

Invitation to Communion

This is the bread of God which has come down from heaven
and gives life to the world.

Lord, give us this bread always.

The president and people receive communion. All baptised Christians are welcome to receive the sacrament. Please follow the guidance offered by the stewards.

If you are not baptised, or would prefer to not receive, then do still come forward for a blessing bringing this book with you so the president knows your intention.

The sacrament is available in both kinds, however if you wish to only receive the bread please do so and then return to your place. Receiving in one kind is still considered to be full communion by the Church of England. Please do not dip bread in the wine (sometimes called ‘intincting’). 

For those at home it might be helpful to use this prayer during the distribution.

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O Good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds hide me.
Permit me not to be separated from you.
From the wicked foe, defend me.
At the hour of my death, call me
and bid me come to you.
That with your saints I may praise you,
for ever and ever. Amen.

The following communion hymn may be sung during the distribution as time allows. Please remain seated.

Soul of my Saviour, sanctify my breast;
body of Christ, be thou my saving guest;
blood of my Saviour, bathe me in thy tide,
wash me with water flowing from thy side.

Strength and protection may thy passion be;
O blessèd Jesus, hear and answer me;
deep in thy wounds, Lord, hide and shelter me;
so shall I never, never part from thee.

Guard and defend me from the foe malign;
in death’s dread moments make me only thine;
call me, and bid me come to thee on high,
where I may praise thee with thy saints for aye.

Words: Ascribed to Pope John XXII (1249-1334), translation unknown
Music: William Joseph Maher (1823-1877)
Hymn Tune: ANIMA CHRISTI

The Post Communion Prayer

Please stand with the president who introduces a time of silent prayer with the words ‘Let us pray’.

All praise to you, our God and Father,
for you have fed us with the bread of heaven
and quenched our thirst from the true vine:
hear our prayer that, being grafted into Christ,
we may grow together in unity
and feast with him in his kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

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.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

Please kneel or sit as the choir sing an anthem while the altar is prepared. 

Ave verum corpus,
natum ex Maria virgine;
vere passum, immolatum
in cruce pro homine.

Cujus latus perforatum
vero fluxit sanguine.
Esto nobis praegustatum,
mortis in examine,
O clemens, O pie,
O dulcis Jesu, fili Mariae.

Words: 14th century
Music: Edward Elgar (1857-1934)

English Translation:
Hail, true Body, born of the Virgin Mary,
having truly suffered, sacrificed on the cross for mankind,
from whose pierced side water and blood flowed,
be for us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet in the trial of death.
O sweet Jesus, O holy Jesus, son of Mary, have mercy on me.

The Blessed Sacrament is brought in procession through the congregation and placed on the altar. 

We remain kneeling or seated as we sing:

Hymn: O salutaris hostia

O Saving Victim, opening wide
the gates of heav’n to man below:
our foes press hard on every side;
thine aid supply, thy strength bestow. 

All praise and thanks to thee ascend
for evermore, blest One in Three;
O grant us life that shall not end
in our true native land with thee. 

St Thomas Aquinas (1227–1274)
translated by John Mason Neale (1818–1866)
Music: adapted by Edward Miller (1735-1807)
Hymn Tune: ROCKINGHAM

After a period of silent adoration, the President continues:

Blessed, praised and hallowed be Jesus Christ on his throne of glory.

And in the most holy Sacrament of the altar. 

We remain kneeling or seated as we sing:

Hymn: Tantum ergo

Therefore we, before him bending,
this great sacrament revere:
types and shadows have their ending,
for the newer rite is here;
faith, our outward sense befriending,
makes our inward vision clear.

Glory let us give and blessing
to the Father and the Son,
honour, might and praise addressing,
while eternal ages run;
ever too his love confessing,
who, from both, with both is one.

Words: St Thomas Aquinas (1227-1274)
translated John Mason Neale (1818-1866),
Edward Caswall (1814-1878) and others
Music: French melody (1881)
Hymn Tune: TANTUM ERGO (GRAFTON)

The President continues:

You gave them bread from heaven. Alleluia!

Containing in itself all sweetness. Alleluia!

Lord, you feed your children with the true manna,
the living bread from heaven:
let this holy food support us through our earthly pilgrimage
until we come to the place
where there is neither hunger nor thirst;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

Benediction and the Divine Praises

The president blesses the congregation with the Blessed Sacrament and then leads the Divine Praises.

Blessed be God.

Blessed be God.

Blessed be his holy name.

Blessed be his holy name.

Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.

Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.

Blessed be the name of Jesus.

Blessed be the name of Jesus.

Blessed be his most sacred heart.

Blessed be his most sacred heart.

Blessed be his most precious blood.

Blessed be his most precious blood.

Blessed be Jesus in the most holy sacrament of the altar.

Blessed be Jesus in the most holy sacrament of the altar.

Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.

Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.

Blessed be the name of Mary, virgin and mother.

Blessed be the name of Mary, virgin and mother.

Blessed be God in his angels and in his saints.

Blessed be God in his angels and in his saints.

Hymn

We stand to sing a final hymn, during which the Blessed Sacrament is removed from the altar. 

All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
This our song shall ever be;
for we have no hope nor Saviour
if we have not hope in thee.

All for Jesus, thou wilt give us
strength to serve thee hour by hour:
none can move us from thy presence
whilst we trust thy love and pow’r.

All for Jesus, at thine altar
thou dost give us sweet content;
there, dear Saviour, we receive thee
in thy holy sacrament.

All for Jesus, thou hast loved us,
all for Jesus, thou hast died,
all for Jesus, thou art with us,
all for Jesus, glorified!

All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
This the Church’s song shall be,
till at last the flock is gathered
one in love, and one in thee.

Words: William John Sparrow-Simpson (1859-1952)
Music: John Stainer (1840-1901)
Hymn Tune: ALL FOR JESUS