Liturgy of the Table
Collecting gifts, getting our meal ready
and praying over it, sharing bread and wine offertory
A collection of money is taken at this point. Often a piece of
music is sung or played while the collection is being taken. Our offerings symbolize both our bringing of ourselves to worship
and our support of the life of the community. It is fine for you to put whatever amount of money in or to put in nothing at all.
(You may wonder why so many people don’t put anything in. There are many reasons, of course, but one big one is that many church
members make their financial contributions in ways other than putting it in the plate, i.e. through credit card deductions,
monthly checks, etc. ) The bread and wine we will use for communion and the money that has been collected are brought to the
Altar Table and the liturgical ministers set the Table for Communion.
Eucharistic Prayer
The presider prays an extended prayer. It starts with a dialogue between the presider
and assembly called the Sursum Corda (literally “lift up your hearts”). The presider then praises God for God’s action in our
lives. This initial section can in some cases be specific to the season we are in. This selection concludes with the Sanctus
“Holy, holy, holy”, a response normally sung by the entire assembly. The prayer continues with a retelling of the story of the
Last Supper and the presider asking the Holy Spirit to come into the bread and wine and into us. At the end of the prayer
we all say Amen, which our way of assenting to the prayer. We stand at the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer. After the
sanctus, you may kneel or continue standing.
At the end of the Eucharistic Prayer everyone prays the Lord’s Prayer. Then the presider breaks a piece of the bread,
symbolizing Christ’s body being broken for us. Words, called the Fraction Anthem, are either spoken or sung at this point that
reflect the actions taking place. Once the bread and wine are ready the presider invites people to the meal.
Receiving Communion
People generally come forward and stand or kneel at the altar to receive communion.
Most places have ushers to help guide you. The official policy of the Episcopal Church is that all baptized people may receive
communion. If you don’t want to receive communion that is totally fine. You can remain in your seat, or you can also come
forward and cross your arms over your chest. The priest will offer you a blessing instead of communion. If you do want to
receive, hold out your hands and the priest will put a piece of bread in your hand. Then another liturgical minister will come
with the cup of wine. There are few choices here. You can eat the bread when it is put in your hand and then take a sip of wine
from the cup. It is okay and actually helpful for you to touch the cup and help guide it to your mouth. If you don’t want to
drink from the cup you can also leave the bread in your hand and the person with the cup will dip the bread in the wine and then
place it in your mouth. It is also totally fine to receive only the bread or only the wine; either is considered a full
receiving of communion. There are many reasons people might want to receive only one so don’t feel self-conscious about that.
Once you have received, simply return to your seat.
After Communion - Giving thanks,
being sent forth
After everyone had received communion we all stand and say a prayer which your
service leaflet will tell you where to find it. The priest then asks God to bless us. Another song is usually sung by everyone
at this point during which the liturgical ministers may process out. At the very end we are dismissed by a deacon or priest,
sent out into the world. Often there is an instrumental postlude played. It is fine to stand up and leave your seat
at this point or you may want to remain and listen to the music.