worship, liturgy, services
Other pages in this section include
- approaching faith - getting started (or starting again)
- God, sheep and fence sitting
- recommended books and movies
- faith and the world of work
- prayers for divers occasions
- worker-priests, a marginal ministry
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See box to right for times of services Prayer and the Holy Eucharist See our G uide to Worship (downloads page) THE EUCHARIST (also known as Holy Communion, The Lord’s Supper, The Mass). The Eucharist (from the Greek meaning thanksgiving) is the central element of Christian worship for the vast majority of Christian men and women. Much has been written about it - perhaps too much. Best to experience it, critically investigate it, and seek out someone who can talk with you about it. DAILY PRAYER - ‘The Offices’ Following Jewish tradition, and sanctified by the practice of Christ, the Christian Church has always hallowed moments during each day through the ‘saying’ of prayers, often known as ‘offices’. Morning Prayer comes at the time of day when we ‘pass over’ from darkness to light. At the time of our greatest weakness, we welcome with joy Christ our light who through the darkness of death has brought us redemption, in the light and power of his resurrection. During the course of each day, we celebrate the light of Christ as we pray at sunrise and sunset, the ‘pass over’ moments of each day. At midday, we recall the glory of the ascended Christ as the time when the sun is at its height; and, coming as it does in the middle of the day’s work, we are reminded to offer the whole of our life to God our Creator. Seasons of the Christian Year Advent: From the Latin word Adventus, meaning ‘coming’. Advent is the first season of the church year. It begins four Sundays before Christmas and is set aside as a season to prepare for Christmas, Christ’s first coming, and to remember that he will come again. Christmastide: This is the eleven days from Christmas Day until January 6, the start of Epiphany. It is a time for remembering Jesus’s birth and contemplating the Incarnation - God entering our human condition in the form of a child. Epiphany: From January 6 until Ash Wednesday, which begins the season of Lent, is the season of Epiphany, which means ‘revealing’ or ‘showing forth’. Lent: Lent is the season of preparation for Easter, which starts on Ash Wednesday and goes 40 weekdays and six Sundays to Easter. Lent is a time for self-examination and reflection. Easter: This is the oldest and greatest day of celebration in the Christian Church. Easter is the day and season for remembering that Christ not only died, but that he was raised from the dead. The season of Easter lasts 50 days from Easter Day to the Day of Pentecost. Pentecost: The day of Pentecost celebrates the birth of the Christian Church as it is the day when the disciples felt the Holy Spirit come upon them and empower them to go out ‘to all nations’ and speak of the God whom Jesus Christ reveals. |
LITURGY AND WORSHIP SUNDAY
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY All baptised Christians from all traditions are invited to make their communion at all our celebrations of the Holy Eucharist. The clergy are available for confidential counselling and consultation, and for the sacraments of Anointing and Reconciliation (Confession)
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