All Souls 101

For anyone new to the Anglican form of worship, the order of service, gestures, and words can seem foreign, strange, and even intimidating. This short reference is designed to help familiarize you with what is happening around you during our services. We are confident this will add meaning to your worship.

Governance

The Anglican Church uses the episcopal form of governance: All Souls is part of a diocese or a group of parishes led by a bishop. Our diocese is part of a larger province, the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA), which an archbishop oversees.

Mode of Worship

All Souls follows a set order of service outlined in our Book of Common Prayer (BCP), lectionary (Scripture readings), and church calendar. This consistency allows all ACNA churches to read the same Bible passages and follow the same service order based on the seasons of the year.

Stylistic Differences

Many optional symbols and practices, such as bells, incense, hymns, and chant, can be used during the liturgy. We consider ourselves traditional in our style of worship.

Typical Anglican Service

The BCP outlines our various services. Our Sunday morning services are highly participatory. We sing hymns accompanied by an organ, hear God’s word read and preached, and share in Holy Communion. We worship God in word and sacrament empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Some Definitions

ACOLYTES – Two people dressed in red albs (robes) carry torches symbolizing the light of the Scripture.

AGNUS DEI – “O Lamb of God,” a traditional chant sung just before the distribution of communion.

BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER (BCP)—The order of various services, spoken words, and readings is a road map for liturgical worship. We use ACNA’s 2019 Book of Common Prayer.

CELEBRANT – The Priest who leads the service and consecrates the bread and wine for communion.

CHALICER – A person who administers the cup during the Eucharist.

CHURCH CALENDAR – Defines the seasons of the church year, e.g., Advent, Christmas, Lent, etc.

CRUCIFER – They carry the cross during processions.

COLLECT – A short prayer from the Prayer Book.

GLORIA – “Glory to God in the Highest,” a traditional chant sung after the Kyrie.

DEACON – Ordained clergy who serve in various ministries and assist the celebrant during the service, especially reading the Gospel.

EUCHARIST – The sacrament of communion celebrated with the consecrated wine and bread at the altar rail. We use real wine and bread (wafers in penitential seasons).

KYRIE – “Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy,” traditional chant sung/spoken towards the beginning of our service.

LECTIONARY – The schedule of Scripture readings for each day and week of the year.

MASS – The ancient precursor to our current form of worship. Each part is distinctly named and marked by chants: Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei.

OFFERTORY—Our gift of money joins the gifts of bread and wine, which are blessed and returned to us.

PARISH – A congregation of regular attenders and members of a local church.

PRIEST – Ordained clergy who conduct worship, perform baptisms and marriages and act as celebrants.

PSALM – A Scriptural song sung or spoken after the first reading.

RECTOR – The clergyperson is officially hired to head a parish church and serves as the senior pastor.

SANCTUS – “Holy, Holy, Holy,” traditional chant sung at the beginning of the Eucharist Prayer.

THURIFER – The person who carries the incense (in a thurible) and censes the people.

VERGER – Assigns the altar party for various duties and assists the clergy during the service.

What about the . . .

INCENSE – A symbol of our prayers rising to God.

BELLS – Draws our attention to important elements of the service.

CROTALUS – A wooden apparatus replacing the bells in penitential seasons.

CROWN OF THORNS – A reminder of Christ’s suffering.

STATIONS OF CROSS – The center of our Good Friday service that traces the narrative of Jesus’s crucifixion.

PROCESSIONS – Focuses our attention on the importance of our worship, the Cross, and the Gospel.

COMMON CUP – We share one bread and one cup to symbolize the unifying Body of Christ.

Actions you will see

Standing, kneeling, bowing, signing the cross, or genuflecting (dropping one knee to the floor).
Though these actions are optional, they all have a meaning. As you become more comfortable, you’ll find they enrich your experience.

When we stand

Opening bell, or when the procession begins
At the start of the sequence hymn and recessional
When the Gospel is read
When we say the Creed
When offerings are brought forward
At the beginning of the Eucharist Prayer

When we kneel

During the Confession
After the Sanctus
For the Post-communion Prayer

When we bow

Entering or exiting the pew (genuflecting is more formal)
As the Processional cross passes by.
Bow the head when “Jesus Christ” is mentioned.
When “Glory be to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” is sung at the end of the Psalm.
During Nicene Creed, from “Came down . . .”
At the beginning of the Sanctus.

When we cross ourselves (Fig. A)

Marking yourself as belonging to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

When you hear, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
Nicene Creed at “… resurrection of the dead…”
During the Absolution after the Confession.
During Eucharist Prayer at “Sanctify us…”
Prayers of People: “…who have departed this life”
The opening declaration at Gospel reading is symbolized by three small crosses made with the thumb. “May the Word of God be on my mind, my lips, and in my heart.” (Fig. B)

Receiving the Eucharist

Approaching and kneeling at the altar rail. (Fig. C)
Receiving the bread. (Fig. D)
It is appropriate to respond with “Amen” (“it is true” or “I believe it”) after receiving the bread or wine.
Receiving the wine – Grasp the rim of the chalice and tip it towards you to assist the chalicer. (Fig. E)
Cross your arms if you wish to abstain from either and receive a blessing. (Fig. F)
About Intinction – we do not “intinct,” or dip the bread in the wine. They are taken separately. (Fig. D & E)