COMMUNION in the Order of Centurions

IN HOC
SIGNO VINCES

COMMUNION
Order of Centurions
FEAR GOD AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT

TIME DEUM ET
OPERARE IUSTITIAM

Communion Pamphlet
ASSEMBLY:

The people gather in the chapel or immediately outside of it

One or more sentences of Scripture may be used as a greeting and to prepare the people for worship such as: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:2

A Psalm of Praise (also a time of procession) - Examples include Psalm 95, 100, 122, 133, 134, 138, 149 etc.: people entering the worship area or standing with the minister leading. The leader then facing the people prays:

Minister Lord have mercy
People Christ have mercy
Minister Lord have mercy

Minister The Lord be with you
People And with your spirit
Minister Let us pray

the minister prays a collect appropriate for the time

SCRIPTURE:

Decalogue and/or Summary of the Law may be said

A reading from the Old Testament Scriptures with the reader announcing the Book and concluding with "here ends the lesson, or The Word of the Lord"

Psalms, hymns, or canticles may be said, sung, or chanted after each reading

A reading from the New Testament with the reader announcing the book or author and concluding with "here ends the lesson, or The Word of the Lord"

A reading from a Gospel -- All standing -- the Gospel announced with

Minister The Gospel according to _________.

All Glory to you, Lord Christ
then after the Gospel is read

All Praise to you, Lord Chist

SERMON/DISCUSSION COMMENTARY: people sit

Minister may say a short prayer or sentence of scripture before beginning

The Sermon/Discussion should expound on the readings

The Minister may end with an appropriate prayer to collect the thoughts and points of the sermon/discussion

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL: people stand, the deacon, or Minister, or another bids the prayers

Biddings. The people may interject prayer requests at appropriate pauses between the biddings

Pray for the nation and community and our leaders (especially ___)

Pray for the Order of Centurions and the whole state of Christ's Church

Ask intercessions and petitions for those that are traveling, ill, suffering, prisoners, or in danger (especially ___)

Pray for our servicemen (especially ___)

Give thanks for prayers answered and God's gifts (especially __)

You are invited to offer other prayers either silently or aloud ___

The Minister concludes the common prayers with a collect appropriate for the times or this
Almighty God, who has given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto you; and who has promised that when two or three are gathered together in your Name, you will grant their requests; fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of your servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen. John Chrysostom, c.397

Then a confession may be made:

Minister "Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves." Therefore, let us humbly confess our sins to God

A period of silence is kept, the people examine themselves

Minister If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us; but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [1 John I. 8].

before communion, the Minister may call for those who are sick to come forward for a blessing and anointing.:

Minister Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven... Members of the congregation may come forward and receive the laying on of hands by the people and Minister and anointing. An anthem or hymn may be sung at this time or silence kept.

PEACE:

The Minister may begin with the following:

Minister Jesus said to his apostles: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Regard not our sins but the faith of your Church and give its the peace and unity according to your will.

Minister The Peace of Lord be with you

People and with your spirit

The Minister and people may exchange the peace with one another saying "The peace of the Lord", "God's Peace", "Shalom", etc. and by some sign of peace such as the Holy Kiss.
The Minister and people make appropriate announcements about the Church or the Eucharist to follow. If there are strangers in the congregation, he should announce that the communion will be served and baptized Christians in communion with the Church are welcome. The Minister or another may state any specific purpose for the offering
OFFERING:

The Minister or another may preface the offering with a sentence of scripture

Chosen people bring the bread and wine. The deacons prepare the elements for the Eucharist. The Chosen people may then collect offerings of money or food. When all is ready the Minister signals the people and all stand. Those chosen for any collection bring forward the offerings to the Church and alms and items for the Agape meal.

The Minister may say some appropriate prayer or sentence of scripture in presenting the offering

If for some good cause the Lord's Supper is not to be celebrated, the service will continue with the Lord's Prayer and dismissal

The Minister may offer an invitation to the congregation for the communion and use one or more sentences of scripture such as:
Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matt 11:28 or Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.John 6:47

EUCHARIST: all standing before or around the table

Minister The Lord be with you

People And with your spirit

Minister Lift up your hearts

People We lift them to the Lord

Minister Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

People It is meet and right

Minister It is right always and everywhere to give thanks to you Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
a preface may be said here

Therefore we join with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven who forever praise and glorify your Name saying,

All Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Minister

We give thanks, O God, through your beloved Son Jesus Christ, whom in the last times you sent to us as saviour and redeemer and as angel of your will, who is your inseparable Word, through whom you made all things, and whom by your good pleasure you sent from heaven to a Virgin's womb, who was conceived and was made flesh and was manifested as your Son, born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin ;

Who, fulfilling your will and procuring for you a holy people, stretched out his hands when he suffered that he might free from suffering those who have believed in you ;

Who, when he was betrayed to a voluntary passion to destroy death and break the devil's chains, to tread down hell and lead the just to light, to fix hell's limits and to manifest the resurrection, took bread and gave thanks to you and said : 'Take, eat, this is my body which is broken for you.' Likewise also the cup, saying : 'This is my blood which is shed for you. When you do this, do it in remembrance of me.'

Remembering therefore his death and resurrection, we offer you this bread and cup, giving you thanks that you have counted us worthy to stand before you and minister to you as priests.

And we beseech you to send the Holy Spirit on the offering of the Holy Church. Gather them together and grant that all who partake of the holy things may be filled with the Holy Spirit for the confirmation of their faith in the truth, that we may laud and glorify you through your Son Jesus Christ, through whom be glory and honour to you, Father and Son with the Holy Spirit, in your holy church, both now and for ever

AMEN: When the Minister has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying: 'AMEN!'

The Minister breaks the loaf

Minister Let us pray as our Lord taught us:

All Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. Amen.

COMMUNION:
The minister breaks the bread and then distributes the bread and wine, saying: The Body of Christ, the Bread of Heaven, and The Blood of Christ, the Cup of Salvation, to which the person receiving it say Amen. A hymn may be sung. Other ministers may assist in the distribution.

Minister Let us pray:
We give you thanks, Holy Father, for your holy name, which you have made to tabernacle in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality, which you have made known unto us through your Son Jesus; yours is the glory for ever and ever. You, Almighty Master, did create all things for your name's sake, and did give food and drink unto men for enjoyment, that they might render thanks to you; But did bestow upon us spiritual food and drink and eternal life through your Son. Before all things we give you thanks that you are powerful; yours is the glory for ever and ever. Remember, Lord, your Church to deliver it from all evil and to perfect it in your love; And gather it together from the four winds -- even the Church which has been sanctified -- into your kingdom which you have prepared for it; For yours is the power and the glory for ever and ever. May grace come and may this world pass away. Hosanna to the God of David. If any man is holy, let him come; If any man is not, let him repent. Maranatha. Amen.
[Didache]

DISMISSAL

Minister
And now let each one hasten to do good works, to please God and live aright, devoting himself to the Church, practicing the things he has learned, and advancing in the service of God Amen <

The Minister may say a blessing

Then should be sung a hymn

When the communion is completed, the deacon or Minister may say:
Go in Peace
People:Thanks be to God

In the absence of the Communion, or in addition to it, the Cohort may wish to have an Agape meal at this point

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