THE HOLY EUCHARIST: RITES I & II

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
After supper he took the cup of wine; 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. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament commanded by Christ for the continual remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection, until his coming again.
The Holy Eucharist is also called The Lord’s Supper and Holy Communion, The Divine Liturgy, The Mass, and the Great Offering.

The outward and visible sign in the Eucharist is bread and wine, given and received according to Christ’s command. The inward and spiritual Grace in the Holy communion is the Body and Blood of Christ given to his people, and received by faith. The benefits we receive in the Lord’s Supper are the forgiveness of our sins, the strengthening of our union with Christ and one another, and the foretaste of the heavenly banquet which is our nourishment in eternal life.

                      Concerning the Celebration

It is the bishop’s prerogative, when present, to be the principal celebrant at the Lord’s Table, and
to preach the Gospel.

At all celebrations of the Liturgy, it is fitting that the principal celebrant, whether bishop or priest, be assisted by other priests, and by deacons and lay persons.

It is appropriate that the other priests present stand with the celebrant at the Altar, and join in the consecration of the gifts, in breaking of the Bread, and in distributing Communion.

A deacon should read the Gospel and may lead the Prayers of the People. Deacons should also serve at the Lord’s Table, preparing and placing on it the offerings of bread and wine, and assisting in the ministration of the Sacrament to the people. In the absence of a deacon, these duties may be performed by an assisting priest.

Lay persons appointed by the celebrant should normally be assigned the reading of the Lessons which precede the Gospel, and may lead the Prayers of the People.

Morning or Evening Prayer may be used in place of all that precedes the Peace and the Offertory, provided that a lesson from the Gospel is always included, and that the intercessions conform to the directions given for the Prayers of the People.
When the people are coming forward to receive communion, the celebrant receives the Sacrament in both kinds. The bishops, priest and deacons at the Holy table then communicate, and after them the people.

Opportunity is always to be given to every communicate to receive the Consecrated Bread and Wine separately. But the Sacrament may be received in both kinds simultaneously, in a manner approved by the bishop.

In the absence of assisting priest or deacons, lay persons, licensed by the bishop according to the canon may administer the Chalice.

If any of the Consecrated Bread or Wine remain, apart from any which may be required for the Communion of the sick, or of others who for weighty cause could not be present at the celebration, or for the administration of Communion by a deacon to congregation when no priest is available, the celebrant or deacon, and other communicants, reverently eat and drink it, either after the Communion of the people or after the Dismissal.

If there is no Communion, all that is appointed through the Prayers of the People may be said. (If it is desired to include a Confession of Sin, the service begins with the Penitential Order.) A hymn or anthem may then be sung, and the offerings of the people received. The service may then conclude with the Lord’s Prayer; and with either the Grace or a blessing, or with the exchange of the Peace.
In the absence of a priest, all that is described above, except for the blessing, may be said by a deacon, or, if there is no deacon, by a lay reader.

Rite I is celebrated Sunday at 8:00AM. The service begins on page 323 in the Book of Common Prayer.

Rite II is celebrated Sunday at 10:30 AM. The service begins on page 355 in the Book Of Common Prayer.

      EVERYONE IS WELCOME AT THE TABLE OF THE LORD