The Parish of St John the Baptistwith St Nicholas, Loughton

The Eucharist in Lent

Introduction to Lent Lent may originally have followed epiphany, just as jesus’ sojourn in the wilderness followed immediately on his baptism, but it soon became firmly attached to easter, as the principal occasion for baptism and for the reconciliation of those who had been excluded from the church’s fellowship for apostasy or serious faults. This history explains the characteristic notes of lent – self-examination, penitence, self-denial, study, and preparation for easter, to which almsgiving has traditionally been added.Now is the healing time decreedFor sins of heart and word and deed,When we in humble fear recordThe wrong that we have done the lord.(latin, before 12th century)As the candidates for baptism were instructed in christian faith, and as penitents prepared themselves, through fasting and penance, to be readmitted to communion, the whole christian community was invited to join them in the process of study and repentance, the extension of which over forty days would remind them of the forty days that jesus spent in the wilderness, being tested by satan.Ashes are an ancient sign of penitence; from the middle ages it became the custom to begin lent by being marked in ash with the sign of the cross. The calculation of the forty days has varied considerably in christian history. It is now usual in the west to count them continuously to the end of holy week (not including sundays), so beginning lent on the sixth wednesday before easter, ash wednesday. Liturgical dress is the simplest possible. Churches are kept bare of flowers and decoration. Gloria in excelsis is not used. The fourth sunday of lent (laetareor refreshment sunday) was allowed as a day of relief from the rigour of lent, and the feast of the annunciation almost always falls in lent; these breaks from austerity are the background to the modern observance of mothering sunday on the fourth sunday of lent.As holy week approaches, the atmosphere of the season darkens; the readings begin to anticipate the story of christ’s suffering and death, and the reading of the passion narrative gave to the fifth sunday its name of passion sunday. There are many devotional exercises which may be used in lent and holy week outside the set liturgy. The stations of the cross, made popular in the west by the franciscans after they were granted custody of the christian sites in the holy land, are the best known.

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THE GATHERINGpresident In the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

all AmenThe Lord be with you

all and also with you.

The Celebrant welcomes the congregationHymn

STAND to sing the opening Hymn 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 heartsby the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,that we may perfectly love you,and worthily magnify your holy name;through Christ our Lord.Amen.

Summary of the Law

Minister Our Lord Jesus Christ said:The first commandment is this:‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord.You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind,and with all your strength.’The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

All Amen. Lord, have mercy. 3

Prayers of PenitenceMinister The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart God will not despise.Let us come to the Lord, who is full of compassion,and acknowledge our transgressions in penitence and faith

Silence is kept for a moment of reflectionall Most merciful God,

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,we confess that we have sinnedin thought, word and deed.We have not loved you with our whole heart.We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.In your mercy forgive what we have been,help us to amend what we are,and direct what we shall be;that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.

Kyrie eleisonLord, have mercy. or Kyrie eleisonLord, have mercy. Kyrie eleison Christ, have mercy. or Christe eleisonChrist, have mercy. Christe eleison Lord, have mercy. or Kyrie eleisonLord, have mercy. Kyrie eleison

Absolutionpresident 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.4

The Collect The president introduces a period of silent prayer with the words ‘Let us pray’ and then says the pray for the day

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

WE SIT for the readings and the psalm which can be found in the weekly notice sheet.

Old Testament ReadingAt the end

reader This is the word of the Lord.all Thanks be to God.

PsalmWe sing together the refrain on the readings sheet

New Testament Reading At the end

reader This is the word of the Lord.all Thanks be to God

Gradual HymnSTAND to sing the Gradual Hymn

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Gospel ReadingSTAND as the gospel acclamation is said.

Minister Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.I am the light of the world, says the Lord,whoever follows me will have the light of life.

all Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.

The Lord be with you.all And also with you

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to N.

all Glory to you, O LordAt the end

This is the Gospel of the Lord.all Praise to you, O Christ

SermonSIT to listen to the sermon

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The CreedSTAND all 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 salvationhe came down from heaven,was incarnate from the Holy Spiritand 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 againin accordance with the Scriptures;he ascended into heavenand is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again in gloryto 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

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for the forgiveness of sins.We look for the resurrection of the dead,and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayers of IntercessionSIT OR KNEEL as the president introduces the prayers of

intercession.Lord, in your mercy

all Hear our prayer.

or Lord, hear us.all Lord, graciously hear

us.

At the end of the prayersMerciful Father,

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

THE LITURGY OF THE SACRAMENTThe Peace

STAND as the president introduces the peace.

President Since we are justified by faith,we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us access to his graceThe peace of the Lord be always with you

all and also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

All exchange a sign of peace using Christ's words ‘peace be with you’.

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Offertory HymnSTAND to sing the Offertory Hymn in which a collection is taken for the life of the Church

Taking of the Bread and Winepresident Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:

through your goodnesswe have this bread to set before you,which earth has given and human hands have made.It will become for us the bread of life.

all Blessed be God for everpresident Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:

through your goodness we have this wine to set before you,fruit of the vine and work of human hands.It will become for us the cup of salvation.

all Blessed be God for ever

Eucharistic Prayer

president The Lord be with you.all And also with you

president Lift up your hearts.all We lift them to the Lord

president Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.all It is right to give thanks and praise

It is indeed right and goodto give you thanks and praise,almighty God and everlasting Father,through Jesus Christ your Son.For in these forty daysyou lead us into the desert of repentancethat through a pilgrimage of prayer and disciplinewe may grow in graceand learn to be your people once again.

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Through fasting, prayer and acts of serviceyou bring us back to your generous heart.Through study of your holy wordyou open our eyes to your presence in the worldand free our hands to welcome othersinto the radiant splendour of your love.As we prepare to celebrate the Easter feastwith joyful hearts and mindswe bless you for your mercyand join with saints and angels for ever praising you and saying:

all Holy, holy, holy Lord,God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory.Hosanna in the highest.Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.Hosanna in the highest.

President All glory be to you, our heavenly Father,who, in your tender mercy,gave your only Son our Saviour Jesus Christto suffer death upon the cross for our redemption;who made there by his one oblation of himself once offered a full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice, oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world; he instituted, and in his holy gospel commanded us to continue, a perpetual memory of his precious death until he comes again.

Hear us, merciful Father, we humbly pray,and grant that, by the power of your Holy Spirit,we receiving these gifts of your creation, this bread and this wine, according to your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ’s holy institution,in remembrance of his death and passion,may be partakers of his most blessed body and blood;

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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 supperhe 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.Jesus Christ is Lord:

all Lord, by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free. You are the Saviour of the world.

Therefore, Lord and heavenly Father,in remembrance of the precious death and passion,the mighty resurrection and glorious ascensionof your dear Son Jesus Christ,we offer you through him this our sacrifice of praiseand thanksgiving.

Grant that by his merits and death, and through faith in his blood,we and all your Church may receive forgiveness of our sins and all other benefits of his passion.Although we are unworthy, through our manifold sins ,to offer you any sacrifice,yet we pray that you will accept this the duty and service that we owe.Do not weigh our merits, but pardon our offences,and fill us all who share in this holy communionwith your grace and heavenly blessing;through Jesus Christ our Lord,

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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.

Amen.

The Lord’s PrayerTrusting in the compassion of God,as our Saviour taught us, so we pray

all Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name;thy kingdom come;thy will be done;on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespass against us.And lead us not into temptation;but deliver us from evil.For thine is the kingdom,the power and the glory,for ever and ever.Amen.

Breaking of the Breadpresident Every time we eat this bread and drink this cup,all we proclaim the Lord’s death

until he comes.

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Agnus Deiall Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world,have mercy on us.Lamb of God,you take away the sin of the world,have mercy on us.Lamb of God,you take away the sin of the world,grant us peace.

Giving of Communionpresident 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.

all Most merciful Lord,your love compels us to come in. Our hands were unclean, our hearts were unprepared;we were not fit even to eat the crumbs from under your table. But you, Lord, are the God of our salvation, and share your bread with sinners. So cleanse and feed us with the precious body and blood of your Son, that he may live in us and we in him; and that we, with the whole company of Christ, may sit and eat in your kingdom. Amen.

Everyone is welcome to come forward to receive communion if you normally do so. Those who are not used to receiving Holy Communion are welcome to come to the altar, bow their heads and receive a blessing.

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During communion the choir sing an anthem followed by a communion HYMN which is sang as we sit.

Prayer after CommunionThe President introduces a period of silent prayer with the words ‘Let us Pray’. We read together the post communion prayer from the reading sheet.

all Almighty God,we thank you for feeding uswith the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ.Through him we offer you our souls and bodiesto be a living sacrifice.Send us outin the power of your Spiritto live and workto your praise and glory. Amen.

NoticesSIT as the notices for the week are given.

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THE DISMISSALFinal Hymn

We STAND to sing the HymnBlessing

STAND as the president gives the blessing

president The Lord be with you.all And also with you

Christ give you grace to grow in holiness, to deny yourselves, take up your cross, and follow him;and the blessing of God almighty,the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,be among you and remain with you always.

all Amen

minster Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.All In the name of Christ. Amen.

The ministers depart as the organ voluntary is played.Refreshments are served after the service in the Parish Hall and you are warmly invited.

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All the material for this service is taken from Common Worship

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