If You Are New or Visiting Trinity
As Episcopalians, we have inherited a wonderful tradition, albeit it one with words, and names which may seem unfamiliar. We use the words and names in order to remind ourselves of our connection to the great chain of worshipers who are a part of our lives - through Christ - down the centuries. This is a very critical connection, whether we consciously feel it or not.
We say prayers which sound the same each Sunday to create the feeling of
familiarity and tranquility so as to relax and let Christ's presence be here.
If we really listen (or read) the prayers, we "hear" something new each time
because we are different people each time, with different concerns! Try it for
several Sundays, and you will not hear the same prayers at all, you will hear
God!
Leadership of the service is shared between ordained and laypersons. The priest
is designated the "president of the liturgy", or the Presider.
The deacon assists the priest in administering the service, and is an icon, or symbol,
to us of Christ's servant ministry in the world.
The persons who read the Lessons are called Lectors, from the Latin word lectio (to read).
The person carrying the cross is the Crucifer, the people carrying the torches are
Acolytes and the persons offering the wine are Chalice Bearers. The person
leading the prayers is called a Layreader.
Everyone is invited to receive Holy Communion. Holy Communion (Eucharist) has
been important to Anglican public worship since the sixteenth century. You may
either stand or kneel at the altar rail. Please place your open hands together,
one on top of the other to receive the bread or wafer. Once it is in your
hands, you may place it in your mouth and eat it. The traditional way to
receive the wine is to drink or touch the wine to your lips from the cup
(chalice), thus signifying our common humanity and community. As you are handed
the cup, grasp it and hold it to your lips to take the wine. If you choose not
to drink from the cup, you may receive the wine by "intinction" which means
shallowly dipping the bread into the wine and then eating. If you choose not to
take the wine, cross your arms in front of your chest, or simply leave after
you have received the bread.
In this service pamphlet, we have boxed certain phrases which are the
traditional titles for the particular prayer. Sursum Corda means "lift up your
heart" in Latin. Sanctus means "holy". The Words of Institution are from Jesus
actions in instituting or establishing the Eucharist at the Last Supper. We
include these traditional titles to remind us that the Communion (Eucharist)
has shaped our worship for two thousand years.