The Eucharist
In this service—sometimes known as communion or the Lord’s Supper—we remember Jesus’ last meal with his disciples. Christians understand the eucharist as many things: a memorial for Jesus’ death, a thanksgiving, a sacrifice of praise we offer to God, a meal we share together now and as a foretaste of the feast to come, a mystery that conveys the grace of God in bread and wine. Much of the enduring power of this ancient worship service is due to the multiple meanings it can have for individual believers. The readings, music, ritual, light, bread and wine all combine to help us to meet God in this place.
At New College the music of the choir raises our prayers to God, freeing us to reflect and contemplate. But there is no audience in Christian worship. While the priest is the president—the one who presides at the table—we the people of God all together celebrate the feast of worship. We hope that you will join us as we remember, give thanks, offer ourselves, and come together to celebrate the feast.
Corpus Christi
Thursday 3rd June 2021
Music in tonight's service:
Bednall, Mass Ordinary
Introit: Cibavit eos
Byrd, O salutaris hostia
Alleluia: Caro mea
Byrd, Ave verum
The Gathering
Please stand.
President In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
All Amen.
The Lord be with you
All and with your spirit.
From Easter Day to Pentecost this acclamation follows:
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
All He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
The President introduces the prayer of preparation:
All 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
The grace of God has dawned upon the
world with healing for all.
Let us come to him, in sorrow for our sins,
seeking healing and salvation. cf Titus 2.11
Please sit or kneel for the prayer of confession, Kyrie, and absolution.
All 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.
The choir may sing the Kyrie.
Choir Kyrie eleison, Lord have mercy,
Christe eleison, Christ have mercy,
Kyrie eleison. Lord have mercy.
Pres. Almighty God,
who forgives all who truly repent,
have mercy upon you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in life eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All Amen.
Gloria in Excelsis
Please stand while the choir sings the Gloria. The Gloria is not sung in Advent or Lent.
The Collect
The president introduces a period of silent prayer with the words ‘Let us pray’ or a more specific bidding.
The prayer for the day is said or sung.
All Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
Reading
Please sit for the first reading. At the end the reader may say:
This is the word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
The choir sings the Alleluia.
Gospel Reading
Please stand. When the Gospel is announced the reader says or sings:
The Lord be with you.
All And with your spirit.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to N.
All Glory to you, O Lord.
At the end of the Gospel the reader says or sings:
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All Praise to you, O Christ.
A short address may follow, for which all sit.
Prayers of Intercession
Please sit or kneel for the prayers of intercession. One of these responses may be used:
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
(or)
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
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
The Peace
Please stand for the peace.
The president introduces the peace with a suitable sentence and then says:
The peace of the Lord be always with you
All and with your spirit.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
All may exchange a sign of peace by saying ‘Peace be with you’.
Preparation of the Altar
Remain standing as the altar is prepared.
The president may say a prayer over the elements, to which the response is:
All Blessed be God forever.
The Eucharistic Prayer
The president says or sings:
The president continues the prayer, praising God for his mighty acts, and concluding:
Therefore with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we proclaim your great and glorious name,
for ever praising you and singing:
The choir sings the Sanctus and Benedictus
Choir
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord,
Dominus Deus Sabaoth God of power and might,
Pleni sunt cœli et terra gloria tua, Heaven and earth are full of
your glory,
Hosanna in excelsis Hosanna in the highest
Benedictus qui venit in Blessed is He who comes in the
nomine Domini name of the Lord,
Hosanna in excelsis. Hosanna in the highest.
The congregation kneels as the president continues the prayer.
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.
All 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 the Blessed Virgin Mary 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.
All Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
After a brief silence the president introduces the Lord’s Prayer:
Breaking of the Bread
The president breaks the consecrated bread.
We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ.
All Though we are many, we are one body,
because we all share in one bread.
Agnus Dei
The congregation remains kneeling as the choir sings the Agnus Dei.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata Lamb of God,
mundi, miserere nobis. you take away the sin of the world.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata Lamb of God,
mundi, miserere nobis. you take away the sin of the world.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata Lamb of God,
mundi, dona nobis pacem. you take away the sin of the world
grant us peace.
Draw near with faith. Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave for you, and his blood which he shed for you.
Eat and drink in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts, by faith, with thanksgiving.
All who seek to follow Christ are invited to receive communion. Please come forward at the direction of the verger.
In accordance with the coronavirus guidelines, communion is in one kind – there is no common cup. Please use the hand sanitizer provided. The priest will place the wafer into your outstretched hands. Please keep silence, remove your mask to consume the host and then replace your mask. If you wish to receive a gluten-free wafer there will be a sign for you to indicate this by pointing. If you prefer to receive a blessing, please indicate this by crossing your arms across your chest.
Prayer after Communion
After a brief silence, the president may say the seasonal post-communion prayer, then introduces the following prayer:
Almighty God,
All 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.
The Dismissal
Please stand for the following or another seasonal blessing.
The peace of God,
which passes 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 Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
All Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
All In the name of Christ. Amen.
Or from Easter to Pentecost.
Go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia, Alleluia.
All Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Please remain standing as the choir and clergy depart.