Preparation of Ministers for the Service of Holy Communion

In the Vestry, the Priest putting on his surplice, scarf, and hood shall say the hymn,

Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
and lighten with celestial fire.
Thou the anointing Spirit art,
who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.

Thy blessed unction from above
is comfort, life, and fire of love.
Enable with perpetual light
the dullness of our blinded sight.

Anoint and cheer our soiled face
with the abundance of thy grace.
Keep far from foes, give peace at home:
where thou art guide, no ill can come.

Teach us to know the Father, Son,
and thee, of both, to be but One,
that through the ages all along,
this may be our endless song:

Praise to thy eternal merit,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

If the bread is cut, with a cutting-spear or otherwise, the Priest or Deacon shall say,

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. Surely the good man shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

If the chalice of wine is mixed, a little pure and clean water being put thereto, the Priest or Deacon shall say,

O most gracious and merciful Lord God, as this wine represents to us the sacred Blood of Christ, and this water thy people, and also as the mixing of these two together represents to us the blessed union between Christians and their merciful Saviour and Head; so, of thy infinite mercy grant, that those thy servants, who are to partake of this mixed cup, may no more be separated from Christ their Head than this water can now be separated from this wine, but they may continue their unmerited union with him by a firm and steady perseverance in that Faith once delivered to the saints, and by the serious practice of all virtuous and godly living, till at last they arrive at that unspeakable bliss in the glorious mansions above, which thou hast prepared for those who are thy faithful servants, through the same Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee, O Father, and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

The People singing the Introit in chant or in metre, the Priest shall process to the Lord’s Table and set the Bible or Gospel book upon it. Then he, and any who assist him, shall kneel before the Table and say quietly,

Priest. Send forth thy Spirit, O Lord.
Answer. And thou wilt renew the face of the earth.
Priest. Our help is in the Name of the Lord.
Answer. Who made heaven and earth.
Priest. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.
Answer. From this time forth and for evermore.

And then the Priest shall say,

O gracious and merciful God, Thou supreme Being, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, look down from heaven, the throne of thy essential glory, upon me thy unworthy creature, with the eyes of thy covenanted mercy and compassion: O Lord my God, I disclaim all merit, I renounce all righteousness of my own, either inherent in my nature, or acquired by my own industry: And I fly for refuge, for pardon and sanctification, to the righteousness of thy Christ: For his sake, for the sake of the blessed Jesus, the Son of thy covenanted love, whom Thou hast set forth to be a propitiation for fallen man, and in whom alone Thou art well pleased, have mercy upon me, receive my prayers, pardon my infirmities, strengthen my weak resolutions, guide my steps to thy holy altar, and there feed me with the meat which perisheth not, but endureth to everlasting life. Amen.

Then shall the Priest say to the Deacon and clerks, if there be any (the people also having the time to be reconciled one to another, and to give the sign of peace),

Receive the kiss of peace and of love, that ye may be meet to perform the holy offices at the Lord’s altar.

Priest.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Then shall begin the Holy Communion.

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