What to Expect When You Visit
About Episcopal Worship
Next, the priest stands at the table, which has been set with a cup of wine and a plate of bread-or thin, crispy wafers. Then he or she raises his or her hands and greets the congregation again: "The Lord be With You." Now begins the Eucharistic Prayer, in which the priest tells the story of Christianity, 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 priest 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.
The priest blesses the bread and wine, and the congregation recites the Lord's Prayer. Finally, the priest breaks the bread and offers it to the congregation, as the "gifts of God for the People of God."
The congregation then shares the bread and the wine. Sometimes the people all come forward to receive the bread and wine; sometimes they pass the elements around in other ways.
The above content is from The Episcopal Church USA
http://episcopalchurch.org/17041_17059_ENG_HTM.htm?menu=menu16975 |
