SURSUM CORDA The Lord be with you. And with thy spirit. Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised. We lift them up unto the Lord. Let us give thanks unto the Lord. It is meet and right so to do. It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, almighty, everlasting God. Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name, evermore praising thee and saying (singing ): The pastor may lower hands. The people sing (UMH 28) or say: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts: Heaven and earth are full of thy glory! Glory be to thee, O Lord most high! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord!| Hosanna in the highest! The pastor may raise hands. Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption; who made there, by the one offering of himself, a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world; and didst institute, and in his holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of his precious death until his coming again: The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread and cup. Hear us, O merciful Father, we most humbly beseech thee; and bless and sanctify with thy Word and Holy Spirit these thy gifts of bread and wine, that we, receiving them according to thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ's holy institution, in remembrance of his passion, death, and resurrection, may be partakers of the divine nature through him: The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread, or touch the bread, or lift the bread. Who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me." The pastor may raise hands, as the people join in praying: O Lord, our heavenly Father, we, thy humble servants, desire thy fatherly goodness mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; most humbly beseeching thee to grant that, by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in his blood, we and thy whole Church may obtain forgiveness of our sins, and all other benefits of his passion. And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto thee; humbly beseeching thee that all we who are partakers of this Holy Communion may be filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction. And although we be unworthy, through our manifold sins, to offer unto thee any sacrifice, yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service, not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offenses; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end. Amen. If the Lord's Prayer has not been prayed earlier in the service, it is prayed at this time. BREAKING THE BREAD The pastor, still standing behind the Lord's table facing the people, breaks the bread and then lifts the cup, in silence or with appropriate words. The following prayer may then be prayed: PRAYER OF HUMBLE ACCESS We do not presume to come to this thy table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy table. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to partake of this Sacrament of thy Son Jesus Christ, that we may walk in newness of life, may grow into his likeness, and may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen. Here may be sung (UMH 30-31) or spoken: O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, grant us thy peace. GIVING THE BREAD AND CUP When the bread is given, one or both of the following sentences are said: The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee, preserve thy soul and body unto everlasting life. Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and feed on him in thy heart by faith with thanksgiving. When the cup is given, one or both of the following sentences are said: The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy soul and body unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ's blood was shed for thee, and be thankful. The congregation sings hymns while the bread and cup are given. Many hymns, songs, and choruses in UMH in addition to 612–41 and others listed under Holy Communion (943) are effective in expressing the people's loving communion with God and one another. The day or season of the Christian year and the people's knowledge and love of particular hymns are important considerations in the selection of appropriate hymns. It is particularly effective if the people can sing from memory. When all have received, the Lord's table is put in order, and a prayer of thanksgiving after communion may be spoken or sung. See the hymns following Communion listed in UMH 952. HYMN OR SONG OF THANKSGIVING*  DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING* The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen. GOING FORTH*