Every Wednesday: 10:00 - 11:00, Mundesley Community Hub, NR11 8BE
A seated Holy Communion service (without hymns) held in Mundesley Community Hub (opposite the Parish Church). Everyone is very welcome, and the service is followed by fellowship, coffee & other refreshments.
What to expect
For our service, we sit in the round (chairs in a circle). Each chair has a red book (Common Worship: Holy Communion Order One) on the seat and maybe a handwritten prayer.
Please feel free to sit where you like, we are a friendly and accommodating bunch here! You won't be expected to stand for any points of the service.
The service lasts about 40 minutes and follows the red book through prayers, liturgy, bible readings, a short homily, intercessions, sharing the peace, eucharistic prayer, partaking in in communion and ending in prayer.
The Red Book
We use Common Worship: Holy Communion Order One at our Holy Communion services. If you'd like to know any of the contents the book, you can find that information here: https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/worship-texts-and-resources/common-worship/holy-communion-service
If at any point in the service, you loose your place in the book, please do ask someone sitting near you and they will be happy to assist. Words that are said together are printed in bold with the word 'All' written in red just to the left of the text.
Prayers
The service starts and ends in prayer, as well as offering prayers throughout. The prayers said are most often in the red book, aside from the 'Collect' and intercessions.
Liturgy
Liturgy refers to the set patterns, words, actions and order used in public worship Bible readings
A Short Homily
The homily is a short talk (sometimes called a sermon), that is around 5-8 minutes long, usually based on the bible readings or a saint/person that the Church of England celebrates within the church calendar - more information on that here: https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/worship-texts-and-resources/common-worship/churchs-year/calendar.
Intercessions
Intercessions are a specific type of prayer, usually said by the homilist, that most often follows this structure:
- The Church of Christ;
- Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority;
- The local community;
- Those who suffer;
- The communion of saints.
Between each section, there will be a 'call and response', most often:
'Lord, in your mercy
(All) hear our prayer.'
If you feel comfortable joining in the response, please do but if you would not, that is absolutely fine.
During intercessions, we pray for those who have left prayers in our church (both at the Community Hub and at All Saints, Mundesley). You may be handed one of these prayers, or you may find one on your seat. When it comes to the time in the intercessions when we pray for those who have left these prayers, we take it in turns, going clockwise around the circle, starting with the homilist leading the intercessions. If you would rather not read a prayer aloud, that is totally understandable, please place the prayer upon the altar (the table with a white tablecloth on) so it can be given to someone else.
Sharing the Peace
This is a time in the service to offer a sign of peace to others in the room. You can do this however you feel comfortable. Most often in our services, we stay seated, lift our hands and look at each person in the room saying 'peace be with you'. This is not obligatory and you're welcome to use this time however is fruitful to you
Eucharistic Prayer
This refers to the liturgy that is prayed in preparation to receive communion. The priest will let you know which prayer will be used for that service (a, b, c, d, etc) and the page number. You are invited to join in the words in bold, but you're welcome to listen if you prefer.
Partaking in Holy Communion
We chose to minister communion with individual wafers (gluten free available, please ask) and (alcoholic) wine from the common cup. The common cup is shared amongst the congregation and wiped clean by the server between each serving.
Communion will be shared in the round (you stay seated and the server comes to you) or at the altar (the congregation queues in front of the priest).
ALL are welcome to partake in Holy Communion, but if you would prefer a blessing, please let the priest know.
End in Prayer
The service ends in prayer as laid out in the red book, followed by 'The Dismissal', which leads into a time of fellowship: good conversation, coffee, tea, cake and biscuits!
Testimonials
"Friendly fellowship in an informal setting"
"I look forward to the wonderful service on Wednesdays"
"I feel as part of a family, my church family, friendly, open, welcoming, supporting. a very important and unmissable part of my week!"
"The Holy Spirit is in this place and we feel that God is truly with us"
"We often use a short prayer for the Eucharist (H) - one that allows us all to join un and to feel part of the sacred action"
"A beautiful hour of peaceful reflection and friendship"
"The most relaxing and peaceful morning of the week and very friendly"
"The most meaningful communion service, such a welcoming group, full of love"
"Feeling of love and warmth comes to the core worship of Jesus in this place"
Morning Prayer
Occasionally, we opt to do morning prayer instead of Holy Communion (about once every two months). The format for morning prayer is very similar but omits partaking in Holy Communion and we use a simple morning prayer booklet instead, which you can find an electronic copy of below.
If you would like to find out more or have any questions, please do reach out - either in person at Mundesley Community Hub or contact: Rector: Revd Dr Sally Myers (Sally) 07840 399185 [email protected] (rest day: Monday)