Features of Episcopal Worship
Worship is participatory
In most Episcopal congregations, Holy Communion, also called the Holy Eucharist, is the primary weekly worship service and gathering of the community. The order of service for Holy Eucharist usually comes from The Book of Common Prayer. This book was written so that all of God's people might join in the acts of corporate (that is, community) worship. All are invited to lift up their hearts and voices to God, joining in saying the responses and the creed and singing hymns and other service music heartily. Worshipers say "amen" at the end of prayers, making them their own.
Worship is biblical
Episcopal worship is grounded in the Bible. Most worship services include at least a reading from the Old Testament, a Psalm, and a reading from the New Testament. The Episcopal Church uses a schedule for these readings, so that over the course of a three-year period, most of the Bible will be read aloud during worship services. Many of the prayers and other elements of services also come from the Bible, as does most of the content in The Book of Common Prayer. In most Episcopal churches, the Gospel reading is presented in the middle of the church--a physical manifestation of the idea of the word of God being brought to the people. Often worshipers will turn toward the deacon or priest as he or she reads the Gospel.
Worship is focused on the altar
Unlike some churches in which the pulpit is the focus of attention, the Episcopal Church places the altar in the central position. This is because, as the place where Holy Communion is celebrated, it is a symbol of the presence of the living God. This reminds us that we do not come to church primarily to hear scripture or a sermon, to listen to the choir sing or to be entertained, but to encounter Christ. These things--and all we do in church--are means to make ourselves present to God.
Worship leaders wear vestments
Clergy, choirs, and acolytes usually wear special clothes called vestments. Clergy typically wear a white robe--an alb--for the service of Eucharist. White represents purity. Some wear a chasuble (similar to a cape) over the alb. Other times, service leaders wear a white vestment, called a surplice, worn over a darker colored robe, called a cassock. Clergy stoles (a long scarf draped around the neck and over the shoulders) and altar hangings (textiles covering the altar) reflect the color of the church seasons. These colors offer a visual reminder of what we are experiencing spiritually. For instance, during Advent, purple or blue altar hangings are used to symbolize royalty, as we await the King of Kings. Red is used as Pentecost to symbolize the fire of the Holy Spirit.
Vestments can help bring order to worship by keeping us from being distracted by what service participants are wearing. The personalities of the clergy, choir members, acolytes, and other ministers are, in effect, submerged behind vestments so that the congregation focuses on God, not the service participants.
Worshipers stand, kneel, and sit
Guests sometimes remark that worshipers in an Episcopal church practice "pew aerobics" because we are up and down so often. Although there are variations, the basic principle is simple: we kneel or stand for prayer, stand to sing our praises and recite the creeds, and sit for instruction. We also stand during the reading of the Gospel. Sometimes customs vary between individuals and congregations. For example, during the Eucharistic Prayers, people may stand or kneel.
Many of the actions are rooted in scripture. For instance, bowing recalls the words of Saint Paul in his letter to Philippians: "At the name of Jesus every knee should bend."
Other Customs and Practices
Along with the more general features of Episcopal worship, there are a number of different customs observed by worshipers in Episcopal churches. These include:
Before the service
Many congregations encourage worshipers to enter in silence and to observe a time of quiet before the worship service begins. It is a time, in the words of the psalmist, to "Be still, then, and know that I am God." As we turn off our cell phones and prepare for worship, we are encouraged to also turn off our busy minds and wait expectantly for God. In traditional worship spaces, some like to kneel upon entering the pew, using this time for quiet preparation, reflection, or individual prayer.
During the service
In some congregations, worshipers are invited to engage the body and senses with the use of incense. Incense represents the prayers of God's people being lifted up into heaven. It is also sometimes understood to be a ritual of purification.
There are points in the service when some worshipers use bodily gestures to express an awareness of God's presence and offer reverence and respect. These gestures enable us, in a sense, to have our bodies join in our prayer and praise. These motions include:
- Bowing one's head to the altar or genuflecting upon entering or leaving the worship space or leaving the pew to take communion. (Genuflecting is an act of reverence, in which the worshiper touches one knee to the floor.)
- Bowing one's head as the processional cross passes at the beginning and the end of the service.
- Bowing at the name of Jesus during the reading of the Nicene of Apostles' Creed and in other places when it is used during the service.
- Tracing a cross on one's forehead, heart, and lips at the introduction of the Gospel.
- Making the sign of the cross at various times during the service. This action of tracing the sign of the cross on the body moves from the forehead to the chest, then from left to right should. The sign of the cross is made customarily at the absolution (asking for forgiveness of sins), at the words "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" during the communion prayers, before receiving the bread and wine, and at the final blessing.
The Peace
The Peace is a preparation for Holy Communion, and so is placed after the Confession of Sin and before the Great Thanksgiving. It is a sign and acknowledgement of our oneness with each other in the Holy Spirit. At the same time it demonstrates our willingness to make peace with any one from whom we are estranged before we approach the altar. At the Peace, the priest and people "may greet one another in the name of the Lord." Usually this is done with a handshake or a hug, exchanged with those in the immediate vicinity.
Holy Eucharist
All people are welcome to come to the altar and receive a blessing. In traditional worship spaces, worshipers come forward at the designated time and kneel or stand at the altar rail. In other settings, communion is administered from the aisle or elsewhere, with everyone standing. Those who are baptized are invited to receive the bread in open palms and to sip wine from a common cup or chalice. Some choose instead to intinct, which means dipping the bread into the wine. If you are unable to walk to the altar rail, simply alert an usher, and the priest will bring the bread and wine to you. If you prefer--or if you are not baptized, you may cross your arms over your chest as a signal that you would like to receive a blessing, but not communion. If you are interested in becoming baptized in the church, please contact the priest of the congregation.
Another custom in some congregations is the use of bells during particularly holy moments in the Eucharistic Prayer. Many of these practices are shared with Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and other churches.
After the service
Some people choose to kneel for a moment of individual prayer following the final hymn and dismissal. This is an opportunity to pray that we might carry an awareness of God's presence and purpose into our lives.
--- from "Customs & Practices in The Episcopal Church" ForwardMoment.org Fourth Printing, 2018
