This Service of the Word closely follows the pattern of the liturgy of
the Word in the Holy Communion, Second Order. An exception is the location of the Invitation to Confession,
Confession of Sin, and Prayer for Forgiveness. They may be said at the
beginning of the service or after the Sermon or less formal exposition of
Scripture as a response to the Sermon or teaching. A collection may be taken and
solemnly dedicated after the Prayers of Intercession. The service concludes
with an optional Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication, a Benediction, and an optional
Dismissal. The service may be tailored to the circumstances of the particular congregation
using it, and may be lead by a lay person. In its simplest form it consists of Invitation
to Confession, Confession of Sin, and Prayer for Forgiveness, Collect of the Day,
Bible Readings, Creed, Prayers of Intercession, and Benediction. A designated
person preaches a sermon or explains one or more passages from the Readings or
members of the congregation share their thoughts on the Readings, particularly
how they are applicable to their lives.
At celebrations of Holy Communion the first three parts of the service may be used in place of all
that precedes the Greeting of the Peace. In this case a collection may be taken
and solemnly dedicated after the Greeting of the Peace. At such celebrations the
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Consecration from the Holy Communion, First Order, or one of the four Prayers of Thanksgiving
and Consecration from the Holy Communion, Second Order, may be used.
SERVICE OF THE
WORD
FIRST ORDER
GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME
The
minister may greet the people. The service may begin with one or more
songs or hymns of praise and thanksgiving.
The minister may say
this or another suitable Sentence of Scripture.
Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all
the earth! Psalm 96: 9
The minister says
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins,
God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Let us confess our sins to almighty God.
All
say together
Almighty God, our
heavenly Father
we have gone our
own way,
not loving you as
we ought,
nor loving our
neighbor as ourselves.
We have sinned
against you
in thought, word
and deed
and in what we
have failed to do.
We deserve your
condemnation.
Father, forgive
us.
Help us to love
you and our neighbor,
and to live for
your honor and glory;
through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
The
minister stands and says
Merciful Father,
we rejoice that you pardon and forgive
those who truly repent and trust in your Son.
Deliver us from all our sins,
confirm and strengthen us in all goodness,
and keep us in eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The ‘Glory to God in
the Highest’ or some other hymn of praise may be sung.
The Collect of the
Day
THE MINISTRY OF THE
WORD
Two or three Bible
readings are read, one from the Old Testament and one or two from the New
Testament. A brief period of
silence for reflection may follow each reading.
After each reading
the reader may say
Hear the word of the
Lord,
thanks be to God.
After the first
reading a psalm, a portion of a psalm, or a canticle may be sung or said. Metrical
versions of the psalms and canticles may be used here and elsewhere in the
service.
If three readings are
read, the reading from Gospel may be introduced with an alleluia or a suitable
hymn or song.
All stand for the
Gospel reading.
The reader may say
The Gospel of our
Lord Jesus Christ according to…[chapter…verse…]
Glory to you Lord
Jesus Christ.
After the Gospel, the
reader says
This is the Gospel of
the Lord
,
or
[For] the Gospel of
the Lord,
praise to you Lord
Jesus Christ.
The Sermon is preached
here or after the creed.
On Sundays the Nicene
Creed or the Apostles’ Creed is said or sung, all standing.
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:
he was incarnate of
the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary
and became truly
human.
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 and the Son,
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.
or
I believe in God, the
Father almighty,
creator of heaven and
earth.
I believe in Jesus
Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by
the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin
Mary,
suffered under
Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died,
and was buried;
he descended to the
dead.
On the third day he
rose again;
he ascended into
heaven,
and is seated at the
right hand of the Father,
from there he will
come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy
Spirit,
the holy catholic
Church,
the communion of
saints,
the forgiveness of
sins,
the resurrection of
the body,
and the life
everlasting. Amen.
The Sermon is
preached here if it has not been preached earlier.
A hymn or song may
follow.
THE PRAYERS OF THE
PEOPLE
One or more members
of the congregation may pray, using this form or a suitable alternative.
Almighty God, your
Son Jesus Christ has promised that you will hear us when we ask in faith:
receive the prayers we offer.
When
the following form is used, the names of particular persons or needs may be
added to the petitions; other similar petitions may be added..
In the power of the Spirit and in union with
Christ, let us pray to the Father.
For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare
of the Holy Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For N our bishop, for the leaders of our sister
Churches, and for all clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the spread of the gospel, for all laborers in
the harvest, [for …,] and for own witness, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For N our
President, for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority,
let us pray to the Lord.
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For this community, for every city, town and village,
and for all the people who live within them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For good weather, and for abundant harvests for all
to share, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those who travel by land, air, or water, for
the sick and the suffering, [for … ,] for
prisoners and captives, and for their safety, health and salvation, let us pray
to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For our deliverance from all affliction, strife and
need, and for the forgiveness of our sins and offences,
let us pray to the Lord.
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Giving thanks for [… and] all who have gone before
us in your faith and fear, we commend ourselves, and one another, and our whole
life to you, Lord God.
Here
silence may be kept.
The prayers conclude
with one of the following.
Merciful Father,
accept these our
prayers
for the sake of your
Son,
our Savior Jesus
Christ. Amen.
or
Accept our prayers
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who taught us to 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 forever.
Amen.
If a
collection is taken, a hymn or song may be sung.
The gifts of
the people may be brought to the Lord’s Table.
All may say
together
Lord, yours is the
greatness
and the power and the
glory
and the victory and
the majesty;
for all things come
from you
and of your own we
give you.
THE SENDING OUT OF GOD’s PEOPLE
All may say together
Loving
God, we thank you for hearing our prayers, feeding us with your word, and
encouraging us in our meeting together, take us and use
us to love and serve you and all people, in the power of your Spirit and in the
name of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
or
God of
wisdom, grant, we pray, that the words we have heard today may be grafted in our hearts so that they may
bring forth in us the fruit of good works to the honor and praise of your name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
or
Almighty God,
we thank you for the gift of your holy word.
May it be a lantern to our feet,
a light to our paths,
and a strength to our lives.
Take us and use us
to love and serve all people
in the power of the Holy Spirit
and in the name of your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
or a similar prayer
or a similar prayer
A hymn or song may follow.
The Benediction is said.
The Lord bless us and keep us:
The Lord make his face to shine upon us
and be gracious to us:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon us
and give us peace. Amen.
or
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
And the love of God,
And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
Be with us all evermore. Amen.
[Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ.]
NOTES
1. The minister may
greet the people after the opening hymns and songs or immediately before the Invitation to Confession. The optional Sentence
of Scripture permitted at the beginning of the service may be read by
the minister or sung as an anthem by the choir before the opening hymns or
songs.
2. A brief period of
silence for reflection may be observed before the Collect of the Day.
3. The recommended
position for the Sermon is after the Gospel Reading. A sermon
should be normally preached at this service. A less formal exposition of
Scripture is permissible. Where no one is designated to preach a sermon or give
a less formal exposition of Scripture, members of the congregation may share
brief reflections on the day’s readings
4. The Invitation
to Confession, the Confession of Sin
and the Prayer for Forgiveness may on
some occasions be said after the Sermon.
5. Traditional versions of the Creeds and
the Lord’s Prayer may be used in place of the texts printed in the service.
6. Before the Prayers
the minister or a member of the congregation may invite special petitions and
thanksgivings from the congregation. Additional petitions may be inserted into
the form of the Prayers. The people should be given an opportunity to offer
their own petitions silently or aloud before the versicle and response or
before the concluding prayer. When the form of the Prayers is offered as a
single prayer, the congregation may join in the invariable paragraphs of the
prayer.
7. Where they occur,
the directions to stand, sit, or kneel are suggestions only.
8. Hymns and songs may be sung in these services otherwise than where
provision is made for them. In the selection of hymns and songs, careful
attention should be given both to the appropriateness of the words to the
themes of the Bible readings and the sermon and also to the relation of the
hymn or song chosen to the position within the service.
9. Notices may be
given before the service begins, before the Prayers, before the collection,
before the parting Benediction, or at another appropriate time.
10.The Readings
from the Old and New Testament are introduced, “A reading from…,
chapter…, beginning at verse…”
At celebrations of Holy Communion a reading from the Gospel is always included.
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