Lord Jesus Christ. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. R. Amen. ¶ Then the Apostle shall proceed, followed by the Ministers with him, to the Table of Prothesis, and shall say, WE bless consecrate and dedicate this Table for the service of the Altar and for the ministry of him who offereth the intercession. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. R. Amen. After leaving the Table of Prothesis, the Apostle, and Ministers with him shall return to the sanctuary, and the Apostle shall go up to the Altar and turn to the Congregation. Then the Archdeacon shall bring up a lamp burning, and the Apostle shall proceed as follows: HOL TOLY LORD GOD, Almighty and Eternal King, who hast of old ordained Thy creature Fire to be an emblem of Thy presence, revealing Thy glory in the flaming bush unto Thy servant Moses, and dwelling in the Pillar of Fire among Thy people Israel; Who on the day of Pentecost didst send down the Holy Ghost in the likeness of tongues of fire, assuring Thy Church of Thy perpetual presence; Vouchsafe unto us at this time Thy blessing in consecrating this creature of fire to be used in the worship and service of Thy house; For the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with Thee, O Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. R. Amen. Then the Archdeacon, by the direction of the Apostle, shall proceed to light the lamps in the sanctuary, and afterwards the seven lamps in the choir. In the meantime the Apostle and the Ministers with him shall proceed to their places, (the Angel, and the Priests and Deacons, also going to their respective seats,) and the Prophet shall read the Lesson. The Lesson [Deut. xii. 1-14]. ¶ The Psalm [Ps. lxxxiv.]. After the Psalm shall be recited the Litany. After the Suffrage for Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, the following shall be introduced: HAT it may please Thee to hear our prayers, T and to bless, sanctify, and consecrate this Altar, to the glory of Thy holy Name, and to the blessing and edifying of this people, and of thy whole Church; R. We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord. Then shall be celebrated the Holy Eucharist after the usual order, except as is hereinafter directed. The Gloria in Excelsis shall be sung. The Collect. MOST merciful God, who by Thy holy prophet didst foretell that Thy Name should be great among the Gentiles, and that in every place incense and a pure offering should be offered unto Thy Name; Who hast taught us by Thy well-beloved Son, that the hour is come wherein the true worshippers must worship Thee, in every place, in spirit and in truth; Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may continually offer unto Thee pure sacrifices, and true and reasonable worship in the Holy Ghost, and may never wander from Thy most blessed Truth, even from the true Shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, One God, world without end. R. Amen. The Epistle [Heb. xiii. 10-16]. The Anthem after the Epistle. HE stone which the builders refused: THE Is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord's doing: And it is marvellous in our eyes. God is the Lord which hath showed us light: Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: For His mercy endureth for ever. ¶ The Gospel [John, iv. 21–24]. Jesus said, The hour cometh, when, &c. In the Prayer of Oblation (after Consecration). our prayers. Especially at this time we pray Thee, O Lord, be present continually unto the prayers of this Thy people; be present unto their sacraments: be present unto us Thine unworthy servants, who implore Thy mercy and grace upon them. And let Thy Holy Spirit in His manifold gifts descend and rest upon all who shall assemble in this place to worship at this altar, which we have consecrated to Thine honour, and for the praise and glory of Thy Name. R. Amen. The Communion Anthem, as in the Service for Give unto the Lord, &c. Manner of Consecrating a This act of Consecration may be fulfilled in the The Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, may be as in the After the Gospel, the Apostle shall inform the Congregation of what is about to take place, and stir them up to prayer for the Congregation for whose use the Tablet is required. In the Prayer of Oblation the Form "For a particular Church" may be used. After the Prayers of Commemoration, the Angel, assisted by his Deacons, or the Deacons of the place for which the Tablet is required, if present, shall bring up the Tablet before the Sanctuary. The Apostle, turning to them, shall say, Peace be with you. Then kneeling down, he shall proceed with the Collect, "Prevent us, O Lord," &c., and the Versicles, and succeeding Prayer, "O Almighty and Eternal God," [p. 263], omitting the part between brackets, and substituting for the words "this Altar," the words "this Tablet to be an Altar." ¶ He shall then consecrate the Tablet in the form prescribed for the Consecration of an Altar, substituting the words "this Tablet to be an Altar," for the words "this Altar;" and shall then kneel down and offer the subsequent Prayer, "O Almighty God, whose Blessed Son," &c., making the like substitution in the first instance where the word "Altar" occurs, and "thereon," and "herefrom," in the two subsequent instances. The 51st Psalm is not to be sung, but the Apostle shall proceed with the Service for the Administration of the Communion. |