Ante-Communion
The liturgy of the word (Pro-anaphora) from the eucharist, without the Great Thanksgiving or communion of the people. Ante-Communion includes the first part of the eucharistic rite through the prayers of the people. It may begin with the Penitential Order if a confession of sin is desired. The BCP (pp. 406-407) provides that a hymn or anthem may be sung after the prayers of the people and the offerings of the people are received. The service may conclude with the Lord's Prayer and with the grace or a blessing or the peace. Ante-Communion (without the final blessing) may be led by a deacon or lay person if a priest is unavailable.
Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.