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Q. Why does the Episcopal Church have communion
every Sunday?
A. Because this is what the early Church did. In
the New Testament, Christians met together every Lord's Day to celebrate the
resurrection of Jesus Christ and to be nourished on his body and blood. The
Church celebrated the Holy Eucharist (Communion) every Sunday for centuries. It
was not until long after the Protestant Reformation that some Christians decided
that it was not necessary to do so. [Top]
Q. Why do many of the people bow or genuflect
(kneel briefly on one knee) upon
entering or leaving their pew?
A. There are two reasons.
(1) The altar is the place on which Jesus comes to
us in the elements of consecrated bread and wine. The altar is therefore a
symbol of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ upon the cross just as the American flag
is a symbol of our country and those who sacrificed their lives to keep our
country free. Just as we salute the flag by placing our hands over our hearts,
we also "salute" the altar by bowing our heads toward it.
(2) Many churches reserve the sacrament (the
consecrated bread and wine) on or near the altar so that it may be taken to
those who are ill or who for other weighty reason were not able to attend the
Eucharist. When the sacrament is reserved, out of reverence for the real
presence of Christ, it is customary to bow deeply or genuflect (kneel briefly on
one knee) as a symbol of respect for our Lord's presence.
[Top]
Q. Why do people in the congregation kneel in
prayer upon entering their pew?
A. To prepare themselves for worship. They pray
for themselves that they might worship our Lord in spirit and in truth; they
pray for the congregation; they pray for the priest and other ministers who will
be leading the worship; and they pray for any other matter may be weighing on
their mind. [Top]
Q. Why does the congregation remain quiet before
the worship begins?
A. There are two reasons.
(1) They remain quiet out of reverence for the
house of God and the Lord's presence upon the altar. "The Lord is in his holy
temple; let all the earth keep silence before him." (Habakkuk 2:20)
(2) They remain silent so as not to disturb others
who may be praying around them. [Top]
Q. Why is there so much getting up and down during
the services?
A. The Episcopal Church is well known for its
physical as well as its oral worship of God. Generally speaking, we kneel or
stand to pray, stand for hymns, the creed, and the reading of the Gospel, and
sit for instruction. We believe our physical attitude can influence our mental
and emotional attitudes so that we may worship more easily.
[Top]
Q. Why does the congregation say "amen" at the end
of prayers?
A. The word "amen" literally means "so be it" or
more casually, "Yes, I agree with that, and I offer that as my prayer too." When
we answer "amen" at the end of prayers, we are simply saying that the prayer was
our prayer as well as the prayer of the one who uttered it.
[Top]
Q. Why do members of the congregation bow their
heads at the name of Jesus in the creeds?
A. As a sign of respect for our Lord. This sign
goes back to the New Testament itself. St. Paul wrote to the church at Philipi,
"At the name of Jesus every knee should bow."
(Philipians 2:10)
[Top]
Q. Why does the congregation stand for the reading
of the Gospel?
A. The Gospel is composed primarily of the words
of Jesus himself. Out of respect for our Lord and the good news he brought us,
we stand. [Top]
Q. Why do many in the congregation cross themselves
at various places in the service?
A. The sign of the cross was originally used as a
mark of identification as Christians. It was probably first used at baptism on
the foreheads of those being baptized to mark them as "Christ's own forever"
(Book of Common Prayer, "Holy Baptism," p. 308). It still has that
significance today, and in the baptismal service the Prayer Book directs the
baptizer to mark the baptized one with the sign of the cross. However, over the
centuries other meanings have been attached to the sign. (1) It may be a silent
prayer. (2) It may mean that the Christian acknowledges receipt of the sacrament
or of a blessing of some sort. (3) It may be an acknowledgement of the Holy
Trinity. (4) It may be used as a reminder of the Christian's baptism, thereby
reminding the person that he/she is indeed a Christian and must behave in a
Christian manner. The sign may have other uses as well; but however it is used,
it is important that it be used in a reverent and prayerful manner.
[Top]
Q. Why is the cross carried at the head of many
processions?
A. "Onward Christian solders
Marching as to war
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before."
(Hymn 562)
"Lift high the cross
The love of Christ proclaim
Till all the world adore
His sacred name."
(Hymn 473)
[Top]
Q. Why do many in the congregation bow as the cross
passes them in procession?
A. Just as the altar is a symbol of our Lord's
sacrifice, so is the cross. If we are Christians, we may "salute" the cross as
Americans would "salute" our national flag when it passes by.
[Top]
Q. Why do the choir, clergy, and other ministers
wear vestments (special robes) during the service?
A. To answer in the words of Brother Thomas
Bushnell, BSG:
To add to the beauty and festivity of the services, and to signify their
special ministries, the clergy and other ministers wear vestments. Choir
vestments usually consist of an undergown called a cassock (usually black) and
a white, gathered overgown called a surplice. The clergy may also wear cassock
and surplice.
Another familiar vestment is the alb, a white tunic with sleeves that
covers the body from neck to ankles. Over it (or over the surplice) ordained
ministers wear a stole, a narrow band of colored fabric. Deacons wear the
stole over one shoulder, priests and bishops over both shoulders.
At the Holy Eucharist a bishop or priest frequently wears a chasuble (a
circular garment that envelopes the body) over the alb and stole. The deacon's
corresponding vestment has sleeves and is called a dalmatic. Bishops sometimes
wear a special headcovering called a mitre.
Stoles, chasubles, and dalmatics, as well as altar coverings, are
usually made of rich fabrics. Their color changes with the seasons and holy
days of the Church Year. The most frequently used colors are white, red,
violet, and green.
--Brother Thomas Bushnell, BSG
http://www.mit.edu/~tb/anglican/intro/ec-worship.html
[Top]
Q. Why does the Church celebrate the various holy
days of the Church?
A. In recognition of the important events in the
life of our Lord, his saints, and his church. We recognize the coming of Christ
in Advent, Christ's birth in Christmas, Christ's manifestation to the gentiles
in Epiphany, our repentance and Christ's suffering and death in Lent, Christ's
resurrection in Easter, Christ's ascension into heaven at Ascension, the coming
of the Holy Spirit in Pentecost, and the spreading of Christ's kingdom in the
time after Pentecost. In addition we recognize individual outstanding Christians
of the past and hold them up as examples on the various saints' days of the
church calendar. In celebrating these days we get to symbolically walk with
Christ during his life and ministry and with the saints of yore in their journey
toward Christ and his heavenly kingdom.
[Top]
Q. Why does the Church use
different colors
to highlight the various seasons of the church year?
A. As symbols of what we are celebrating on any
given season or day. Purple or Blue is used in Advent to symbolize the coming of
royalty--the King of kings. Purple is used in Lent to symbolize repentance. Red
is used to symbolize fire on Pentecost and blood on feasts of the martyrs. White
is used to symbolize purity on any feast related directly to our Lord. These
colors remind us visually of what we are celebrating spiritually.
[Top]
Q. Why does the congregation say the creed during
the service?
A. It is important that we say what we believe.
The creeds confirm and re-confirm our faith in Christ and his church.
[Top]
Q. Why does the Church use candles on or around the
altar?
A. Originally lights were used for utilitarian
purposes: to see by. Gradually they came to symbolize Christ as the light of the
world, to symbolize the prayers of Christ's people, and to add to the beauty and
dignity of our worship. [Top]
Q. Why does the congregation pray out of a book?
A. For the same reason most Christians sing out of
a book--so we can sing and pray together. The Eucharistic prayer and the other
great prayers of the church are the congregation's prayers too, and the
congregation should share in them.
[Top]
Q. Why does the Church use a Bible
assigned readings for each Sunday and holy day in
the church year?
A. So that most of the Bible can be covered in a
three-year period. The use of a lectionary keeps us from harping on favorite
passages over and over and helps us to discover and re-discover the gems of the
whole Bible. [Top]
Q. Why do Episcopalians have so much symbolism in
the church buildings?
A. Symbolism is a part of all of our lives whether
we recognize it or not. The American flag is symbolic of our country and our
patriotism, a photograph of a loved one in our home is symbolic of the real
presence of our loved one, and a school song is symbolic of our alma mater.
Symbols help us to recognize the truth behind those symbols and keep us in touch
with the significance of those symbols.
[Top]
Q. Why is the altar rather than the pulpit the
center of focus in the church?
A. The Episcopal Church is a sacramental church.
The sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is the principal act of worship on the
Lord's day. The altar is symbolic of our Lord's presence in the Holy Eucharist.
What could be a better symbol of focus than a table around which we gather to
commune with our Lord and with each other?
[Top]
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