PART ONE:  THE LITURGY OF THE WORD 

THE PRELUDE (usually organ music; occasionally a soloist)
People enter the church quietly, find seats, and spend time in quiet reflection and prayer.

PROCESSIONAL
People stand and sing a processional hymn (the number will be printed in your bulletin) as the clergy, choir, and other ministers enter the sanctuary and process up to the altar.  People remain standing until the First Lesson.

OPENING ACCLAMATION
Celebrant:  "Blessed be God:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit"
People:      "And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever.  Amen"

THE COLLECT FOR PURITY  (Said by the celebrant)
"Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desired 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."

THE GLORIA  (Sung in unison by the people.  At times, another hymn of praise may be substituted.)
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to His 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.

THE COLLECT OF THE DAY
Celebrant:  "The Lord be with you"
People:      "And also with you"
Celebrant:  "Let us pray."

The celebrant will then offer a brief prayer, or "collect," as defined for that day.  The people say together "Amen."

The people may then be seated.

THE FIRST LESSON
This is a scripture reading, defined by the Lectionary, and read by a member of the congregation (known as a lector or "lay reader").
 Usually two lessons are offered, in which case the second lesson will come after the psalm (below).

Reader:  "A reading from the book of ______"

The reader then reads the lesson, and the people listen attentively or follow along with the text (printed in the bulletin).  At the conclusion of the reading:

Reader:  "The Word of the Lord"
People:  "Thanks be to God"

THE PSALM
The psalm may be read, chanted or sung, in unison or responsorially.  The celebrant may announce the format, or it will be indicated in your bulletin.

THE GOSPEL (Read by a member of the clergy.)
The people stand.

The Gospel is often introduced by a cantor in the following manner:

Cantor (singing):             "Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia" (or another appropriate phrase)
People (stand and sing):  "Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia"
Cantor chants a phrase from the day's gospel
All together sing:             "Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia"

Alternatively, the Gospel may be introduced by the singing of a "Gradual" or "Sequence Hymn", which may be sung by the congregation as well as the choir.

During this time, the clergy person who will read the gospel processes to the front of the altar, so as to read the gospel from among the people
Occasionally, the gospel may be read from the pulpit.

Priest:   "The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to _______"
People: "Glory to you, Lord Christ"

The gospel is read.  People listen attentively, standing.  At the conclusion of the reading:

Priest:  "The Gospel of the Lord:
People: "Praise to you, Lord Christ."

THE SERMON
The priest will offer a brief prayer, and then invite the people to be seated for the sermon.

THE NICENE CREED (said in unison)
The people stand.

"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 worshipped 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 PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
People remain standing.

The prayers are read by a member of the congregation called an "intercessor."  After each of the prayers, the following, or a similar formula, is said:

Intercessor:  "Lord in your mercy,"
People:        "Hear our prayer"

Or:

Intercessor: "We pray to the Lord"
People:        "Lord, hear our prayer"

THE CONFESSION OF SIN (Said in unison)
The people kneel and say together:

"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 hearts; 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 PEACE
The people stand and offer one another a sign of peace (saying "peace" or "peace be with you" or "peace of Christ be with you" or similar words to that effect).

A HYMN
People remain standing and sing together.  Children enter the sanctuary from Children's Chapel and join their parents.

PART TWO:  THE HOLY COMMUNION, OR THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

THE OFFERING OF BREAD, WINE, MONEY, AND FOOD
The people remain seated.  The choir sings an anthem as the ushers collect the offering.  The bread and wine is brought up to the altar.
A priest or deacon prepares the table for the eucharist as the celebrant vests (i.e., dons a cape-like garment called a "chasuble").
At the conclusion of the offering:

Celebrant:  "All things come of thee, O Lord"
People:      "And of thine own have we given thee"

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
The people stand.  The Great Thanksgiving may be spoken or chanted:

Celebrant:  "The Lord be with you."
People:      "And also with you."
Celebrant:  "Lift up your hearts"
People:      "We lift them to the Lord"
Celebrant:  "Let us give thanks to the Lord our God"
People:      "It is right to give him thanks and praise"

The celebrant continues with the preface of the day.  Then the congregation joins in the Sanctus:

THE SANCTUS
This may be sung, chanted or spoken in unison:

"Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest."

The people may remain standing or kneel as they prefer as the eucharistic prayer continues.  In the course of the prayer, the Celebrant and the people say together:

"Christ has died.
Christ has risen.
Christ will come again."

Or:

"We remember his death,
We proclaim his resurrection,
We await his coming in glory."

The Celebrant continues.  The people join in saying The Lord's Prayer:

THE LORD'S PRAYER
Said in unison:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, now and for ever.  Amen."

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD
The celebrant breaks the bread

THE INVITATION TO COMMUNION
The Celebrant may invite the people to communion using the following formula, or something similar:

Celebrant:  "Alleluia!  Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us."
People:      "Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!"

The ushers will direct people to come up for communion row by row.  All baptized persons, whether Episcopalian or not, are welcome to come forward.  Baptized children of all ages are included in this invitation.  Those who do not wish to receive communion may come forward to receive a blessing...simply cross your arms over your chest to indicate this.  People who don't wish to come forward may remain in their seats.  Hymns are usually sung during communion, and everyone is welcome (and encouraged!) to join in the singing.

POST-COMMUNION PRAYER
Said by all in unison.  People may stand or kneel, as they prefer.

"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 BLESSING
A blessing offered by the Celebrant.

THE RECESSIONAL HYMN
People stand and join in the singing as the clergy, choir and other ministers process out.

THE DISMISSAL
The people remain standing (in some Episcopal churches it is traditional to kneel for the dismissal).  A clergy person dismisses them, using the following or a similar formula:

Priest:   "Let us go forth in peace to love and serve the Lord"
People: "Thanks be to God"

THE POSTLUDE (Usually organ music, occasionally a soloist)
The people exit.