Instructed Eucharist
Today’s worship service will be an instructed Eucharist, meaning that I
will offer a running commentary to educate on the service itself. My comments
will largely concern the actions of our worship. Actions such as bowing at
certain times, or making the sign of the cross. I will explain why some
persons find these actions meaningful. Please know that you do not have to
genuflect, or cross yourself, or anything else special to participate in
worship at King of Peace. If these actions seem like they might be meaningful
to you, please try them out. Many persons find they enhance their worship
experience. However, if it feels false or just like going through the motions
with no meaning for you, then let it go.
As the worship service begins, the priest will ring a bell announcing the
start of our worship together. When the bell rings we stand to join our voices
together in song. This is not incidental. While we come as individuals, we
worship together and the singing begins this communal part of our worship. As
the cross comes forward, it is traditional to bow slightly at the waist
[demonstrate] when the cross passes you. This is done out of reverence for
Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
Hymn
We are now all in place. The first phrase of the service is called the
opening acclamation. As the priest says, "Blessed be God: Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit" many people choose to make the sign of the cross. This is the
first of these instances.
Making the sign of the cross dates to at least 230
a.d. You make the sign
of the cross using your index and middle fingers together, as this is said to
signify that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine. With your hand moving
to your forehead you think (in the name of the Father) then as your hand moves
to your sternum (in the name of the Son), and finally, your hand touches first
the left shoulder and then the right shoulder as you think (and of the Holy
Spirit). Some persons also finish by touching their hand over their heart.
[demonstrate]
The sign of the cross is Trinitarian, as one thinks of the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit when making the sign of the cross. This makes any time the
Trinity is named an appropriate time to make the sign of the cross. The
gesture is also a manual amen, an outward sign of your inward assent, saying
yes to what has been said. As the worship begins, you assent outwardly showing
that you are moving inwardly into worship.
Celebrant + Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever.
Amen.
Celebrant Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all
desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our
hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Collect of the Day
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Let us pray.
The Celebrant then says a pray written to collect the main
ideas conveyed in the readings for the day.
Finally, you are seated. While we do not have kneelers at King of Peace, it
should be mentioned that it is typical to be able to kneel in Episcopal
worship services and one kneels to pray, sits to listen, and stands to
proclaim something in word or song. At King of Peace, we sit to listen and
stand when the congregation proclaims in word or song.
The Lessons
A Reading from the Old Testament is read
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Psalm
A portion of the Psalms is read.
A reading from a New Testament epistle is read.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
In just a moment, the Gospel will be read. As the Gospels tell us of Jesus’
life and ministry as well as recording his words, we treat this reading in a
special way which shows our particular reverence for Jesus’ words and actions.
A Gospel procession lead by the cross and torch bearers processes out into the
middle of the congregation for the reading, showing outwardly that the Gospel
lives in our midst, and it is in the midst of us the Gospel is both proclaimed
and lived. As the cross makes it way out, turn to continue facing the cross,
so that you will be facing the Celebrant as the Gospel is read.
As the Gospel is announced, with the words, "The Holy Gospel of Our Lord
Jesus Christ according to Matthew" many persons find it meaningful to make a
three fold sign of the cross on their forehead, mouth and chest like so
[demonstrate] while thinking that this Gospel proclaimed in our midst is to be
on my mind, on my lips on my heart.
Hymn
The Gospel
The Gospel is read, preceded by the following
+ + + The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
As the reading ends, the following response is given:
Reader The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord
Christ.
The Sermon
The service continues with the Creed. The Nicene Creed is said on Sundays
and on other major feast days of the church, such as Christmas. We use the
Apostle’s Creed for our mid-week worship of Morning Prayer and at Baptisms. As
the Creed is finishing with the words "We look for the resurrection of the
dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen." We cross ourselves again as
this is appropriate in closing the Trinitarian statement of faith, and also
because it is the Trinity we trust that we will partake in the life of the
world to come.
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
+ We look for the resurrection of the
dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Prayers of the People
The prayers change each week to reflect the readings, but
they always include prayers for the world, the church, our nation and local
needs as well as a chance for the congregation to add their own prayers
silently or aloud.
We continue with the confession of sin and absolution. When the priest
announces God’s absolution of sins for all who truly repent, it is customary
to make the sign of the cross. Then as the priest asks us to share The Peace,
we can shake hands or hug those around us, even kissing close family members
if you wish. As you greet others, you may say, "Peace" or "God’s peace" or
similar words.
Sharing the peace was important from early times in Christian worship. When
the Church was persecuted by Rome, visitors could only stay through The Peace
and would be asked to leave at that point. Only baptized Christians were
allowed to remain for the rest of the worship service in those days of
persecution by the Roman Empire which ended with Constantine in 323.
Confession of Sin
Celebrant Let us confess our sins against God and our
neighbor.
Celebrant and People
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Celebrant Almighty God have mercy on you, +
forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all
goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life.
Amen.
The Peace
Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
The Holy Communion
Following the announcements the service continues with the
offering. Please do not feel compelled to give. The offering is not for guests
and visitors, but is for those who wish to give back to God through supporting
the ministry of King of Peace.
The offering will next be taken and the bread and wine for communion will
be brought forward. These are important actions, and through both our very
lives are offered at the altar. The offering will not be whisked away, but
will lay on the altar as our worship continues, showing that the gifts we have
given to King of Peace are offered to God. They represent the fruit of our
lives offered in thanksgiving to our God.
Hymn
We continue with the Eucharistic Prayer. The whole service is communion.
This prayer, named from the Greek word "Eucharist," which means "Thanksgiving"
is when we specifically remember Jesus’ death and resurrection and ask God to
bless us with God’s own self—the presence of the Trinity in the bread and wine
we offer. The first song we sing in this portion of the service is called the
Sanctus, from the Latin for Holy as we sing Holy, Holy, Holy following the
words of the Angels in Isaiah chapter 6. It is customary to cross oneself at
the words, Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord as an affirmation
that we know the one who came in the Name, or essence, of God was and is
Jesus, in whom was the fullness of the Trinity we worship today.
The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer A
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Lift up your hearts.
People We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Celebrant It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of
heaven and earth. Through Jesus Christ our Lord; who on the first day of the
week overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to
us the way of everlasting life. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices
with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever
sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full of your glory
Hosanna in the highest
+ Blessed is he who comes in the
name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest.
Celebrant Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite
love you made us for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become
subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only
and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to
reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.
He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered
himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.
The priest lifts the elements of bread and wine to us. In
one way this reenacts Jesus last meal with his disciples but in a deeper way,
it shows that we too are partaking in that meal. Jesus asks us to take and
eat, and for all of us to drink.
On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our
Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke
it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which
is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given
thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you: This is my
Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the
forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of
me."
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Celebrant and People:
Christ has died
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
The Celebrant continues
We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of
praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we
offer you these gifts.
Now the priest will make the sign of the cross over the
elements of bread and wine asking God to bless them with divine presence,
making them into Jesus body and blood. Then at the words "sanctify us," it is
customary to make the sign of the cross, as a manual amen, showing that you
assent to God’s presence come in and making you Holy.
Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the
Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life
in him. + Sanctify us also that we may
faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and
peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your
eternal kingdom.
All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: By him, and
with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is
yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever.
In some churches it is customary to join hands with those around you for
The Lord’s Prayer. You may do so if you wish and it seems comfortable to those
seated nearby.
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to
say,
People and Celebrant
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
The Breaking of the Bread
The Celebrant breaks the Bread. A period of silence is kept.
Celebrant Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
All baptized Christians are welcome to come forward to
receive communion. You may also come forward for the priest to pray for God’s
blessing for you. To signify that you want a blessing rather than communion,
cross your arms in a X over your chest.
In coming forward for communion, some people in a more Anglo-Catholic, or
high church, tradition genuflect as they get to the aisle and before they come
up, while others make a slight bow from the waist. Both actions show the
reverence we feel for God’s presence in this worship service and in the
communion. It is also common to bow or genuflect like this any time one enters
or leaves the pew or in our case, row of chairs.
Then in receiving the bread of communion, it is customary to place your
right hand on your left and put them out like this [demonstrate] to receive
the bread. As we use real bread and it takes moment to chew, please take your
time in receiving the wine and if you are not ready, wait. This will introduce
a pause as helpful for those who follow as for yourself.
The Bread and the Cup are given with these words
The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven. [Amen.]
The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation. [Amen.]
After Communion, the Celebrant says: Let us pray.
Celebrant and People
Almighty and everliving God,
we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food
of the most precious Body and Blood
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ;
and for assuring us in these holy mysteries
that we are living members of the Body of your Son,
and heirs of your eternal kingdom.
And now, Father, send us out
to do the work you have given us to do,
to love and serve you
as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord.
To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
This commentary ends now as our worship is nearly complete. Keep in mind
that though you now will hopefully better understand what actions are
customary and why, you should not feel compelled to add these actions to your
worship, unless you feel it is God who is doing the bidding. Try the actions
out and find if they become meaningful for you.
In the entry hall you will find a booklet called "An
Annotated Eucharist"
which gives a commentary on our worship service from a more historical
perspective. I would encourage you to pick up a copy of that booklet to read
through as well as it also provides additional depth of understanding of our
common worship.
Hymn
Celebrant Alleluia. Let us for forth in the name of Christ.
People Thanks be to God. Alleluia.
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