Communion for the Sick & Shut-Ins for Lay Eucharistic Visitors

Communion for the Sick & Shut-Ins  (BCP, 396)

Form to be used by Eucharistic Visitors

 

This form is intended for use with those who for reasonable cause cannot be present at a public celebration of the Eucharist.  It is desirable that fellow parishioners, relatives, and friends be present, when possible, to communicate with them.

 

The Eucharistic Visitor reads one passage of Scripture (usually the Gospel) from the Lectionary Readings that Sunday (“Propers”)or else one of the following:

 

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

 

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:35

 

Jesus said, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” John 6:51, 55-56

 

Jesus said, “Abide in me, as I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love.” John 15:4-5a, 8-9

 

After the Reading, the Eucharistic Visitor may comment on it briefly. 

 

Suitable prayers may be offered, concluding with the Collect of the Day or the following:

 

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before He suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, Who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

 

A Confession of Sin follows.

 

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 Eucharistic Visitor alone says

 

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

Amen.

 

The Peace is then exchanged.

 

The Lord’s Prayer is said by all, the Eucharistic Visitor first saying

 

Let us pray in the words our Savior Christ has taught us.

 

Our Father, Who art in heaven,

hallowed by 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. Amen.

 

The Eucharistic Visitor says the following Invitation

 

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

 

The Sacrament is administered with either of the following words:

 

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

The Body of Christ: the Bread of Heaven. [Amen.]

 

If a person desires to receive the Sacrament, but, by reason of extreme sickness or physical disability, is unable to eat the Bread, the Eucharistic Visitor is to assure the person that all the benefits of Communion are received, even though the Sacrament is not received with the mouth.

 

One of the following Postcommunion Prayers is then said.

 

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.

 

                      or

 

Almighty and everliving God,

we thank You for feeding us with the spiritual food

of the most precious Body and Blood

of Your Son our Savior Jesus Christ;

and for assuring us in these holy mysteries

that we are living members of the Body of Your Son,

and heirs of Your eternal kingdom.

And now, Father, send us out

to do the work You have given us to do,

to love and serve You

as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord.

To Him, to You, and to the Holy Spirit,

be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

 

                     or

 

Gracious Father, we give You praise and thanks for this Holy Communion of the Body and

Blood of Your beloved Son Jesus Christ, the pledge of our redemption; and we pray that it

may bring us forgiveness of our sins, strength in our weakness, and everlasting salvation;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

 

The service then concludes with a blessing or with a dismissal.

 

Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God.