An Order of the Mass

This is entirely of my own compilation, representing no one other than myself.  A few of the prayers were written by me, others copied from PECUSA's 1979 Book of Common Prayer.  Strange that an atheist would composed and publish such a thing, I agree, but I've always had in intense interest in liturgy and ritual, and religion for that matter.

LITURGY OF PREPARATION

The Celebrant shall open the Mass with the following.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

And the People shall respond

And also with you.

V. O Lord, open our lips.
R. And our mouths shall proclaim your praise.

The Celebrant and People say or sing together,

Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire
and lighten with celestial fire;
thou the anointing Spirit art,
who dost thy seven-fold gifts impart.

Thy blessed unction from above
is comfort, life, and fire of love;
enable with perpetual light
the dullness of our mortal sight.

Teach us to know the Father, Son,
and thee, of both, to be but one,
that through the ages all along
this may be our endless song:

Praise to thine eternal merit,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.

V. When you send forth your spirit, they are created;

R. And you renew the face of the Earth.

The Celebrant then says

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Antiphon I will go to the altar of God.

1. Give judgment for me, O God,
and defend my cause against an ungodly people; *
    deliver me from the deceitful and the wicked.

2. For you are the God of my strength;
why have you put me from you? *
    and why do I go so heavily while the enemy
                             oppresses me?

3. Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, *
    and bring me to your holy hill
    and to your dwelling;

4. That I may go to the altar of God,
to the God of my joy and gladness; *
    and on the harp I will give thanks to you, O God my God.

Minister and People

Glory to the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever, world without end. Amen.

Antiphon I will go to the altar of God, to the God of my joy and gladness.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. Give thanks to the Lord for his is good.

R. His mercy endures forever.

The Deacon or Celebrant then says

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Minister and People

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.  We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.  We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.  For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will,and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name.  Amen.

The Bishop when present, or the Priest, stands and says

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life.  Amen.

The Minister then says the following

The way of life is this:  Love the Lord tour God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Love your neighbor and the alien among you as yourself.  Love your enemies and all who hate you. Love one another as Christ Jesus loved us.  Do not do to another what you would not want them to do to you.  And love yourself, for without that none of the rest is possible.  For there is no greater calling than to love.  Amen.

LITURGY OF THE CATECHUMENATE

The people standing, the Celebrant says

              Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

People   And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever.  Amen.

In Lent and on other penitential occasions

Celebrant  Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins.

People       His mercy endures forever.

From Easter Day through the Day of Pentecost

Celebrant  Alleluia.  Christ is risen.

People      The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia.

The following hymn is sung or said, all standing

Glory to God in the highest,
    and peace to all people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
    we worship you, we give you thanks,
    we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
    have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
    receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
    Jesus Christ,
    with the Holy Spirit,
    in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

During Advent and Lent, the Trisagion replaces the Gloria in excelsis.

Holy God,

Holy and Mighty,

Holy Immortal One,

Have mercy on us and the whole world.

V. There is one Body and one Spirit;

R. There is one hope in God’s call to us;

V. One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism;

R. One God and Father of all.

Celebrant  The Lord be with you.

People       And also with you.

The Celebrant shall then say the following verse of Scripture, or else one of those below according to the season.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.    Psalm 19:14

Advent

In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.    Isaiah 40:3

Christmas

Behold, I bring you good news of a great joy, which will come to all the people; for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.    Luke 2:10, 11

Epiphany

I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.    Isaiah 49:6b

Lent

Jesus said, “If anyone will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”   Mark 8:34 

Holy Week

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.    Isaiah 53:6

Easter Season

Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands, a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.    Hebrews 9:24

Day of Pentecost

You shall receive power when the Holy Ghost has come upon you; and you shall be my witness in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.    Acts 1:8

Trinity Sunday

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.    Revelation 4:8

All Saints and other Major Saints' Days

We give thanks to the Father, who has made us worthy to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.    Colossians 1:12

Occasions of Thanksgiving

O give thanks to the Lord, and call upon his Name; make known his deeds among the peoples.    Psalm 105:1

The Old Testament Lesson

The people sit. A Lesson from the Old Testament is read, the Reader first saying

A Reading (Lesson) from                                      .

After the Reading, the Reader shall say

              The word of the Lord.

People   Thanks be to God.

The Psalm

A Psalm or canticle concluding with the Gloria Patri follows the Old Testament Reading.

Gloria Patri

Glory to the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever, world without end.  Amen.  Alleluia. 

During Lent, instead of Alleluia, say:  Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.

The following seasonal antiphons shall be used before the Psalm and after the Gloria Patri.

From the First Sunday in Advent thru Shrove Tuesday:

Rejoice, favored one, for the Lord is with you: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

From Ash Wednesday thru Holy Saturday:

O Savior of the world, who by your cross and precious blood have redeemed us: Save us and help us, we humbly pray.

From Easter Sunday thru Pentecost, and on Christ the King Sunday:

Alleluia.  Christ our Passover has been raised from the dead.  Alleluia.  The first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.  Alleluia.

From Whit Monday thru the Saturday before Christ the King Sunday:

The Word lived among us, full of grace and truth, a light shining in the darkness:  And of his fullness have we all received.

The New Testament Lesson

A Lesson from the New Testament is read, the Reader first saying

A Reading (Lesson) from                                      .

After the Reading, the Reader shall say

              The word of the Lord.

People   Thanks be to God.

The Hymn

A hymn or anthem may follow the New Testament Reading.

The Gospel

Then, all standing, the Deacon or a Priest reads the Gospel, first saying

               The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to ___________.

People    Glory to you, O Lord.

After the Gospel, the Reader says

               The Gospel of the Lord.

People    Praise to you, O Christ.

The Sermon

The Prayers of the People

In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.

Silence

For all people in their daily life and work;
For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.

For this community, the nation, and the world;
For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.

For the just and proper use of your creation;
For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.

For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;
For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.

For the peace and unity of the Church of God;
For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.

For [N. our Presiding Bishop, and N. (N.) our Bishop(s); and for] all bishops and other ministers;
For all who serve God in his Church.

For the special needs and concerns of this congregation.

The People may add their own petitions

Hear us, Lord;
For your mercy is great.

We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life.

The People may add their own thanksgivings

We will exalt you, O God our King;
And praise your Name for ever and ever.

We pray for all who have died, [especially________], that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom.

The People may add their own petitions

Lord, let your loving-kindness be upon them;
Who put their trust in you.

In the communion of [                            and of all the] saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life, to Christ our God.

To you, O Lord our God.

The Celebrant adds the following Doxology

For yours is the majesty, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, now and forever.  Amen.

LITURGY OF THE FAITHFUL

The Peace

All stand. The Celebrant says to the people

               The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People    And also with you.

On Sundays and other Major Feasts there follows, all standing

The Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed

 We believe in one God,
    the Father, the Almighty,
    creator of heaven and earth,
    of all that is, visible and invisible.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
    the only Son of God,
    eternally begotten of the Father,
    Light from Light,
    true God from true God,
    begotten, not made,
    of one Being with the Father,
    Through whom all things were made.
    Who for us and for our salvation
        came down from heaven:
    and became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,

    by the power of the Holy Spirit,
        and was made man.
  Who for our sake was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
        suffered death, and was buried.
   On the third day he rose again
            in accordance with the Scriptures;
        and ascended into heaven
            and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

And 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;
    Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified;
    Who 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 Offertory

One of the following, or some other appropriate sentence of Scripture, may be used

Blessed are you, Lord, God of Israel our father, forever and ever.  Yours, O Lord, are the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for everything that is in heaven and on earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head over all.   1 Chronicles 29:11

Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name; bring offerings and come into his courts.   Psalm 96:8

Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God.   Ephesians 5:2

If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.   Matthew 5:23, 24

During the Offertory, a hymn, psalm, or anthem may be sung.

Representatives of the congregation bring the people's offerings of bread and wine, and money or other gifts, to the deacon or celebrant. The  people stand while the offerings are presented and placed on the Altar.

The Great Thanksgiving

In this prayer, the lines in italics are spoken by the People.

The Celebrant, whether bishop or priest, faces them and sings or says

V. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Spirit be with you.
R. And also with you.

V. Lift up your hearts.
R. We lift them to the Lord.

V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
R. It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Then, facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds

God of all power, Ruler of the Universe, you are worthy of glory and praise.

Glory to you forever and ever.

At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home.

By your will they were created and have their being.

From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill.  You made us the rulers of creation.  But we turned against you, and betrayed
your trust; and we turned against one another.

Have mercy, Lord, for we are sinners in your sight.

Again and again, you called us to return.  Through prophets and sages you revealed your righteous Law.  And in the fullness of time you sent your only Son, born of a woman, to
fulfill your Law, to open for us the way of freedom and peace.

By his blood, he reconciled us.  By his wounds, we are healed.

And therefore we praise you, joining with the heavenly chorus, with prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and with all those in every generation who have looked to you in hope, to proclaim with them your glory, in their unending hymn:

Celebrant and People

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
    Glory to you, O Lord Most High.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
    Hosanna in the highest.

The Celebrant continues

And so, Father, we who have been redeemed by him, and made a new people by water and the Spirit, now bring before you these gifts. Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.

At the following words concerning the bread, the Celebrant is to hold it, or lay a hand upon it, and at the words concerning the cup, to hold or place a hand upon the cup and any other vessel containing wine to be consecrated.

On the night he was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper, he took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Remembering now his work of redemption, and offering to you this sacrifice of thanksgiving,

We celebrate his death and resurrection, as we await the day of his coming.

Lord God of our Fathers: God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: Open our eyes to see your hand at work in the world about us.  Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for renewal.  Let the grace of this Holy Communion make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may worthily serve the world in his name.

Risen Lord, be known to us in the breaking of the Bread.

Accept these prayers and praises, Father, through Jesus Christ our great High Priest, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, your Church gives honor, glory, and worship, from generation to generation. AMEN.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

People and Celebrant

Our Father, blessed be your name.  Send your Spirit to cleanse us, and give us what is sufficient day-by-day.  Forgive us our debts, as we forgive those indebted to us.  Save us from succumbing to temptation, and deliver us from evil.  Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread.

A period of silence is kept.

Then may be sung or said

V. [Alleluia.] Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
R. Therefore let us keep the feast. [Alleluia.]

In Lent, Alleluia is omitted, and may be omitted at other times except during Easter Season.

In place of, or in addition to, the preceding, some other suitable anthem may be used.

Facing the people, the Celebrant says the following Invitation

The Gifts of God for the People of God.  Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

The ministers receive the Sacrament in both kinds, and then immediately deliver it to the people.

The Bread and the Cup are given to the communicants with these words

The Body (Blood) of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you in everlasting life. [Amen.]

or with these words

The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven. [Amen.]
The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation. [Amen.]

During the ministration of Communion, hymns, psalms, or anthems may be sung.

After Communion, the Celebrant says

Let us pray.

Celebrant and People

Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food  in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.  Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Bishop when present, or the Priest, gives the blessing

Remember that you cannot see the kingdom of God come because it is already inside each and every on of us, regardless of our belief or unbelief, or our state of sin.  And may the blessing of God the compassionate and merciful, Creator, Redeemer, and Transformer, be upon you and remain with you forever. Amen.

The Deacon, or the Celebrant, dismisses them with these words

              Let us go gorth in the name of Christ.

People   Thanks be to God.

or these

Deacon  Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

People   Thanks be to God.

or these

Deacon  Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.

People   Thanks be to God.     

or these

Deacon  Let us bless the Lord.

People   Thanks be to God.

From the Easter Vigil through the Day of Pentecost, "Alleluia, alleluia" may be added to any of the dismissals.