Order of Service

St. Clement’s Anglican Episcopal Church, Prague

Holy Communion

for the

Easter Season

‘Common Worship’ Order 1

in contemporary language

An Order for Virtual Eucharist

Please join in when the words are printed in bold type.

Opening Hymn

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.

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Words of welcome or introduction are said

Prayer of Preparation

Please sit or kneel:

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

Christ our passover lamb has been sacrificed for us.

Let us therefore rejoice by putting away all malice and evil

and confessing our sins with a sincere and true heart.

1 Corinthians 5.7,8

or

Christ died to sin once for all, and now he lives to God.

Let us renew our resolve to have done with all that is evil

and confess our sins in penitence and faith. cf Romans 6.10

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.

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.

Amen.

Gloria in Excelsis is sung:-

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 great 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. Amen.

The Collect

A short silence will be kept.

God of glory, by the raising of your Son you have broken the chains of death and hell: fill your Church with faith and hope; for a new day has dawned and the way to life stands open in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

Readings

FIRST READING Acts 10. 34-43

Peter began to speak to those assembled in the house of Cornelius: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ – he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

SECOND READING 1 Corinthians 15. 19-26

If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Gradual Hymn

The Gospel reading

Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.

Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,

and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.’

Alleluia. John 11.25,26

or

Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the first and the last, says the Lord, and the living one;

I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore. cf Revelation 1.17,18

Alleluia.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John

Glory to you, O Lord.

HOLY GOSPEL John 20. 1-18

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

The 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,
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

One of the following responses may be used.

And at the end

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

The Peace

The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples

and said, ‘Peace be with you.’

Then were they glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia.

or

The two disciples told what had happened on the road to Emmaus,

and how Jesus had been made known to them in the

breaking of the bread. Alleluia.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

and also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

All may exchange a sign of peace

Preparation of the Table

Taking of the Bread & Wine

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation.

In your loving care you spread before us the table of life

and give us the cup of salvation to drink.

Keep us always in the fold of our Saviour and our Shepherd,

your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessed be God for ever.

The Eucharistic Prayer

Please remain standing

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.

(If an extended preface is used, it replaces all words between the opening dialogue and the Sanctus.)

It is indeed right,

it is our duty and our joy,    

at all times and in all places    

to give you thanks and praise,    

holy Father, heavenly King,    

almighty and eternal God,

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

And now we give you thanks

because through him you have given us eternal life

and delivered us from the bondage of sin and the fear of death into the glorious liberty of the children of God

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:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full, full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. 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.

The Lord’s Prayer

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 for ever.
Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

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.

Agnus Dei is sung:

Jesus, Lamb of God:
have mercy on us.

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

Jesus, redeemer, redeemer of the world:
give us your peace – give us your peace.

Giving of Communion

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 he died for you,
and feed on him in your hearts
by faith with thanksgiving.

The body of Christ, broken for you.

The blood of Christ, shed for you. Amen.

Prayer after Communion

Please sit or kneel

Silence is kept.

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.

The Dismissal

Announcements are made

Final Hymn

Blessing and Dismissal

God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, make you perfect in every good work to do his will; and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.

Amen.

He is not here. He is risen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.

In the name of Christ. Amen. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or

With the power that raised Jesus from the dead

at work within you,

go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.

In the name of Christ. Amen. Alleluia, alleluia.

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000

Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2006.