Public Worship and Aids to Devotion Committee Website

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General Assembly of Australia

Lord's Supper: Third Order

The Lord's Supper

Third Order

The first part of the service shall proceed as usual. At the appropriate time the minister shall say:

Brothers and sisters in Christ, the Communion Table is the table of our Lord Jesus.

On behalf of the Session of this congregation, I therefore invite those who love the Lord Jesus Christ and are members in good standing of this or another congregation to join in this celebration of the Lord's Supper.

As we draw near to the Table we gratefully remember that our Lord instituted this Sacrament for the perpetual memory of his death, and the pledge of his love, as a bond of the union with him and with each other as members of the Church which is his Body, and as the assurance of his coming again.

Let us pray:

O God who by the life and death and rising again of your dear Son has consecrated for us a new and living way into your holy presence, cleanse our minds by the working of your Spirit, that we may draw near to you with a pure heart, and worthily magnify your Name. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Psalm or Hymn shall here be sung:

The minister stands at the Table. Then shall the minister say:

Hear the gracious words of our Saviour:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14)

Let us hear the words of the institution of the Lord's Supper as they are delivered to us by the apostle Paul:

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying: "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognising the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. (1 Corinthians 11:23-29)

Let us pray:

All glory to you, Father, for of your great love for mankind, you gave your only Son Jesus Christ, that all who trust in him should not perish, but have eternal life. We give praise and thanks for him, our great High Priest, who by his death on the cross offered for mankind the one true sacrifice for sin and obtained an eternal deliverance for his people. So now, Father, with praise and thanksgiving we do as your Son commanded: we recall before you his suffering, his death and resurrection; we acknowledge his reign in glory; and we look for the coming of his kingdom.

We give you our thanks and praise, in the unity of the Holy Spirit through the same Lord Jesus Christ in whose words we pray:

Our Father...

Then the minister shall say:

The Lord Jesus, on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it (the minister breaks the bread) and said:

THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH IS FOR YOU; DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

The minister says:

In the same way after supper he took the cup saying:

THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD; DO THIS WHENEVER YOU DRINK IT, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME. When all have eaten the minister may read a suitable passage of Scripture or say:

The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Let us pray:

Thank you, O Lord our God, for the privilege of joining in the Lord's Supper and for its reminder to us of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. Renew our faith and obedience that we may serve you without fear, in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life. Give to us the strength to fight the good fight of faith and to endure to the end. As we have received Christ, help us to live in Him. Make us wise so that we might live in a manner pleasing to you, enjoying life's pleasures with thankfulness, fulfilling its duties with faithfulness, and bearing its trials with patience. Instruct and guide us by your Spirit so that above all else we might obey and please you, and live with you in your holy and everlasting Kingdom. These things we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be thanksgiving, honour and glory, now and forever. Amen.

Then shall a Psalm or Hymn be sung.

A blessing shall be said or sung.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.