COMMUNION FROM THE RESERVED SACRAMENT
10 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. WHAT IS THIS SERVICE CALLED?
This service is called “Communion from the Reserved Sacrament” and may follow either
Morning Prayer or the Liturgy of the Word. It may also be used at funeral services in special
circumstances where the family desires to have the Eucharist, but no priest is available.
2. ARE THERE LIMITS TO PROVISION OF THIS SERVICE?
In the Diocese of Newark, the Bishop has given permission for deacons in good standing in the
Diocese of Newark, to provide this service to deacons at times when no supply priest is
available, up to six times within a calendar year. Beyond this provision, a deacon must first
consult personally with the bishop.
3. WILL A DEACON RECEIVE A STIPEND FOR THIS SERVICE?
The deacon will be granted the diocesan-recommended stipend plus mileage for supply priests,
regardless of whether the service is being conducted in the deacon’s own parish, or in another.
4. MAY DEACONS RESPOND TO A GENERAL CALL TO CLERGY FOR SUNDAY
SUPPLY?
It is inappropriate for deacons to answer a general call to clergy for supply. He or she must be
personally approached either through the rector or warden of the church in question.
5. HOW THEN IS THE CALL FOR A SERVICE OF COMMUNION FROM THE RESERVED
SACRAMENT EXTENDED TO DEACONS?
If the rector must be absent and no supply priests can be found, rectors (or wardens, in the
absence of a rector) invite the deacon who is already assigned to their congregation to provide
the service. The deacon then notifies the Archdeacon for Administration that such a service will
take place.
6. WHAT IF THERE IS NO DEACON ASSIGNED TO A CONGREGATION WHERE A
SUPPLY IS NEEDED?
The rector or warden may approach the rector of a neighboring parish and with that rector’s
knowledge and consent, invite their deacon to provide the service.
ALSO: Rectors or wardens may contact the Archdeacon for Administration, who also maintains
a list of deacons not currently assigned to a parish, are approved by the Bishop, and are available
to provide such services.
TO ASSIST THE ARCHDEACON’S RECORD-KEEPING: Once the initial contact has been
made, it is the deacon’s responsibility to notify the Archdeacon beforehand that an agreement is
in place. Following the service, it is the rector or warden’s responsibility to notify the
Archdeacon that the service has been provided.
7. WHO CHOOSES THE SERVICE TYPE THAT COMMUNION FROM THE RESERVED
SACRAMENT WILL TAKE?
The responsibility for choice of service type (i.e., Morning Prayer, or Liturgy of the Word), the
selections of readings, printing and emailing the bulletin to the deacon in plenty of time, belongs
to the rector/warden and the parish administrator where the service is to be held.
8. WHAT LITURGICAL PRAYER MAY THE DEACON USE?
A special liturgical prayer has been authorized for deacons only by the Bishop and the Diocesan
Committee on Music and Liturgy, and is to be used on occasions of Communion from the
Reserved Sacrament only.
9. WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THE DEACON WHILE SUPPLYING IN A CONGREGATION?
The deacon reviews the Bulletin within the week before the appointed date; arrives early enough
to become familiar with the liturgical space, check that the Gospel book is properly marked;
check before the service for special prayer requests and blessings (birthdays, anniversaries);
assemble and pray with service assistants just prior to service; provide the congregation with an
explanation of Communion from the Reserved Sacrament before the service begins; give the
homily; attend coffee hour; sign the parish register.
10. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING THE PROCESS?
The Archdeacon for Administration is responsible recording all instances of Communion from
the Reserved Sacrament provided by deacons throughout the diocese, and for making a report to
the Bishop on a semiannual basis (January; July). He/she will also alert the bishop to possible
irregularities in the process. The bishop is ultimately responsible for monitoring the success of
this ministry and to call for adjustments.
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THIS POLICY IS TO BE IMPLEMENTED ON THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
SEASON, DECEMBER 2ND, 2012, AND TO EXTEND FOR A TRIAL PERIOD OF ONE
LITURGICAL YEAR, THROUGH DECEMBER 1ST, 2013. AT THAT TIME, A REVIEW BY
THE BISHOP, THE MUSIC AND LITURGY COMMITTEE AND THE ARCHDEACONS
WILL BE CONDUCTED.
Respectfully submitted, The Rev. Liz Ostuni, Archdeacon for Witness in the
Diocese of Newark (Jan 3, 2013)
PRIOR TO EVERY SERVICE WHERE COMMUNION FROM THE
RESERVED SACRAMENT IS BEING OFFERED, THE DEACON SAYS:
Good Morning. I’m (Deacon __________). I’ve been invited by your rector
(warden) to celebrate (The Liturgy of the Word followed by the Reserved
Sacrament; or: Morning Prayer followed by the Reserved Sacrament).
In the Episcopal Church, only a priest is authorized to consecrate the elements of
bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Our Savior, Jesus Christ.
However, in accordance with the Canons of Episcopal Church, and of the Diocese
of Newark, if your rector (or warden) has been unable to find a supply priest for
Sunday and if the elements have already been consecrated by a priest at a previous
service, then a deacon like myself, may distribute the pre-consecrated elements to
the congregation. This service is called “Communion From the Reserved
Sacrament”.
Our Bishop, Mark Beckwith has granted to deacons the right to exercise this
privilege a specific number of times (currently: six) within a calendar year. We
have this guideline from the Bishop so that the our congregations will not confuse
the roles of priest and deacon but continue to see them as two equal but separate
ordained orders, each exercising two very distinct roles in the Church.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
SERVICE FOR COMMUNION FROM THE RESERVED SACRAMENT
DEVELOPED AND APPROVED BY THE BISHOP OF NEWARK
AND THE DIOCESAN COMMITTEE ON MUSIC AND LITURGY
(Following the directions on bottom of p. 408, BCP)
Morning Prayer: Apostles Creed and The Prayers, up through Collects;
(Or:) Liturgy of the Word: the Nicene Creed; Prayers of the People
Confession: (Deacon uses words of lay absolution (plural pronouns)
Exchange of the Peace
Offertory Sentence: (p 376, BCP); and acceptance of offerings
Deacon: All things come of thee O Lord,
People: And of Thine own have we given Thee.
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The Deacon spreads a corporal on the Altar, and reverently removes the Blessed Sacrament
from the tabernacle or ambry and places it on the corporal.
Deacon: Let us pray.
Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before He suffered,
instituted the Sacrament of His Body and Blood: Mercifully grant
that we may receive it thankfully, in remembrance of Jesus Christ
our Lord, Who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal
life; and Who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. (BCP p. 274)
Deacon leads The Lord’s Prayer
Deacon: Now, as our savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say:
“Our Father. . .
Invitation to receive from the Reserved Sacrament:
Deacon: Be present, be present, O Jesus, our great high Priest as
you were present with your disciples, and known to us in the
breaking of the bread; who lives and reigns with the Father and the
Holy Spirit, one God. Amen (BCP p. 834)
Deacon: The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in
remembrance the Christ died for you, and feed on him in your
hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
(Chalicer distributes wine, and helps deacon clear table, if desired.)
Deacon and Chalicer:
The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven.
The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.
(After communion- Deacon and chalicer or acolyte clear table. Then the deacon introduces one
of the post-communion prayers--(BCP p. 365 or 366).The deacon does not bless the people, but
may then offer one of the following)
“The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make his face to shine
upon us, and be gracious to us. The Lord lift up his countenance
upon us and give us peace.” (P 114, BCP, Order for Evening)
Or:
“Let us bless the Lord”
“Thanks be to God”
Followed by one of the three suggestions for conclusion of Morning Prayer: ( Service, p. 102,
BCP.)
Deacon: Dismissal (from the back of the church)
Additional Notes:
For Liturgy of the Word followed by Communion from the Reserved
Sacrament: deacon vests in white alb and deacon’s stole of
appropriate color for season;
For Morning Prayer followed by Communion from Reserved Sacrament:
deacon vests in cassock, surplice and stole.
Gospel book in center of altar as usual
Deacon uses his/her own prayer book or a special bulletin.
Credence table: extra chalice for grape juice, if used
Ambry: Reserved elements
Altar
Frontal, color of season
Corporal
Paten (no host)
Chalice for wine, but empty
Chalice pall and burse as usual for Sunday
Reserved elements (hosts, wine and grape juice) in ambry
Music: Liturgy of the Word, as usual: Processional, Sequence, Offertory,
Communion and Recessional; Morning Prayer, optional
Homilist: Deacon
Biddings, sentences, and prayers: introduced by the deacon, unless
otherwise arranged.