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"In ainm an Athar, agus a Mhic, agus an Spioraid Naomh." ("In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." -in Gaelic). |
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Gifts / Contact Us "The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of; our attention would have been on God." -C. S. Lewis, "Letters to Malcolm" Worship is about God, not us. In the freedom that we have in Christ, Christians worship in many different ways. In worship, God is the audience, not the congregation. Whatever outward form of worship we observe, what is truly important is rather what God sees, our heart attitude in our worship of God. "God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." -John 4:24 "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." -I Samuel 16:7
"If you memorize and observe this Worship Service, or indeed, any Worship Service, after a while, it will flow without your having to even think about what comes next. It has become just one long prayer. As C. S. Lewis points out in the quote at the top of this page, you no longer are concerned about the outward form of the Service itself, but just your worship of and adoration of God." -Monk Preston Usages included are so ancient, and observed so widely, both historically and currently, that much of this Service will be familiar to Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Anglicans/Episcopalians, Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholics, and those of many other Communions. Most would also be familiar to ancient Celtic Monastic worshippers. (Since posting this Worship Service, several of our Lay Monks have told us they now use it as a part of their personal daily prayer and worship. Our intention was simply to share more of our daily lives with those who have expressed interest in this. We do not require its use for anyone. It is certainly suitable for personal worship or as a daily or weekly Family Chapel service for those desiring to use it so, and may be easily modified by personal additions or deletions).
Color Key:
Any Christian can be designated to Officiate as Worship Leader ("priesthood of all believers"). Worship Service should be memorized and prayed. Service can be shortened or lengthened as needed. The Psalms and Scripture Readings for a given day or specifically for the particular Hour of Prayer (Evening, Morning, or Noon) when the Service is being held (or closest to it; we have lately generally been observing it as an evening service) can be found at: Daily Prayer: Praying the Hours. (Our Monastery Chapel candles and incense are lit in preparation for the Worship Service. As in historic Monastic practice, a Bell is rung three times to call the Monks to prayer---to announce the beginning of the Worship Service.)
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. (If there is a reading from the Old Testament, it is read at this time.) Scripture Verse Responses (Alternate Verses): John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me." Ephesians 2:8 & 9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." I John 5:13 "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life..." (If there is a reading from the Epistles, it is read at this time.) (Three Psalms, Hymns, and/or Spiritual Songs are sung. Number may be added to or diminished on particular days. Or Psalms recited from memory or read. The
Lord be with you. Let
us give thanks unto our Lord God. Therefore with Angels and
Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy
glorious Name, evermore praising thee, and saying,
(If there is a daily reading from the Gospels it is read at this time. There is always a Gospel reading on The Lord's Day. If none is specified for a particular Sunday in Daily Prayer: Praying the Hours, any Chapter of the Gospels may be selected to be read.) We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made. Who, for us all for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. And we believe in one holy universal and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
(All Sing) Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. O Almighty Father, Lord of heaven
and earth, I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and
deed. By what I have done, Lord have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us. I John 1:8 & 9 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (All Sing) Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah. (We observe Daily Communion in our Monastery, except on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. We practice Open Communion. Individual wafers, and individual cups are at this point in the Service offered to any Christian present who desires them. Distribution of the elements may be made by the Officiant, or by another or others designated to so assist. As the applicable Words of Institution from Scripture are spoken, the Officiant and Congregants break and eat, and drink; all together partaking of the Communion elements at the same time. We use the flat, round, unleavened Communion wafers historically used in the Western Church by both Protestants and Roman Catholics. Our Communion wafers are made from whole wheat flour. Individual cups containing grape juice are offered on one side of the cup serving tray, and those containing sherry wine are offered on the other side. We had thought this last to be unique to us, but have since learned of another Christian fellowship with the same practice. Note: Some Protestants around 1970 began using unleavened Passover Matzo. Eastern Orthodox (and many Protestants since around 1970) use standard, leavened bread. The bread used by Christ at The Last Supper, which was a Passover Seder, was therefore unleavened). (All Sing) O Merciful Father, send Thy Holy Spirit upon us all and bless these Thy gifts. Amen. "...the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me." "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink you all of it; For this is my blood of the New Covenant, Which is shed for many, for the remission of sins.” "...this do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God..."
(All Sing) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (Time of individual extemporaneous prayer offered by congregants.) (I Timothy 2:1-2) (If there is to be Christian teaching, it takes place at this point in the Service. There is always Christian teaching on The Lord's Day.) (If any who are not Christians are present, an opportunity for them to receive Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour is made at this point in the Service.) The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (A Celtic Prayer or Song may be said from memory, or sung, or read here; such as St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer, Aidan's Prayer, Manchan's Poem, Columcille's Poem, Columcille's Boat Song; or a Franciscan Prayer or Song, such as Instrument of Peace or Canticle of Brother Sun; or a section of Scripture, such as John 1:1-14, I Corinthians 13, or Hebrews 11.) Let all who are able, now stand. "O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord." (All Sing) "Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night, stand in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord that made heaven and earth, bless thee out of Zion." "Behold, bless ye the Lord." (Repeated last refrain added only when sung. Other Psalm or Psalms may be substituted or a Hymn sung. "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." "And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (All Sing) Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. + In the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
(Bell is rung three times to announce the conclusion of the Service. All candles/oil lamps are extinguished with the exception of the Sanctuary Lamp.)
Related Pages:
____________________________________________________________ (Except KJV Scripture Texts and Historic Prayers, which are in the Public Domain) Copyright © 2007 S.G.P. All rights reserved.
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About this Service: This Worship Service (Liturgy) was compiled by S. G. Preston (Monk Preston, Co-Founder and President of The Prayer Foundation™). Elements of usage are held in common in some of the very oldest extant worship Services, which were based on even older, earlier ancient Christian Worship Services. These include: the Divine Liturgy of John Chrysostom, used by Eastern Orthodox Christians since the 7th century); the Lorrha (Stowe) Missal (ca. 600 A.D., used by many ancient Celtic Christians), and the 1662 Book of Common Prayer Service. Celtic and Anglo-Saxon Rite liturgy was used in Britain until 1078 A.D., when it was replaced by the Sarum Rite liturgy, later simplified and reformed by Thomas Cranmer in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer Service used since that time by Anglicans / Episcopalians. "Liturgy": literally means "the work of the people." Today the word Liturgy also refers to the prescribed order of a religious Service, usually it is used to refer to a more formal Service.
Shoes or slippers, but not stockings, are removed before entering the Chapel.
All attending may also each light their own candle. (See: Our Monastery Chapel.)
(Gloria Patri: Eastern Version)
(The Lord's Prayer: Matthew 6:9-13)
(Other Scripture Verses may be substituted in alternation with these Verses in different Services: see Alternate Verses)
(Colossians 3:16)
(Sursum Corda)
(Benedictus ) (Sanctus: Isaiah 6:3; Luke 13:35.) (Bell Rubrics as in the Celtic Lorrha Missal.)
(The Nicene Creed is always always included in traditional liturgical worship whenever there is Communion. The Apostle's Creed) may be added elsewhere in the Service. Or it may be used in place the Nicene Creed, if there is no Communion.
(Trisagion: Isaiah 6:33; Rev. 4:8) (The Confession)
(Kyrie Eleison: The three petitions acknowledge the Trinity. Psalm 51:3,4)
(Rev. 19:1-6)
(Epiklesis)
(Words of Institution: I Corinthians 11:24 Matthew 26:27,28 I Corinthians 11:25)
(Gloria Patri: Western /Anglican /Protestant Version. Note: "world without end" is a Medieval English phrase meaning "forever and ever" or "unto the ages of ages".)
(The 23rd Psalm)
(The elderly or infirm may remain seated.) (Psalm 117)
(Psalm 134) (All together bless all others; "priesthood of all believers". The Lord Bless Thee and Keep Thee: Numbers 6:24-26) (Philippians 4:7) The Doxology: may be world's most sung music. Words: Thomas Ken, 1674. Music: Attributed to Louis Bourgeois, 1551;"Old Hundredth" Hymn, Geneva Psalter. (Matthew 28:19. Note: "+" is the symbol for making the Sign of the Cross).
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Worship
Service of 
Bell
is rung once.
