Presentation of the Candidates:
Priest: Dear Friends in Christ, N, N and N are to be entrusted with administering Holy Communion at the Eucharist.
N …, in this ministry, you must be examples of Christian living in faith and conduct; you must strive to grow in holiness through this sacrament of unity and love. Remember that, though many, we are one body because we share the one bread and the one cup.
As ministers of Holy Communion, be therefore especially observant of the Lord’s command to love your neighbour. For when he gave his body as food to his disciples, he said to them, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
Examination:
Priest: Are you resolved to undertake faithfully the office of administration of Holy Communion to your brothers and sisters, and to serve to build up the Church?
Assistant being commissioned: I am.
Priest: Are you resolved to administer the Holy Communion with the utmost care and reverence?
Assistant being commissioned: I am.
Priest: Dear friends in Christ, let us pray with confidence to the Father; let us ask him to bestow his blessing on N, N, and N, chosen to be Lay Assistants at Holy Communion.
Prayer of Blessing
Gracious Lord, you nourish us with the Body and Blood of your Son, that we might have eternal life.
Bless our brothers/sisters who have been chosen to give the bread of heaven
and the cup of salvation to your faithful people.
May the holy mysteries they distribute
Lead them to the joys of eternal life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Each candidate then receives the Bishop’s certificate of permission to officiate as a Lay Assistant at Holy Communion.
The Intercessions follow.