Concerning the Celebration
The President or Celebrant at the Celebration of the Eucharist shall be a duly ordained Priest or Bishop of the Anglican Communion.It is the Bishop's prerogative, when present, to be the principal celebrant at the Lord's Table, and to preach the Gospel.
At all celebrations of the Liturgy, it is fitting that the principal celebrant, whether Bishop or Priest, be assisted by other Priests, and by Deacons and lay persons.
Other Priests present may be invited to concelebrate with the celebrant at the Altar
A Deacon should read the Gospel and may lead The Prayers. Deacons should also serve at the Altar, preparing and placing on it the offerings of bread and wine, and assisting in the ministration of the Sacrament to the people. In the absence of a Deacon, these duties may be performed by an assisting Priest, or by a lay person licensed by the Bishop to undertake these duties.
Lay persons appointed by the celebrant should normally be assigned the reading of the Lessons which precede the Gospel, and may lead The Prayers.
Morning or Evening Prayer may be used in place of all that precedes the Greeting of Peace. A lesson from the Gospel should always be included.
When the services of a Priest cannot be obtained, the Bishop may, at his discretion, authorize a Deacon to distribute Holy Communion to the congregation from the reserved Sacrament in the following manner:
- The Liturgy of the Word is said up to the Confession, after which the following Prayer is substituted for The Absolution:
Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Then follows the Greeting of Peace (and the receiving of the people's
offering). The Deacon reverently places the consecrated Sacrament on the
Altar, during which time a communion hymn may be sung.
It is the duty of every communicant member to receive Holy Communion frequently after due preparation, particularly on Sundays and on the Greater Holy Days, of which Easter is the chief. Every parishioner shall contribute regularly of his substance to the maintenance of the worship of God, and the spread of the Gospel, according as God shall prosper him.
The Priest shall frequently warn the people of what is required of those who come to receive the Holy Communion, as set forth in the Catechism.
For the safeguarding of the Holy Mysteries and for the well-being of the Church, it is declared that it is the inherent right of the Bishop of a Diocese to repel offenders from Communion, for good and sufficient cause.
If a person be living in open and unrepented sin, the following procedure shall be observed: the Priest of the Cure in which the case occurs shall without delay give warning to such person, and, if he/she be unrepentant, shall report the whole matter to the Bishop, and thereafter proceed as the Bishop may direct, provided that the Priest in an unforeseen case, if satisfied of urgency, may refuse Communion to such person until he can bring the matter before the Bishop.
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The Lord's Prayer is then said, the Deacon first saying, "As our Saviour has taught us so we pray."
- And then, omitting the breaking of the Bread, the Deacon proceeds with what follows in the liturgy as far as the end of the postcommunion prayer, and then dismisses the people.
It is the duty of every communicant member to receive Holy Communion frequently after due preparation, particularly on Sundays and on the Greater Holy Days, of which Easter is the chief. Every parishioner shall contribute regularly of his substance to the maintenance of the worship of God, and the spread of the Gospel, according as God shall prosper him.
The Priest shall frequently warn the people of what is required of those who come to receive the Holy Communion, as set forth in the Catechism.
For the safeguarding of the Holy Mysteries and for the well-being of the Church, it is declared that it is the inherent right of the Bishop of a Diocese to repel offenders from Communion, for good and sufficient cause.
If a person be living in open and unrepented sin, the following procedure shall be observed: the Priest of the Cure in which the case occurs shall without delay give warning to such person, and, if he/she be unrepentant, shall report the whole matter to the Bishop, and thereafter proceed as the Bishop may direct, provided that the Priest in an unforeseen case, if satisfied of urgency, may refuse Communion to such person until he can bring the matter before the Bishop.