Celebrating the Holy Eucharist

Our service bulletin contains prayers from The Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. We have a weekly insert containing the readings from the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament); a psalm; a reading from the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) and a reading from the Gospels and the hymns of the day. We use 2 hymnals for music - one a dark blue book called “The Hymnal 1982” and the other is a red book called “Lift Every Voice And Sing II” (LEVAS II).

A few minutes before the 10:30 service there will be some music called the Prelude. It is meant to help us gather ourselves and prepare for the service. Most of the time it is with either organ or piano.

Our 10:30 service will start with a song that everyone sings while standing.  There will be a procession of the choir and liturgical ministers (people who have specific jobs to do during the service) followed by the deacon and priest. The procession is led by the cross and you may see people bowing to the cross as it passes by as a gesture of respect.

The 8:30 service will have a quiet procession of the liturgical ministers, deacon and priest.

Opening Prayers and Readings

We start the service with prayers and praise music.  Then the presider will say a prayer called a collect (prayer of the day) which is meant to collect us and our thoughts together as the concluding piece of our gathering.

We then all sit down to hear readings from the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament); a psalm; a reading from the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) and a reading from the Gospels.

Because the Gospels (the stories of Jesus’ life and death) are central to our faith, that reading gets “special treatment.” Normally a song welcoming the Gospel is sung at 10:30 and the Gospel book is brought into the middle of the congregation and read by either a deacon or a priest. Everyone stands for this reading and turns and faces the Gospel Book.

Following the Gospel, a sermon is preached, usually by the priest or deacon. The sermon is meant to take what we have heard in the readings and engage those learnings with our current lives.

The congregation then recites the Nicene Creed, written in the Fourth Century and the Church's statement of what we believe ever since. This is similar to the Apostle’s Creed, which is recited during baptisms and Morning Prayer. The Apostle’s Creed was written in the Second Century.

Next, the congregation prays together for the Church, the World, and those in need. We pray for the sick, thank God for all the good things in our lives, and finally, we pray for the dead. After the formal prayers, people may come forward for prayers for birthdays and anniversaries, or special prayers. Other members may come forward to pray with them.  The presider concludes with a prayer that gathers the petitions into a communal offering of intercession.

In certain seasons of the Church year, the congregation formally confesses their sins before God and one another. This is a corporate statement of what we have done and what we have left undone, followed by a pronouncement of absolution. In pronouncing absolution, the presider assures the congregation that God is always ready to forgive our sins.

The congregation then greets one another with a sign of peace. This can be a particularly awkward moment for people who are newcomers or visitors. What we are doing is ritually enacting our need to be in right relationship with one another before we go to communion. We do that by saying “Peace be with you” to one another. People may shake hands or embrace each other. You can greet the people right around you. Some people are more exuberant and they will actually leave their pews to exchange the Peace with more people. We sometimes forget the ritual we are enacting and devolve into more casual greetings and other conversation because we are so glad to see each other!

The Liturgy of the Table and Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion)

Offertory

A collection of money is taken at this point using silver plates passed by the ushers and congregation. Often a piece of music is sung or played while the collection is being taken at the 10:30 service. Our offerings symbolize both our bringing of ourselves to worship and our support of the life of the church community. It is fine for you to put whatever amount of money in or to put in nothing at all. You may wonder why so many people don’t put anything in the plate. There are many reasons, of course, but one big one is that many church members make their financial contributions in ways other than putting it in the plate, (i.e. online, monthly checks, etc.) The bread and wine we will use for communion and the money that has been collected are brought to the Altar Table and the liturgical ministers set the Table for Communion.

Eucharistic Prayer

Next, the priest stands at the table, which has been set with a cup of wine and a plate of bread, raises his or her hands, and greets the congregation again, saying The Lord be With You. Now begins the Eucharistic Prayer, in which the presider tells the story of our faith, from the beginning of Creation, through the choosing of Israel to be God's people, through our continual turning away from God, and God's calling us to return. Finally, the presider tells the story of the coming of Jesus Christ, and about the night before his death, on which he instituted the Eucharistic meal (communion) as a continual remembrance of him.

You may kneel or continue standing. Either one is totally fine.

The presider blesses the bread and wine, and the congregation recites the Lord's Prayer. We generally hold hands during the Lord’s Prayer but this is not required. Finally, the presider breaks the bread and offers it to the congregation, as the gifts of God for the People of God.

Do I need to receive Communion?

It is your choice! We do not ask to see a spiritual I.D. at the altar!

All baptized Christians no matter age or denomination are welcome to receive Communion. Episcopalians invite all baptized people to receive, not because we take the Eucharist lightly, but because we take our baptism so seriously.

Visitors who are not baptized Christians are welcome to come forward during the Communion to receive a blessing from the presider.

People generally come forward and stand or kneel at the altar rail to receive communion. We have ushers to help guide you. If you don’t want to receive communion that is totally fine. You can remain in your seat, or you can also come forward and cross your arms over your chest. The priest or deacon will offer you a blessing instead of communion. If you wish to receive communion at your seat, please tell the usher who will inform the priest of your request.

If you do want to receive, hold out your hands and the priest or deacon will put a piece of bread called a wafer in your hand.  We offer gluten free bread; just tell the priest that you want the gluten free bread.

Then another liturgical minister will come with the cup of wine (and it is wine!). There are a few choices here. You can eat the bread when it is put in your hand and then take a sip of wine from the cup. It is okay and actually helpful for you to touch the cup and help guide it to your mouth. If you don’t want to drink from the cup you can also leave the bread in your hand and dip the bread in the wine.

It is also totally fine to receive only the bread or only the wine; either is considered a full receiving of communion. There are many reasons people might want to receive only one so don’t feel self-conscious about that.

Once you have received, simply return to your seat. Often music is sung during communion after the choir has received their communion at the 10:30 service.

Changes to communion may be needed if there are any health concerns to the community which will be stated before or during the service.

After Communion

Giving thanks, being sent forth

At the end of the Eucharist, the congregation prays once more in thanksgiving and then is dismissed to continue the life of service to God and to the World.

This is followed by the church announcements. This is not a formal part of the ritual but is a chance to let people know what is going on in the community and how to get involved.

Another song is usually sung by everyone at this point during which the liturgical ministers process out at the 10:30 service. There will be a quiet procession at 8:30 service. At the very end we are dismissed by a deacon or priest to be sent out into the world.

What happens after the service?

Often there is an instrumental postlude played after the 10:30 service. It is fine to stand up and leave your seat at this point or you may want to remain and listen to the music. Once the service is concluded people can spend some time talking with each other. People leaving customarily greet the priest at the door and you might want to introduce yourself as a newcomer.

You are always invited to share refreshments with us!

We eat tasty snacks and enjoy coffee, tea or hot cocoa! There is light lunch samplings or many times a luncheon to be enjoyed in Hubbard Hall afterwards, please come and join us!