Quick Start for Ministers
Extra resources for ministers – occasional services (funerals, weddings etc), seasonal services (Christmas, Easter etc), material to stimulate your thinking about church, training resources for service leaders.
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Since listening to the reading of Scripture and its exposition in preaching is such an important part of our gathering, we need to pray for God to give us attention, understanding, and the ability to obey. The following prayers could provide a helpful introduction to this part of the service. The prayer at 7.5 could also be used as a prayer of dedication at the end of a service or after the ministry of the word.
| 7.1 | Gracious Lord, you have caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning: help us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that, encouraged and supported by your holy Word, we may embrace and always hold fast the joyful hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. An Australian Prayer Book (modified)
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7.2 |
Thank you Father for making yourself known to us, showing us the way of salvation through faith in your Son. We ask you now to teach us through your word, so that we may be ready to serve you, for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Sunday Services
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| 7.3 | We thank you heavenly Father, for inspiring all Scripture by the Holy Spirit. Help us by your Spirit so to hear your holy word that we may be equipped for every good work, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sunday Services (modified) |
| 7.4 | Heavenly Father, give us faith to receive your word, understanding to know what it means, and the will to put it into practice; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
An Australian Prayer Book |
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7.5 |
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 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. An Australian Prayer Book |
| 7.6 | Lord make your word our rule, your Spirit our teacher, and your glory our supreme concern, for the sake of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. |
There are five prayers for the candidate before baptism in The Book of Common Prayer, and one of these consists of four short prayers! In modern versions, the prayer content before baptism has been reduced and intercessions for the candidate and sponsors have sometimes been added after the baptism and reception. However, prayer before baptism expressing dependence on God to wash away sin and work by his Spirit to bring new life in Christ is important. Without such prayer, the focus would simply be on the sacramental action, and the implication might be that baptism has some automatic effect. 2.1 and 2.2 are two different versions of the same prayer, inviting the congregation to give thanks for their own baptism and praying for themselves, while interceding for those about to be baptised. 2.3 picks up some of the language of another prayer from The Book of Common Prayer, linking salvation under the Old Covenant with salvation under the New Covenant. 2.4 is a prayer that is particularly suitable for the baptism of infants.
| 2.1 | Lord God, our heavenly Father, we thank you for your great goodness in calling us to know you and to put our trust in you. Increase this knowledge and strengthen our faith. Give your Holy Spirit to this person, that he may be born again and made an heir of everlasting salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. An Australian Prayer Book (Order 1 [Infants])
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2.2 |
Heavenly Father, we thank you that in your great love you have called us to know you and to trust you. Increase this knowledge and strengthen our faith. Give your Holy Spirit to this person that he may be born again, cleansed from all sin, and inherit your eternal Kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. An Australian Prayer Book (Order 2 [Infants] modified) |
| 2.3 | Almighty God, you delivered your chosen people from slavery in Egypt, through the waters of the Red Sea, and established with them a covenant of your unfailing love; mercifully grant that this person may be delivered from the slavery of sin through the new covenant, and obtain the promise of eternal life which you have given us in your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen An Australian Prayer Book (Order 1 [Adults] modified) |
| 2.4 | Lord, our merciful God, you have promised in Christ to be our God and the God and Father of our children. Fulfil your promise to us, and for Jesus Christ’s sake receive these children as members of your family. Grant that they may receive the fullness of your grace and the washing away of all their sins, for without these blessings no one can enter your kingdom. May your Spirit live and work in them, that they may be yours forever; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Sunday Services |
An explanation of the significance of baptism for the candidates, their sponsors and the congregation is an appropriate way to introduce the service. The Book of Common Prayer baptismal services began by exhorting the congregation to pray for the regeneration of the candidate by the Holy Spirit. This was set within the context of allusions to John 3:5-8. Modern revisions such as 1.4 have moved away from this emphasis. It is preserved in the final paragraph of 1.1 and more fully in 1.3. Such exhortations should be followed by a suitable prayer for the candidate (as in 2.1 and 2.2).
The emphasis in 1.1 and 1.4 is on the command to baptize given by Jesus in Matthew 28:19 and the call of Peter to repent and be baptised in Acts 2:38-39. Peter’s words highlight the benefits of baptism faithfully received, and suggest a justification for baptising the children of believers. 1.2 emphasizes the responsibility of parents and godparents in sponsoring children for baptism. 1.4 combines this with the scriptural emphases of 1.1. Only 1.1 can be easily used at the baptism of an adult.
| 1.1 | God in his love has acted through Jesus Christ to free us from our slavery to sin. When Jesus had risen from the dead, he said to his disciples, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make all nations my disciples, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you.’
Soon after, the apostle Peter began preaching, ‘Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.’ Let us then pray that God will grant to this person that which by nature he cannot have, that he may be baptised with water and the Holy Spirit, and received into Christ’s holy church, and be made a living member of his body. An Australian Prayer Book (Order 1) |
| 1.2 | Children are baptised on the understanding that they will be brought up as faithful members of the Church, to follow Christ and to fight against evil; and that they will be brought to the bishop to be confirmed by him, when they are of age to take upon themselves the promises you are about to make on their behalf.
As they grow up they need encouragement, teaching, and the help of a good example, so that they may learn to worship God, to pray to him, to put their faith and trust in him, and to take their place in the life of the Church. Parents and godparents, this child depends chiefly on you for the help and encouragement he needs. Are you willing to give him this help and encouragement by every means in your power? I am willing. An Australian Prayer Book (Order 2) |
| 1.3 | God is the creator of all things, and he gives to parents the work and joy of bringing children to birth and nurturing them. Yet, Jesus tells us, those who are born of human parents need to be born anew. ‘What is born of flesh,’ he says, ‘is flesh; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.’ And again he says, ‘Unless one is born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God.’
Because of our sinfulness, God calls us to a new birth and life in union with himself. Baptism is the sign and seal of this new birth. Jesus commanded his disciples to preach the gospel to all nations and to baptize those who believe. They obeyed this command, and we read of Saint Peter preaching in these words, ‘Repent, and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are afar off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.’ In obedience to that same command we ourselves were baptised and now bring this child to baptism. An Australian Prayer Book (Order 2) |
| 1.4 | When our Lord Jesus Christ had risen from the dead, he commanded his disciples to preach the gospel to all nations and to baptise those who believe. They obeyed his command and we read of the apostle Peter preaching in these words, ‘Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’
We read here the promise of God to give forgiveness and his Holy Spirit to all who turn to Christ. This promise also embraces the children of God’s people. The risen Jesus is willing to give the blessing of eternal life to our children whom we bring to him in faith. Children must themselves express their faith in God when they are able to do so. They must turn away from sin and put their trust in Jesus Christ. You who already trust in Christ are asked to make the baptismal promises on behalf of these children. You must also undertake to teach and encourage them in the same faith. Sunday Services |
In addition to the prayers provided in An Australian Prayer Book (First and Second Order), the following are suitable expressions of gratitude and rededication for use after Communion.
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7.1 |
Gracious God, A Prayer Book for Australia |
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7.2 |
Bountiful God, A Prayer Book for Australia |
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7.3 |
Father of all, Common Worship |
| 7.4 | Father, as we have received these gifts of bread and wine, you have fed us with the spiritual food of the body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Thank you for assuring us of your goodness and love, and that we are members of his body. Renew us by your Holy Spirit, unite us in the body of your Son, and bring us with all your people into the joy of your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. |
If the second form of eucharistic prayer outlined in section 5 is used, the breaking of the bread should follow with appropriate words, to initiate the meal. If the bread and wine are administered separately, 6.4 can be used in two parts.
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6.1 |
We who are many are one body in Christ, An Australian Prayer Book |
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6.2 |
We break this bread to share in the body of Christ. Common Worship |
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6.3 |
Every time we eat this bread and drink this cup, Common Worship |
| 6.4 | We break this bread in remembrance that Christ died for us. We feed on him in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving. We drink this in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for us and we are thankful. |
Modern Anglican liturgies essentially provide two patterns of thanksgiving and consecration. First, there is the Prayer Book model (5.1), which essentially involves a prayer for right reception (containing a proclamation or remembrance of Jesus’ unique sacrifice and its effect) and a recital of the words of institution uttered by Jesus at the Last Supper. Instructions are given for the celebrant to copy the actions of Jesus, taking and breaking the bread and then taking the cup while repeating the words of Jesus. The version that appears in both Australian Prayer Books begins with a brief expression of praise (‘All glory to you our heavenly Father’). Another modern version of this prayer is provided at 5.2.
The second model reflects more ancient eucharistic prayers in structure and, in varying degrees, content. Structurally, the prayers begin with the Preface (‘Lift up your hearts’ etc.) and continue with extended thanksgiving, until the congregation is invited to join in saying ‘Holy, holy holy Lord’ etc. The Prayer of Humble Access is moved to an earlier point in the service, so that it does not interrupt the flow of praise and thanksgiving. Then there is a prayer for right reception, leading to a recital of the words of institution and a further congregational response (such as ‘Christ has died’ etc.). The third part of the structure is often a remembrance or celebration of the sacrifice of Christ and its achievement for us, leading to a prayer for the unity and dedication of the church, as it anticipates the return of Jesus and the fulfilment of God’s purpose for us in his eternal kingdom. The conclusion to this third section is again some form of congregational praise (such as ‘Blessing and honour and glory and power’ etc.). In terms of content, there is usually a Trinitarian focus, with the work of the Father and the Holy Spirit being acknowledged along with the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus. Praise and thanksgiving predominate throughout, involving the congregation at key points. There is more of a focus on proclaiming the Lord’s death ‘until he comes’ (1 Cor. 11:26), and an emphasis on the people of Christ as the beneficiaries of his work. There is no requirement for the actions of Jesus at the Last Supper to be repeated when the words of institution are recalled, since the whole sequence of praise and prayer by the people and celebrant together is regarded as a ‘consecration through thanksgiving (cf. 1 Tim. 4:4-5). After ‘saying grace’ in this way, the meal is initiated by the breaking of the bread, associated with words such as ‘We who are many are one body in Christ, for we all share in the one bread.‘
Some recent eucharistic prayers create difficulties for Evangelicals because they are too long and complicated: the simplicity and power of the first form (5.1) is easily lost. They can also obscure the central importance of the redemptive work of Christ by adding words or phrases implying eucharistic sacrifice or transformation of the bread and wine in some way. However, some express biblical teaching quite succinctly, as the examples below illustrate.
| 5.1 | All glory to you our heavenly Father, for in your tender mercy you gave your only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death on the cross for our redemption; who made there, by his one oblation of himself once offered, a full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world; and who instituted and in his holy gospel commanded us to continue, a perpetual memory of his precious death until his coming again.
Hear us, merciful Father, and grant that we who receive 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; who on the night he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given 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.’ Likewise after supper he took the cup, and when he had given you thanks, he gave it to them saying, ‘Drink from this, all of you; for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ Amen. An Australian Prayer Book |
| 5.2 | We thank you our heavenly Father that in your love and mercy you gave your only Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross to save us. By this offering of himself once and for all time, Jesus made the perfect, complete sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, satisfying your just demands in full. Jesus commanded us to remember his death until his coming again. Hear us, merciful Father, and grant that we who eat and drink this bread and wine may remember his death and share in his body and blood. On the night he was betrayed, Jesus took the bread in his hands. He gave you thanks and broke it. Then he gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way after the meal, Jesus took the cup in his hands. He gave you thanks. Then he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ Amen. Sunday Services |
| 5.3 | Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give him thanks and praise. All glory and honour, thanks and praise, We give thanks and praise for your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, Therefore, with the whole company of heaven And now, Father, we pray After supper he took the cup With this bread and this cup Or Christ has died; We offer our prayer and praise, Father, Blessing and honour and glory and power An Australian Prayer Book |
| 5.4 | Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. You are worthy, our Lord and God, Therefore, we lift our voices to praise you, saying, And now, gracious God, we thank you On the night before he died, Jesus took bread, We who are many are one body in Christ, After supper, he took the cup, We eat this bread and drink this cup We do this until he returns. Father, as we recall his saving death and glorious resurrection, Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, A Prayer Book for Australia |
| 5.5 | Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. Yes! He is worthy of our praise. You are worthy, our Lord and God, We praise you especially for your Son, We thank you Father, We eat the bread and drink the cup of the Lord Sunday Services |
Modern liturgies have recognised the need to express both the ‘horizontal’ and the ‘vertical’ aspects of the Lord’s Supper. After prayers of confession and assurances of God’s forgiveness, or a single prayer of preparation, it is appropriate to acknowledge one another as the body of Christ in some way. A formal, liturgical greeting may introduce a time when members of a congregation share a greeting such as ‘Peace be with you’ or something more informal.
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4.1 |
We are the body of Christ. An Australian Prayer Book |
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4.2 |
Christ has reconciled us to God in one body by the cross. A Prayer Book for Australia |
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4.3 |
‘Where two or three are gathered together in my name,’ Cf. Matthew 18:20 |
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4.4 |
Since we are justified by faith, Cf. Romans 5:1-2 |
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4.5 |
Once we were far off, Cf. Ephesians 2:13 |
Following the exhortations to prepare for a godly participation in the Lord’s Supper, The Book of Common Prayer provides a general confession of sins, a declaration of forgiveness, and ‘the Comfortable Words’ (biblical texts assuring believers of their forgiveness in Christ). A range of confessions and declarations of forgiveness suitable for use at this point can be found in Resources for Services of the Word, sections 5 and 6. The Prayer Book then goes on to provide another means of preparation in the so-called ‘Prayer of Humble Access’ (reproduced in modern versions below). Three significant changes have been made with regard to this sequence in the Second Order of Holy Communion in both Australian Prayer Books. First, if the option of having a general confession of sin and declaration of forgiveness at the beginning of the service is chosen, the Prayer of Humble Access functions as the main prayer of preparation for communion. Second, the Comfortable Words and additional biblical texts are moved to introduce this section of preparation, rather than concluding it. Third, even when there is to be a confession and absolution at this point, the Prayer of Humble Access comes first, as a direct response to the words of invitation or an exhortation. Whatever the choice, some form of reflection and congregational prayer is appropriate before the Thanksgiving or Eucharistic Prayer.
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3.1 |
We do not presume to come to your table, merciful Lord, An Australian Prayer Book |
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3.2 |
Merciful Lord, we come here to your table Sunday Services (altered) |
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3.3 |
Most merciful Lord, your love compels us to come in. Common Worship |
Isaiah 55 6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
Matthew 11 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
John 6 35 Jesus said. ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’
John 13 34 Jesus said, ‘A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.’
Mark 10 45 Jesus said: ‘Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’
Mark 11 25 Jesus said, ‘When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.’
John 3 16 God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
1Corinthians 11 26 Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 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. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
Titus 2 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope– the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
1 Peter 2 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
1 John 3 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.