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The Holy Trinity Setting Service of Holy Communion

A Revised Version of the 1917 Lutheran Common Service

Prelude

The Introit 1. The Congregation shall rise. The Choir, Cantor, or Congregation may sing the Introit with the Gloria Patri. When the Choir or Cantor sings the Introit, the Congregation may join the chant at the Gloria Patri. The Introit may be said.

Gloria Patri

Opening Hymn 2. An Opening Hymn may be sung.

The Confession of Sins 3. As the Minister says the Invocation, the Sign of the Cross may be made.

P. In the name of the Father, and of the ✠ Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

4. Facing the congregation, the Minister shall say:

P. Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart, and confess our sins to God our Father, beseeching Him, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to grant us forgiveness.

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5. The Versicles may be sung.

6. The Congregation and Minister may stand or kneel. A moment of silence shall be kept for reflection and self-examination. Then shall the Minister say:

P. Almighty God, our Maker and Redeemer, we poor sinners confess unto You, that we are by nature sinful and unclean, and that we have sinned against You by thought, word, and deed. Wherefore, we flee for refuge to Your infinite mercy, seeking and imploring Your grace, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7. Then shall the Congregation say with the Minister:

C. O most merciful God, You have given your Only-begotten Son to die for us. Have mercy upon us, and for His sake grant us forgiveness of all our sins. By Your Holy Spirit increase in us true knowledge of You and of Your will, and true obedience to Your Word, to the end that by Your grace we may come to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

8. Then shall the Minister, facing the Congregation, say:

P. Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, has had mercy upon us, and has given His only Son to die for us, and for His sake forgives us all our sins. To those who believe in His Name, He gives power to become the children of God, and bestows upon them His Holy Spirit. As a Minister of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, and according to his command, I declare to you the forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and ✠ of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

OR:

P. Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, has had mercy upon us, and has given His only Son to die for us, and for His sake forgives us all our sins. To those who believe in His Name, He gives power to become the children of God, and bestows upon them His Holy Spirit. He who believes, and is baptized, shall be saved. Grant this, O Lord, unto us all.

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9. The Minister may announce the day and its significance prior the Greeting, at the close of the service, or at another appropriate time.

The Greeting 10. The Congregation shall stand. Then shall the Minister say:

P. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

C. And with your spirit.

The Kyrie 11. Then may be sung or said the Kyrie.

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Gloria in Excelsis 12. Then may be sung or said the Gloria in Excelsis.

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The Salutation 13. Then shall the Minister sing or say:

The Prayer of the Day (Collect) 14. Then shall the Minister sing or say the Prayer of the Day.

P. Let us pray …

15. The Prayer ended, the Congregation shall sing or say:

16. The Congregation shall be seated.

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The First Reading 17. Then shall the Lector announce the First Reading saying:

R. The First Reading comes from the _________ Chapter of _________ .

18. The First Reading ended, the following shall be said.

R. The Word of the Lord. C. Thanks be to God.

The Psalm 19. The appointed Psalm is sung or said. An appointed antiphon may be used.

The Second Reading 20. Then shall the Lector announce the Second Reading saying:

R. The Second Reading comes from the _________ Chapter of _________ .

21. The Second Reading ended, the Lector shall say:

R. The Word of the Lord.

C. Thanks be to God.

The Gradual or Verse 22. Then may the appointed Gradual be sung. When the Gradual is omitted, the appointed Verse may be sung or said. The Congregation shall stand.

The Holy Gospel 23. Then shall the Minister announce the Gospel for the Day, singing or saying:

P. The Holy Gospel according to St. _________, the _________ Chapter.

24. The Congregation shall sing or say:

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25. Then shall the Minister read the Gospel for the Day. The Gospel may be sung. The Gospel ended, the Minister shall sing or say:

P. The Gospel of the Lord.

26. The Congregation shall sing or say:

The Sermon 27. The Minister shall preach the Sermon based upon the lessons for the day.

28. After the Sermon, the Congregation shall rise and the Minister shall say:

P. The Peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

C. Amen.

Hymn of the Day 29. Then may be sung the Hymn of the Day. The Hymn should reflect the theme of the day.

The Creed 30. Then may be sung or said the Nicene or the Apostles’ Creed. The congregation shall remain standing as the Creed is affirmed.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED C. I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord. He was conceived by the power of

the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

OR:

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NICENE CREED C. 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 salvation He came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit He became incarnate from 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 again in accordance with the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to 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. With the Father and the Son He is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life ✠ of the world to come. Amen.

The Prayer of the Church 31. Then shall follow the Prayer of the Church. The Minister or Worship Assistant shall lead the prayer. It is suggested that if the Worship Assistant says the Prayer, the Minister should say the concluding Collect. Other forms of the Prayer of the Church may be used.

A. Let us pray …

32. Here special Supplications, Intercessions, and Prayers may be made.

A. We pray for… Lord, in Your mercy, C. Hear our prayer. P. These, and whatsoever other things You would have us ask of You, O God, grant to us, for

the sake of the bitter sufferings and death of Jesus Christ, Your only Son, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C. Amen.

The Peace 33. The Peace of the Lord is shared.

P. The peace of the Lord be with you always. C. And with your spirit.

The Offering 34. Then shall the Congregation be seated, as the Offering is gathered. A hymn or other special music may be offered. The Minister or Worship Assistants may use this time to prepare the Lord’s Table and make ready the bread and wine.

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The Offertory 35. Then shall the Congregation stand and sing the Offertory. The Offertory here following, or any other suitable Offertory may be used. As the Offertory is sung, the gifts may be presented by representatives of the Congregation. The Congregation shall remain standing until the after the Invitation to Communion.

The Offertory Prayer 36. Then shall the Minister or Worship Assistant lead the congregation in the Offertory Prayer.

A. O Lord God, C. We give You thanks and praise for Your bountiful gifts, a portion of which we now

offer to You; and, as our spiritual worship, we present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to You, through the One, who in perfect obedience, gave Himself as a sacrifice for the sin of the whole world and rose victorious from the grave, the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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The Great Thanksgiving 37. The Salutation of the Great Thanksgiving is led by the Minister standing at the Altar.

Proper Preface 38. Here shall follow the Proper Preface for the Day or Season. If there be none especially appointed, there shall follow immediately, “Therefore with Angels …”, etc.

P. It is truly meet, right, and salutary, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto You, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty Everlasting God …

Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Your glorious Name; evermore praising You, and saying:

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Sanctus and Benedictus 39. Then shall the Sanctus and Benedictus be sung or said:

Words of Institution 40. The Words of Institution are declared to the congregation. Or, a Eucharistic Prayer may be used that incorporates the Words of Institution. The Minister may lift up the host and the cup as the Words of Institution are said.

P. In the night in which He was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is My body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of Me.

Again, after supper He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new testament in My blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of Me.

OR:

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P. Holy are You, Almighty and Merciful God, and sublime is Your glory. You so loved the world that You gave Your Only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. We give You thanks that He has come among us and has fulfilled what was needed for our salvation.

In the night in which He was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is My body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of Me. Again, after supper He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new testament in My blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of Me.

With thanksgiving we therefore remember this command of our Savior and all He endured for our sake, the Cross, the Grave, the Resurrection after three days, the Ascension into Heaven, the Enthronement at the right hand of the Father, and the second and glorious Coming again. Send down Your Holy Spirit upon us, and upon these gifts, so that they may be to us who receive them for the forgiveness of sins, for the strengthening of faith, and for the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, as we await the fulfillment of the Kingdom of Heaven. And grant that with one voice and one heart we may praise and glorify Your sublime and wondrous Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

43. The Congregation shall respond.

The Lord’s Prayer 44. All shall sing or say the Lord’s Prayer. The Minister shall invite the Congregation to prayer.

P. O Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray:

C. 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, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.

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Invitation to Communion 45. At this point, an invitation may be made to the assembly. All baptized Christians who believe that Christ is really present in the bread and wine, and desire to receive Holy Communion for the forgiveness of sins, are welcome to partake of the Sacrament. Children who receive Communion in their home congregation are also welcome. Children who do not yet receive Communion are invited to come forward for the blessing.

46. The Minister shall invite the Congregation to partake of the Holy Sacrament.

P. The gifts of God for the people of God.

Agnus Dei 46. The Agnus Dei shall be sung or said.

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The Distribution 47. Then shall the Communicants present themselves to receive the Holy Sacrament. During the Distribution of the Sacrament, one or more hymns may be sung. The Minister and Worship Assistants use the following words when administering the Sacrament:

R. The Body of Christ, given for you. R. The Blood of Christ, shed for you.

48. After the Body and Blood of Christ have been received by those Communicants who present themselves, the Congregation shall rise and the Minister shall say:

P. May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ and His precious Blood strengthen and preserve you in true faith unto everlasting life.

C. Amen.

Nunc Dimittis 49. Then may the Nunc Dimittis be sung or said.

The Post-Communion Thanksgiving 50. Then shall be sung or said the Salutation followed by the Post-Communion Thanksgiving. The Minister or a Worship Assistant shall recite the prayer.

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A. We give thanks to You, Almighty God, that You have refreshed us with this Your salutary gift: and we beseech You, of Your mercy, to strengthen us through the same in faith toward You, and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

51. Congregation shall be seated. Brief Announcements and Concerns of the Church may be addressed.

The Benediction 52. Then the Minister shall sing or say the Benediction.

P. Almighty God, Father, ✠ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.

OR:

P. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon You and be gracious unto You. The Lord lift up His countenance ✠ upon You and give you peace.

Closing Hymn

53. A Closing Hymn may be sung.

Dismissal 56. The Minister or Worship Assistant shall dismiss the Congregation.

A. Go in peace. Serve the Lord. C. Thanks be to God.

Postlude

The Holy Trinity Setting © 2011 – Text: Michael G. Tavella, Musical Arrangement: Kile Smith (copyright administered by Sola Publishing, PO Box 521, Maple Lake, MN 55358 – www.solapublishing.org)

This revised setting of the Lutheran Common Service of 1917, was created by the worship staff at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church – NALC, Abington, PA. It is offered to the larger Church as a “draft version” for use by congregations in worship. Permission is granted to reproduce copies for local congregations and district gatherings, so long as the copyright information above appears. The authors solicit feedback from pastors, musicians and congregations. For questions and comments, please contact Pastor Amanda Grimmer by email at: NAGrimmer1@msn.com