The Holy Communion, 1866
(The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper shall be administered publicly in the Church, in every Congregation, at least twice a year, and if possible oftener.)
Having taken his place at the altar, the Congregation also standing up, the minister shall say as follows:
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
DEARLY BELOVED IN THE LORD. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us; but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Let us therefore humble ourselves before the throne of Almighty God, our heavenly Father, and confess our manifold sins and trangressions with lowly and contrite hearts, that we may obtain forgiveness of the same through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Then the Minister and Congregation shall kneel, and repeat the following Confession.
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who dost admit thy people unto such wonderful communion, that partaking of the body and blood of thy dear Son, they should dwell in Him, and He in them; we unworthy sinners, approaching to thy presence, and beholding thy glory, do abhor ourselves, and repent in dust and ashes. We have sinned , we have sinned, we have grievously sinned against Thee, in thought, in word, and in deed, provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. The remembrance of our transgressions and shortcomings fills us with sorrow and shame. Yet now, O most merciful Father, have mercy upon us; for the sake of Jesus Christ, forgive us all our sins; purify us, by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, from all inward uncleanness; enable us heartily to forgive others, as we beseech Thee to forgive us; and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please Thee in newness of life; to the honor and glory of thy name, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Then shall the Minister rise, and pronounce to the Congregation, still kneeling, the following Declaration of Pardon.
HEARKEN now unto the comforting assurance of the grace of God, promised in the Gospel to all that repent and believe: As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Unto as many of you, therefore, beloved brethren, as truly repent of your sins, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, with full purpose of new obedience, I announce and declare, by the authority and in the name of Christ, that your sins are forgiven in heaven, according to his promise in the Gospel, through the perfect merit of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Here, and at the end of every Collect and Prayer, the Congregation shall say:
Amen.
The Congregation shall now rise, and join with the Minister in repeating the Nicene Creed; immediately after which shall be sung, chanted or recited, the Gloria in Excelsis, all in the following order.
WE BELIEVE in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible:
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten not made; of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made: who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man: who was also crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried; and the third day rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father; and shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead; of whose kingdom there shall be no end.
And we believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord, the Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the prophets; in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We confess one baptism for the remission of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
Praise ye the Lord.
The Lord's name be praised.
GLORY be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will toward men. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.
For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord; Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
Then shall the Minister read the proper Gospel and Epistle for the day.
After the reading, the service shall proceed thus, the Congregation rising:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Here shall be offered the Collect for the day and the Festival Prayer.
A suitable Psalm or Hymn shall then be sung.
After this, the Minister having taken his place in the pulpit, shall proceed to deliver a brief Sermon. Or, instead of this, he may read a lesson of moderate length, taken from the Holy Gospels, on the history of Christ's Passion and Death.
Then shall follow a collection of the Offerings of the people, to be devoted to the service of the poor, or to some benevolent purpose; during which the Minister, standing at the altar, shall read some of the following Sentences from the Holy Scriptures.
He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. As it is written, he hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth forever.
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
To do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again.
I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to suport the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
The collection shall be brought by the Deacons, in a proper vessel provided for the purpose, to the Minister; who shall then reverently place it upon the altar, as an oblation presented unto God.
After this, the Minister shall uncover and expose to view the vessels containing the bread and wine for the use of the Holy Sacrament, and proceed as follows:
Let us pray.
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who by the blood of thy dear Son hast consecrated for us a new and living way into the holiest of all; cleanse our minds, we beseech Thee, by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we, thy redeemed people, drawing near unto Thee in these holy mysteries, with a true heart and undefiled conscience, in full assurance of faith, may offer unto Thee an acceptable sacrifice in righteousness, and worthily magnify thy great and glorious name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Then shall the Minister pronounce, slowly and solemnly, either the whole, or some part, of the following selection of passages from the Holy Scriptures.
Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread which I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
Then, the whole Congregation rising, the service shall proceed.
The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up unto the Lord.
Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God.
It is meet and right so to do.
It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, Lord God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.
Thou didst in the beginning create all things for Thyself. By thy word were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of thy mouth. The armies of the invisible world, angels and archangels, thrones, dominions, principalities and powers; the glorious firmament on high, sun, moon, and stars; the earth and the fullness thereof; all are the work of thy hands, and all are upheld by Thee continually in their appointed order and course.
Thou also at the first didst make man in thine own image, and after thine own likeness, and didst set him over the works of thy hands, endowing him with the excellent gift of righteousness, and forming him for immortality. And when afterwards, through the fraud and malice of Satan, he fell by transgression from that first estate, Thou didst not leave him still to perish utterly in his fall, but wast pleased to raise him up again and to restore him to the joyful hope of everlasting life, by the promise of redemption through Jesus Christ; who, being God of God, very God of very God, dwelling in the bosom of the Father with unspeakable blessedness from all eternity, at last, when the fulness of the time was come, came down from heaven, and became man, for us men and for our salvation.
For all thy mercies and favors, known to us and unknown, we give Thee thanks. But most of all, we praise Thee, the Father everlasting, for the gift of thine adorable, true, and only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who by his appearing hath abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. We bless Thee for his holy incarnation; for his life on earth; for his precious sufferings and death upon the cross; for his resurrection from the dead; and for his glorious ascension to thy right hand. We bless Thee for the giving of the Holy Ghost; for the institution of the Church; for the means of grace; for the hope of everlasting life; and for the glory which shall be brought unto us at the coming, and in the kingdom, of thy dear Son.
Thee, mighty God, heavenly King, we magnify and praise. With patriarchs and prophets, apostles and martyrs; with the holy Church throughout all the world; with the heavenly Jerusalem, the joyful assembly and congregation of the first-born on high; with the innumerable company of angels round about thy throne, the heaven of heavens, and all the powers therein; we worship and adore thy glorious name, joining in the song of the Cherubim and Seraphim:
Here let the people join aloud in the Seraphic Hymn.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
Then the Minister shall proceed:
THE LORD JESUS, THE SAME NIGHT IN WHICH HE WAS BETRAYED,
here he shall take some of the bread into his hand
TOOK BREAD; AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS, HE BRAKE IT,
here he shall break the bread
AND SAID, TAKE, EAT, THIS IS MY BODY WHICH IS BROKEN FOR YOU; THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.
AFTER THE SAME MANNER ALSO,
here he shall take the cup into his hands
HE TOOK THE CUP, WHEN HE HAD SUPPED, SAYING, THIS CUP IS THE NEW TESTAMENT IN MY BLOOD; THIS DO YE AS OFTEN AS YE DRINK IT, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.
Let us pray.
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, send down, we beseech Thee, the powerful benediction of thy Holy Spirit upon these elements of bread and wine, that being set apart now from a common to a sacred and mystical use, they may exhibit and represent to us with true effect the body and blood of thy Son, Jesus Christ; so that in the use of them we may be made, through the power of the Holy Ghost, to partake really and truly of his blessed life, whereby only we can be saved from death, and raised to immortality at the last day.
Amen.
AND be pleased now, O most merciful Father, graciously to receive at our hands this memorial of the blessed sacrifice of thy Son; in union with which we offer and present unto Thee, O Lord, the reasonable sacrifice of our own persons; consecrating ourselves on the altar of the Gospel, in soul and body, property and life, to thy most blessed service and praise. Look upon us through the mediation of our great High Priest. Make us accepted in the Beloved; and let his name be as a pure and holy incense, through which all our worship may come up before Thee, as the odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.
Amen.
REMEMBER in mercy, we beseech Thee, thy Church militant throughout the whole earth. Let her ministers be clothed with righteousness, and her priests with salvation. Build up her desolations; restore her disorders; heal her divisions; and grant unto her prosperity, safety, unity and peace.
Amen.
WE commend unto Thee especially this particular church and congregation, pastor, elders, deacons, and people, beseeching Thee to accept their piety and faith, and to increase toward them thy heavenly grace, so that they may come behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
WE pray for all estates of men in Christian lands; for kings, princes, and governors, and for the people committed to their charge and care; especially for thy servant the President of the United States, and for all the rulers of this land and nation. Make us a righteous people, and give us power to serve Thee in quietness and peace.
Amen.
VOUCHSAFE unto us, we beseech Thee, favorable weather, that the fruits of the earth may ripen and be gathered in for us in due season; and be pleased of thy great goodness to preserve us from war, pestilence, and famine.
Amen.
SEND forth thy light and thy truth unto the ends of the earth; cause the glorious Gospel of thy grace to be proclaimed among all nations; and powerfully incline the hearts of men everywhere, that they may hear and obey the joyful sound.
Amen.
REGARD in tender compassion those among thy people, who are called to suffer heavy affliction, or sore temptation and trial of any kind: and be Thou graciously nigh unto them with thy divine help, according to all their need.
Amen.
ESPECIALLY do we commend unto Thee those departing this life. Let the arms of thy love be round about them in their last hour; defend them against the assaults of the Devil; enable them joyfully to commit their spirits into thy hands; and so receive them to thy rest.
Amen.
O GOD, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named; we rejoice before Thee in the blessed communion of all thy saints, wherein Thou givest us also to have part. We praise Thee for the holy fellowship of patriarchs and prophets, apostles and martyrs, and the whole glorious company of the redeemed of all ages, who have died in the Lord, and now live with Him for evermore. We give thanks unto Thee for thy great grace and many gifts bestowed on those who have gone before us in the way of salvation, and by whom we are now compassed about, in our Christian course, as a cloud of witnesses looking down upon us from the heavenly world. Enable us to follow their faith, that we may enter at death into their joy; and so abide with them in rest and peace, till both they and we shall reach our common consummation of redemption and bliss in the glorious resurrection of the last day.
Amen.
Here let the people join aloud in the Lord's Prayer.
OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
Amen.
The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Amen.
Here the Holy Communion shall take place. While a sacramental hymn is sung, the people shall present themselves in front of the altar, reverently and devoutly standing. The officiating minister shall first receive the Communion in both kinds himself, and administer the same to his assistants; and he shall then proceed with their help to administer it, first to the elders and deacons, and afterward to the people; distributing first the bread and then the cup.
Giving the bread, the Minister shall say:
The bread which we break, is the Communion of the body of Christ.
Giving the cup, the Minister shall say:
The cup of blessing which we bless, is the Communion of the blood of Christ.
After the people have communed in both kinds, the Minister shall say:
MAY the Holy Communion of the body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, keep and preserve you, each one, in body, soul, and spirit, unto everlasting life.
Amen.
Depart in peace.
When all have communed, the Minister shall say:
Let us pray.
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, we give Thee most hearty thanks for the goodness Thou hast shown toward us at this time, in vouchsafing to feed us, through these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious body and blood of thy Son, our Savior Jesus Christ; assuring us thereby, that we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of thy Son, and heirs through hope of thine everlasting kingdom, by the merits of his most blessed death and passion. And we most humbly beseech Thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as Thou hast prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without end.
Amen.
Then shall be said or chanted, the Ambrosian Hymn (Te Deum laudamus), as follows:
We praise Thee, O God:
We acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship Thee, the Father everlasting.
To Thee all angels cry aloud; the heavens and all the powers therein.
To Thee cherubim and seraphim continually do cry:
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth.
Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory.
The glorious company of the apostles praise Thee.
The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise Thee.
The noble army of martyrs praise Thee.
The holy Church, throughout all the world, doth acknowledge Thee.
The Father of an infinite majesty;
Thine adorable, true, and only Son;
Also, the Holy Ghost, the Comforter.
Thou art the King of glory, O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
When Thou tookest upon Thee to deliver man, Thou didst humble thyself to be born of a Virgin.
When Thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, Thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.
We believe that Thou shalt come to be our judge.
We therefore pray Thee, help thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
Make them to be numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting.
O Lord, save thy people, and bless thy heritage.
Govern them, and lift them up forever.
Day by day we magnify Thee;
And we worship thy name ever, world without end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.
O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.
O Lord, let thy mercy be upon us, as our trust in Thee.
O Lord, in Thee have I trusted; let me never be confounded.
After which the Minister shall close the whole service with this Benediction.
The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always.
Amen.
Order of Worship for the Reformed Church in the United States (Philadelphia: The Publication and Sunday School Board of the Reformed Church in the United States, 1866) pp. 143-156. Copyright Public Domain.