Each group was given a specific context and Sunday in Epiphany – Year A to plan.
Epiphany
6:00 - service time
Entire service is printed as a bulletin
Start in dim light
Cantor - sings solo first verse of hymn 25 “O Gracious Light”
Flute accompanies - played by a college student to an organ interlude
Second and third verses by entire choir and congregation
Lights come up gradually but only to half light by time procession ends.
Procession - begins when cantor begins to sing
Cross, torches,
Star on pole - with children holding flashlights focused on the star - Christmas lights on the star itself
In procession are also children in costume for Gospel Pageant to follow
Followed by choir, Gospel Book - ministers of the day.
Congregation joins in on second verse of the hymn.
Choir seating is in the front. Along with children in that area.
Order Service of the Light - p109 BCP
modifying language to be consistent with RITE II
Light and Peace in Jesus Christ our Lord - 109
Collect Lighten our darkness - p111
then use collect for the day of Epiphany
Isaiah 60
Sing Hail to the Lord’s Anointed, vs. 1,4,5
Gospel pageant (developed by our Christian Formation director)
Cast - Herod, Herod’s advisors - chief priest, scribes, KIngs - as many kings as we can find costumes for - hopefully 12 - to match Orthodox tradition, Mary and Joseph, and Jesus. Extra kids will shine flashlights on whichever scene is being directed. Manger in pulpit, Herod’s court on opposite side, Place to leave by another way.
Sing Nicene Creed to tune of Greensleeves
Prayers of the people - themes to include:
Assigned to our Journey to Adulthood class -
who will also be the leaders of the prayers
Communion Hymn: including
We Three Kings
The Light of Christ - using guitar, flute and piano to lead.
Finish with “Shine, Jesus Shine” - done with choir with organ and guitar leading
Hot cider and star shaped cookies - served in church yard where people are bringing their greens - trees - and throwing them into the fire - which was approved by the city fire department.
Several Moravian Stars - hanging in the yard celebrating our full communion relationship.
Epiphany 3
We decided take the single service to the street, to engage the homeless population. Can't take the organ outside, need to recruit musicians for this service. Casual dress. Closing a city block for this service. Inviting the homeless and other downtown churches
Readings from the Message Bible
Full service bulletin
Each person receives a small piece of fishnet at arrival. This is referenced in Gospel reading and the homily, and gives the homeless something to put into the offering plate.
Gathering Gather us In
Opening Acclamation
Song of Praise Glorify Thy Name
Collect of the Day
First Reading Isaiah
Psalter (in unision) Psalm 27
Gospel Matthew
Sermon
The Nicene Creed
Offertory Would You Come and Follow Me
Peace
The Great Thanksgiving Prayer A, Communion by stations
Here I am to Worship
Recessional Siyahamba
Epiphany 4
WLP Marching in the Light of God
Opening Acclamation
Collect for Purity
Trisagion (spoken)
The Collect of the Day
First Lesson: Micah
Psalm 15 (spoken by congregation with antiphon sung at intervals led by volunteer cantor)
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians
Greet the Gospel: WLP Beati
Gospel Micah
Lay-presented sermon
Cantor chants the gospel, in sets of two verses --
With 4 different lay persons contributing a “response” to each paired verse, standing and reading where they are.
Silence
Cantor reads next verse set [repeat]
Clergy: “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The Nicene Creed
Prayers of the People, Form III
Confession/Absolution
Peace
Announcements (directions for healing during distribution of Eucharist)
Offertory Anthem
“Be Not Afraid,” sung by choir, WLP
Eucharistic Prayer B
Sung responses to their customary settings
Barry, son of Doris, whose home from Boston Conservatory will play during the distribution of the Eucharist
Healing prayer (laying on of hands)
Communion hymn while the healing finishes up. “I want to walk as a child of the light.”
Post-Communion Prayer, customary
Processional is WLP Marching in the Light of God -- the congregation processes out of the church, following the cross and choir -- into the courtyard. The processional cross is flanked by the two Eucharistic Visitors as a sign of the justice that is going out of the church and into the homes of those who are shut in.
The rest of the (aging) congregation assembles for fellowship and a time to reflect on and dialog about the worship service.
Epiphany 5
Baptismal focus, suburban church
Baptismal “font” (probably a basin on a pedestal at front of church)
Assumptions: In midst of Epiphany series focusing on baptismal covenant
Epiphany 5A; Feb 6, 2011 – Welcoming/Introduction of Catechumens
Beginning of preparing adults for baptism @ Easter Vigil
Opening Hymn
Beginning of service, using Baptismal form, BCP 299
Collect of Day
Isaiah Lesson
Psalm
1 Corinthians Lesson
Gospel
Brief Children-focused Sermon, including explanation that salt will be placed on tongue of candidates for baptism during the prayers
Sung Creed
Procession to font – catechumens & sponsors, and any children present, singing Jesu, Jesu (H82 602)
Prayers of People – Using the form for Baptism (p 305) around font w/salt distribution
No confession/absolution
Peace
Great Thanksgiving – Eucharistic Prayer-C
Lord’s Prayer - said
Fraction
Silence
Fraction Anthem – said
Music during communion, including Communion Song – H82 335
Post-Communion Prayer
Blessing
Dismissal Hymn
Dismissal
Epiphany 6
Liturgy Planning…Epiphany 6, 2011 Church Scenario B
Eccles.15:15-20; 1 Cor.3:1-9; Matt. 5:21-37
Theme: We make choices. Our choices have consequences. In order to make good choices we need God and one another. God call us to live in the light. Living in the light invites others to live in the light.
Gathering: Involvement of children:
Child 1: I don’t want to go to church today. Let’s go out and play on the playground.
Child 2: Oh, I don’t know. May be we should go to church.
Child 1: all right.
Opening Hymn: H. 135
Greeting
Collect for Purity
Gloria
Collect for the Day
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading: Eccles. 15: 15-20
Liturgical Dance: children and youth illustrating dancing to fire…no choice, dancing to ice
Second Reading: 1Cor. 3:1-9
Greet Gospel Hymn H. 655 Jesus I have promised with liturgical dancers dancing to music bringing gospel book down.
Gospel
Sermon
Creed
Prayers of the People Form 111
Gracious God, we thank you for your holy Catholic church
that we may be lead to acknowledge our dependence upon you and seek you in all our choices.
Grant that every member of the church may truly and humbly serve you.
That our choices will glorify your name.
WE pray for all bishops, priests and deacons:
That they may be courageous in the preaching of your word and administering your sacraments.
We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world:
That their choices may lead to justice and peace on the earth.
Give us grace to do you will in all that we undertake:
That our choices may find favor in God’s sight.
Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble:
That may know God’s presence in the challenges of life.
Give to the departed eternal rest:
Let light perpetual shine upon them.
We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy:
May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.
Let us pray for our own needs:
Confession …by the choices we have made and the choices we have neglected
Peace
The Transfiguration
Our theme is the light of Christ, God’s glory and our baptism as the beginning of our transfiguration as the people of God. We are making the transition from the light of epiphany to the desert of Lent.
We will begin with a lit Paschal candle at the front of the church.
The homily will address this theme.
Following the homily a baptismal candle will be lit and place in a series of mirrors and prisms that will multiply, magnify and reflect the light as a celebration of God’s glory. This will be done at each service adding new stations over the morning. There will be members of the congregation coming forward to bring the light to the various stations. During this activity we will sing Hymn 490, The Light of Christ.
Prayers of the People (Said at 8:00, and possibly sung at the other services).
God of Glory, source of all light, you revealed your glory through the humanity of your Son Jesus Christ. Allow this light to so transform our lives that we may carry His light into the wilderness of the world. Let the ancient words of the Easter vigil sustain us through our Lenten journey. To the light of Christ, we respond Thanks be to God.
For all God’s people throughout the world and through all of history we give thanks for the light of Christ. Thanks be to God.
For all in authority we pray for wisdom and enlightenment through the light of Christ. Thanks be to God.
For a world bound in darkness, we pray for the light of Christ. Thanks be to God.
For this parish to recognize your glory in each other and that we may grow in love and unity in the light of Christ Thanks be to
Send us to bring your healing to the sick, the friendless and the needy, empowered by the light of Christ. Thanks be to God.
We remember those who have died and now live forever in the light of Christ. Thanks be to God.
All this we ask in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
Following the post communion prayer, the celebrant will bless small individual candles and encourage people to bring them back at the Easter vigil. The people will move up to the altar to receive the candles and then
Candle blessing: O God, who said “Out of darkness let light shine,” who has caused your light to shine within us, bless these candles as a reminder of our baptismal vows and our responsibility to bring your light into the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Feast – Conversion of St. Paul
Parish Situation:
Suburban Congregation
ASA 150
Two Sunday services
27 year Rector
Guitar Mass, Praise Music
Cursillo Congregation
Adult Forum and Children’s Nursery
The parish membership has been in decline for the past 5 years. Its leadership is unsure what to do. They had used an overhead projector and portable screen and now have updated to retractable screen and LCD projector. The Av equipment is primarily used to project various parts of the liturgy. Everything is stale.
Group discussion focused on the Guitar Mass and Praise Music as well as the influence of Cursillo. We were concerned that the emphasis on Cursillo and its associated music had become the mainstay and any attempt to move past it was met with great resistance. They were stuck and needed to experience something different and new to move forward. Also, we believe that with successful integration of electronic hardware we should explore other uses. We wanted to build a liturgy that was different, creative, and use different music. We thought that a non Sunday service was best so we planned an Evening Prayer service.
The Readings:
An Evening Prayer Liturgy
The group decided to settle on an Evening Prayer Liturgy so that more parishioners could attend. The feast falls on a weekday so this would work. The group also thought the readings and themes focused on opposites (Satan-God, Female-Male, Dark-Light) and that there was a natural bantering back and forth.
The plan:
The Nave is dimly lit. When everyone arrives they receive a flower which is brought forward to a flower arranger who is arranging an expressive arrangement building from darkness in the front to exploding light in the back of the arrangement. During this time the organ prelude is being improvised by the organist to go along with the setting and actions of the parishioners.
-Opening Sentence: If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light around me turn to night,” darkness is not dark to you, O Lord; the night is as bright as the day; darkness and light to you are both alike.
-Confession
-Invitatory and Psalter
-O Gracious Light: Hymnal #25
-Psalm done responsively
-One reading (Acts Only): However, the reading will be acted out by images projected on both side of the front walls. The organist will also improvise music using the bantering and opposites earlier mentioned. The reading will not be read but will have a prominent place in the bulletin.
-Magnificat: Hymnal #268 (4th verse only)
-The Apostles Creed
-Lord’s Prayer (Sung)
-Suffrage B (Chanted)
-Collect of the Day
-Written Collect: “O Lord of light, who created laser beams and fireflies, the aurora borealis and molten lava, lightning bolts and children’s faces; banish the darkness of depression, persecution, loneliness, despair, and all the storms of life; that we may embrace the light of your love and reflect it to every corner of the earth, through Jesus Christ, the light of the world, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
-Hymn: “We are walking in the light of God” or “I want to walk as a child of the Light”
-Intercessions and Thanksgivings
-A Prayer of St. Chrysostom
-Closing Sentence: “Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.”
