This is a page to promote understanding and conversation regarding our Sunday Morning liturgy for Holy Eucharist. It is a work in progress, so please bear with us.
Ministry of the Word
The service is generally divided into two halves: The Ministry of the Word is first, and the Holy Communion (or Ministry of the Table) is second. The Ministry of the Word, as you might have guessed, focuses on reading and reflecting together on Scripture.
Prelude
The service begins with background instrumental music, and an opportunity for everyone to greet and be greeted, and find their seat.
Processional
The Processional Hymn is usually an energetic song by which the altar party can process from the back of the worship space to the front. The Acolyte (or altar assistant) who carries the cross always goes first (unless there’s incense which is rare at St. Michael’s). This Acolyte is called the Crucifer, and is followed (when available) by another Acolyte who holds the Gospel Book. Last in the procession is the priest who is leading the service, also known as the Celebrant. When additional participants are present, they proceed somewhere in the middle of this order.
Collect for Purity: “Almighty God…”
the Collect (another word for “prayer”) that follows the Processional is commonly known as the Collect for Purity. This title is drawn from the phrase “cleanse our hearts”, and is designed to prepare the hearts of the congregation to hear the Scripture Readings in an attitude of worship.
This prayer originates many centuries ago, as a preparatory prayer for the clergy before the service. Eventually it became standard practice for the congregation to hear it together, recognizing the importance of a pure heart for all those assembled, and not the priests and deacons only. Still, the Collect for Purity is optional, and some parishes choose not to use it at the opening of the Eucharist.
It is worth reflecting on the spirit in which this Collect is originally written, and holding it up to the light of our current worldview. Whereas the medeival church was in the habit of looking askance at the “secular” nature of the outside world, decrying the dirty and contaminated state of things, we tend to see it differently today. All truth is God’s truth, and all things were declared good by their Creator in the first chapter of Scripture. Therefore, we don’t see our “secular” experiences in the world as being corrupting and contaminating. We don’t see it as dirt that needs to be purified before we entre the spiritually antiseptic environment of the church.
When we choose to pray the Collect for Purity, rather than drawing a distinction between the secular world and the church, we can reflect on the ways in which our choices throughout the week have distanced us from God and from one another. Thus, we can ask God to “cleanse our hearts” from old assumptions, and thoughts which no longer serve us, so that they can be filled with God’s thoughts of love and forgiveness.
Gloria / Song of Praise
Notes coming soon
Collect of the Day
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Scripture Readings
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Holy Gospel
Notes coming soon
Sermon
Notes coming soon
Nicene Creed
Notes coming soon
Prayers of the People
Notes coming soon
Confession & Absolution
Notes coming soon
The Peace
Notes coming soon
The Holy Communion
This is the second half of the service, which focuses on the blessing and receiving of the Eucharist.
The Offertory
Notes coming soon
The Presentation
Notes coming soon
The Great Thanksgiving
Notes coming soon
Sanctus
Notes coming soon
Eucharistic Prayer (A,B,C or D)
Notes coming soon
The Lord’s Prayer
Notes coming soon
Breaking of the Bread
Notes coming soon
Communion
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Post-Communion Prayer
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Blessing
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Closing Hymn
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Dismissal
Notes coming soon