The Anglican Liturgy

Those unfamiliar with liturgical worship often object that it is repetitive, and thus, devoid of the spontaneity they desire. But repetition is precisely the point of liturgy. C.S. Lewis wrote:

“Please do not do anything that you are not comfortable with as you get acquainted with our service.”

“Every service is a structure of acts and words through which we receive a sacrament, or repent, or supplicate, or adore. And it enables us to do these things best—if you like, it ‘works’ best—when, through long familiarity, we don’t have to think about it. As long as you notice, and have to count the steps, you are not yet dancing but only learning to dance. A good shoe is a shoe you don’t notice. Good reading becomes possible when you need not consciously think about eyes, or light, or print, or spelling. The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of; our attention would have been on God.”
–Letters to Malcom. Chiefly on Prayer.

As we learn the words and actions of the liturgy and come to understand what they mean, we develop the ability to Pray from the heart.

Liturgical Worship is designed to use all of our senses. Liturgical worship is not acting but rather a time honored way of worshipping and understanding God.

Ceremonial Actions have their roots in reverence, or respect toward God. But remember that we are all creatures of the way we were raised. If you are uncomfortable with any particular ceremonial action, don’t! Remember, it’s what’s in the heart. Ceremony reflects heartfelt love!

The liturgy found in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer  and the Anglican Missal is not only traditional and extremely rich with meaning but also can be confusing to a newcomer. It is very easy to wonder what you are supposed to say and when you are supposed to say it, why people sit, stand or kneel, etc. Again, please do not feel compelled do anything that you are not comfortable with as you get acquainted with our service.  Please feel free to  speak with Father Ashman or Deacon Britton after the Liturgy about any questions you may have about our forms of worship.

Here are some observations on our liturgy which may be helpful:

The Holy Communion has many names: the Mass, the Divine Liturgy, the Holy Eucharist and the Lord’s Supper. They all refer to to same service

Bowing:

The Profound Bow is made by bending the body forward. at the waist. It is performed only when standing, usually to the altar (if the Sacrament is not present) and by the Sacred Ministers during the Preparation at the Foot of the Altar

The Moderate Bow is made with the head and the shoulders during parts of the Gloria in Excelsis (receive our prayer), at the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy), at the elevations during the Consecration.

The Minor Bow is made by a slight bending of the head only, used at the words Let us Pray, at the mention of the Blessed Trinity, and the Name of Jesus.

Genuflection is the act of touching the ground lightly with one’s right knee and immediately rising. The Genuflection is used in reverencing the Altar when the Sacrament is present, at Incarnatus (And was made man) during the Nicene Creed and at other times, such as the Last Gospel and on Good Friday. A Double Genuflection (touching the ground with both knees) is done only when the Blessed Sacrament is shown outside the Tabernacle. A good rule of thumb is that if the priest genuflects and you are standing, join him in the genuflection.

Kneeling is symbolic of penitential prayer; remember the old, time-tested rule: we stand to sing (technically saying the Creed and Gloria are chants/songs), sit for instruction (except the Gospel) and kneel to pray.

The Liturgical Kiss is a sign of respect and veneration and a way of expressing love for the things of God as well as brotherly love. The Liturgical Kiss was much more frequently used in past times more than today. The priest still kisses the altar (if it is consecrated with an Altar Stone or blessed by the Bishop) and the paten as part of the Eucharist action. The kiss of peace is given at Solemn Masses and is done with great dignity and symbolism of God’s love to us through the Eucharist.

Incense is symbolic of prayers rising to heaven and is used chiefly to bless; as in the censing of the altar and bread and wine during the Offertory. Incense is used to bless the people at the Offertory.

The Sign of the Crosscan be of three types.

The first is the one we all know: forehead, chest, left shoulder, right shoulder; In Anglican worship it is used most commonly at the end of Gloria in Excelsis, the Nicene Creed, the Absolution, the Benedictus (Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord), at the Elevations, the Presentation, the Lord’s Prayer and Blessing.

The second is the triple sign of the cross made at the Gospel;

The third is the priestly accompaniment to the blessing of a person or thing, as when the priest makes the sign of the cross over the congregation at the Absolution or Blessing.

Bells are used to call attention. The Tower Bell calls people to the Mass. Hand bells are used four times during the Mass: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY (the Sanctus), at his coming again (just before the Words of Institution), each set of elevations and just before the reception of the Holy Communion.

Holy Water, sometimes called Lustral Water, is placed in the back of the Church. We dip our fingers in it and make the sign of the cross to remind ourselves of our Baptisms. Sometimes before Mass and on Easter Even, the priest sprinkles the congregation with Holy Water for the same purpose – again to remind us of our Baptisms. (This is called the Asperges Ceremony,)

Liturgical Colors

White is the color of purity and joy and is used on the feasts of Our Lord and the Saints who were not martyred. It is also used for the Christmas and Easter Seasons and the Mass of Maundy Thursday. Finally it is used for the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Matrimony and Holy Orders.

Red is the color or fire and blood; that is, the fire of the Holy Ghost and the blood of martyrs. It is used on Whitsunday (Pentecost) and Whitsun Week, the feast of the Holy Cross and the feasts of martyrs. It may be used as an alternative to white for the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Orders.

Violet is the color of humility and penitence and is used during Advent, Gesimatide (Septuagesima, Sexagesima, Quinqugesima) and Lent. It is also used on the vigils of feasts, on Holy Innocents day (if it falls on a weekday), and on Rogation and Ember Days. It is also used for the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Unction. On two Sundays of the year, the third Sunday in Advent and the fourth Sunday in Lent, Rose colored vestments are provided where possible. They symbolize a lifting up of penitential restrictions halfway through each season. Sometimes Anglican/Episcopalian parishes use Advent blue on Advent I, II, and IV.

Black is the color of death and mourning. It is used on Good Friday, All Souls’ Day and at Burials and Requiems.

Green is the color of nature, life and growth and is used when no other color is prescribed.

Gold may always substitute for White, Red and Green.