WHAT ARE THE VARIOUS PARTS OF AN ANGLICAN WORSHIP SERVICE?

Music and Singing–The Scriptures encourages us to, “Sing to the Lord a new song,” and to “Let every instrument be tuned for praise.” Our primary 10:15 service includes a blended variety of music to appeal to different tastes, including both time-honored hymns which speak of and respond to the majesty of God and more contemporary songs which appeal to other tastes and temperaments.  If you are not comfortable singing a particular song, we invite you to just listen to the words and be encouraged by the truth others are singing.

The Collect—The prayer at the beginning of the service is taken from a collection of prayers that have been assembled to coincide with the church calendar. The “prayer of the day” seeks to focus the congregation together on Jesus Christ and ask the Lord to lead the congregation in worship.

Reading Scripture—We believe that the whole Bible speaks of God’s glorious gospel. Therefore we read portions of the Old & New Testaments in our services, including Psalms.

The Creeds—are statements of faith written by the early Church and recited by the people during the service after the hearing of the Word. Christians recite the Creed to recommit their lives to Christ and be reminded of what they believe. The Creeds proclaim succinctly to those interested in becoming believers in Jesus Christ what Christians believe.  The Creeds also keep the Church accountable to the gospel.

The Prayers of the People—We respond to God and His Word by relating to Him in and through prayer. In prayer we listen to the Lord, give thanks, present our petitions and requests, and pray both corporately and individually. At Saint Matthias parishioners pray both silently and aloud during the Prayers.

The Confession of Sin and Absolution—is placed after the hearing of God’s Word as an opportunity to respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are given the opportunity to individually and corporately acknowledge and repent of our sins and to confess our need for Jesus Christ. The Confession is an Anglican “altar call” so to speak. The priest then proclaims the gospel: that by grace through faith in Jesus Christ complete forgiveness is offered to all who repent and trust in Christ.

The Peace—The purpose of “The Peace” before communion is for members of the church to 1) remind each other of the peace of Christ given because of the gospel, and 2) to allow members of the church who have been at odds with one another to “make peace in Christ” before they come to the communion table.  (See Matthew 5: 23—24)

The Holy Communion—Jesus Christ gave the command for his people to break bread and drink wine not only as a memorial of his death and resurrection, but as an invitation to have fellowship with Christ through faith. Anglicans believe in the “real presence of Christ” not only in the bread and wine, but among the church gathered for Communion. Thus, the whole communion service is called a “sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.” Taking communion is not just an individual encounter but a corporate experience of Christ’s Presence among His people.

Receiving Wine and Bread—All those who have trusted in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and who are “in love and charity with their neighbor” (1928 BCP) are welcome at the Lord’s Table for Communion. The bread is placed on an open palm and may be eaten followed by drinking from the common cup or may be “intincted” (dipped) into the common cup of wine. If  you do not wish to receive communion, you are welcome to come forward and cross your arms across your chest as a sign to request a prayer and blessing or to remain seated for reflection and prayer.