Throughout September of 2023 we’ll take a look at the Western Ceremony.
The Oxford Dictionary defines ceremony as: “a spiritual or different solemn ceremony or act. ‘the ceremony of communion.’”
A stricter definition utilized by liturgists is a ceremony is phrases which might be spoken (or sung) in worship. Ceremony is actions or gestures utilized in worship.
The Western Ceremony isn’t a single ceremony, however extra of a sample of phrases and songs that many denominations and traditions comply with. The Roman Catholic Mass, the Lutheran Divine Service or Gottesdienst, the Anglican / Episcopalian Eucharist are all variations of the Western Ceremony.
Some denominations / traditions take into account the Confiteor / Confession part of the service. Some take into account it separate, with the service correct starting with the Kyrie. Because of this the opening / processional hymn is usually earlier than the confession, typically after. Fashionable Roman Catholic utilization typically combines the Confession with the Kyrie.
The confessional ceremony relies on the non-public prayers a priest would pray in preparation for the mass and whereas placing on vestments (Reed, p. 256). Amongst Lutherans, non-public confession was nonetheless used within the early years, and public rites of confession started to appear within the 1530s (Reed, p. 258). It is a comparatively late addition to the Western Ceremony.
The invocation is similar phrase spoken at baptism–the phrases that join us with God’s identify. We method our God as his individuals, baptized into his identify, cleansed with Christ’s blood. The signal of the cross can also be a reminder of baptism. “Obtain the signal of the cross on the top and coronary heart + to mark you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.” The invocation additionally reminds us whose work we’re right here to do. We worship in God’s identify.
That is how we method our God. Like the daddy of the prodigal, our heavenly Father awaits us with open arms.
We hear God’s forgiveness proclaimed, once more, due to the life and work of our Savior Jesus.
Within the identify of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Beloved within the Lord! Allow us to draw close to with a real coronary heart, and confess our sins to God, our Father, asking him within the identify of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness. (Hebrews 10:22)
Our assistance is within the identify of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8)
I mentioned, “I’ll confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and also you forgave the iniquity of my sin. (Psalm 32:5)
Almighty God, merciful Father, I, a poor, depressing sinner, confess to you all my sins and iniquities with which I’ve ever offended you, and justly deserved your temporal and everlasting punishment. However I’m heartily sorry for them, and sincerely repent of them, and I pray of your boundless mercy, and for the sake of the holy, harmless, bitter sufferings and demise of the one you love Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.
Upon this your confession, I, by advantage of my workplace as a servant of the Phrase, announce the grace of God to all of you, and within the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all of your sins, within the identify of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Supply: Saxon Church Order of 1581, translation primarily based on The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941. For German authentic, comply with this hyperlink.
There are many types of confession and absolution. We confess what we’re. We confess what now we have achieved. We all know what we deserve and what we might get if we approached a holy God alone. We’re not beating ourselves up–we’re stating details. Right here is one other reality: Jesus Christ suffered and died to bear our sin and take it away. We plead for God’s mercy for the sake of Christ.
Within the historic church, an introit was sung at this level. Introit means entrance. Most introits had been brief chants composed from psalms or different components of Scripture, concluding with the Gloria Patri after which repeating the opening verse. Right here is the introit for the primary Sunday in Creation:
Antiphon:
To you, O Lord, I elevate up my soul.*
O my God, I belief in you; Let me not be ashamed;
Let not my enemies conquer me.*
Let nobody who waits on you be ashamed. (Psalm 25:1-3a)
Psalm:
Present me your methods, O Lord;*
train me your paths.
[For you are the God of my salvation;*
on you I wait all the day.
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,*
for I wait for you.
Redeem Israel, O God,*
out of all their troubles.] (Psalm 25:4-5, 21-22)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,*
and to the Holy Spirit;
because it was to start with,*
is now and will probably be eternally. Amen.
Antiphon:
To you, O Lord, I elevate up my soul.*
O my God, I belief in you; Let me not be ashamed;
Let not my enemies conquer me.*
Let nobody who waits on you be ashamed. (Psalm 25:1-3a)
Supply: Sanctus, November 27, 2022. Psalm 25:5 and 21-22 aren’t a part of the unique Introit.
Martin Luther urged a non secular music or a psalm be sung in German as an alternative of the introits (https://historical past.hanover.edu/texts/luthserv.html, additionally Luther Reed in The Lutheran Liturgy, p. 262). It’s possible he reccommended this as a result of the introits had been fragments, and the thematic reference to the readings was typically unclear. A lot earlier in church historical past, the follow of singing entire psalms as entrance hymns or as interludes between Scripture readings was widespread (Reed, p. 261) .
Some church buildings sing an entrance hymn right here. Some sing it earlier than the invocation.
The Kyrie initially had the type of a brief litany. Right here is Kyrie, Orbis Issue, one among 9 Kyrie litanies utilized in Sarum which will be considered at this hyperlink.
Maker of the world, King everlasting,
have mercy on us.
Fount of boundless pity,
have mercy on us.
Drive away from us all that’s dangerous,
have mercy on us.
Christ, the Gentle of the world, giver of life,
have mercy on us.
Look on these wounded by the craft of the satan;
have mercy on us.
You protect those that imagine in you, and also you strengthen them,
have mercy on us.
Your Father, you, and the Spirit continuing from each,
have mercy on us.
We all know you to be one God, and three individuals,
have mercy on us.
Be current with us, Counselor, that we might reside in you,
have mercy on us.
Supply: The Sarum Missal in English, Half II, Alcuin Membership Collections, No. XI
One other Kyrie litany, taken from the fourth century Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, is in huge use at this time amongst Lutherans:
In peace, allow us to pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above,
and for our salvation,
allow us to pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For peace to the entire world,
for the effectively being of the Church of God,
and for the unity of all,
allow us to pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For this holy home,
and for all who supply right here their worship and reward,
allow us to pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Assist, save, consolation, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.
From Lutheran Ebook of Worship, 1978.
The extra primary three, six or ninefold Kyrie is a remnant of the sooner Kyrie litanies (Reed, p. 269).
Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
The aim of the Kyrie initially of the service, lengthy or brief, is to forged all our cares and wishes earlier than the Lord. The widespread Kyrie above (“In peace allow us to pray to the Lord…”) has the repeated theme of peace. Jesus mentioned, “My peace I give to you. Not because the world offers do I give to you” (John 14:27). The Technique of Grace, the gospel in Phrase and Sacrament that we’re about to obtain, are the one place we’ll discover the peace we search, as a result of there alone we discover Jesus, his Phrase, his forgivness, his restoration and peace.
The Gloria in Excelsis is the principle music of reward within the Western Ceremony. It got here from the Greek church as a music utilized in Morning Prayer / Matins as early because the second or third centuries. By the 500s it began for use within the western church, first in the principle service at Christmas, then at different excessive festivals, after which in common utilization.
It begins with the music of the Christmas angels:
Glory to God within the highest,
and peace to his individuals on earth.
Many take into account the primary two strains to be an antiphon, and in fashionable follow, it’s usually used as a repeated chorus. Initially the officiant would chant the primary line, “Gloria in excelsis Deo” (“Glory to God within the highest”) and the congregation would take part the remaining, “et in terra pax…” (“and on earth peace…”). Because of this the Gloria is usually known as “Et in terra…” (And on earth…”)
The music of the angels has a parallel construction to it. The ELLC’s translation brings it out very clearly. Within the beginning, life, and work of Christ, glory is given to God. Peace is given to individuals.
The primary stanza of the music is directed to God the Father, and praises God for who he’s:
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we offer you thanks,
we reward you on your glory.
The second stanza is directed to God the Son, and praises him for each who he’s and what he does. The second stanza additionally has the character of the Kyrie, “Have mercy on us.” “Obtain our prayer.” Historic songs and psalms typically put the central thought within the middle of the music, and right here is the middle of the Christian religion: Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who bears our sin.
Lord Jesus Christ, solely Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you’re taking away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you’re seated on the proper hand of the Father:
obtain our prayer.
The third stanza brings the music to its highest level, once more praising God for who he’s. The third stanza is trinitarian, emphasizing that we worship one God, one Lord, who’s Most Excessive, revealed as “Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, within the glory of God the Father.”
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most Excessive,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
within the glory of God the Father. Amen.
The Gloria in Excelsis may be very credal. It confesses truths about God, his attributes, and his works.
The Gloria is usually omitted throughout Creation and Lent. That custom happened as a quick for the ears in preparation for the exuberance of Christmas and Easter.
Amongst Lutherans it could get replaced by the Canticle “Worthy is Christ” / Dignus est agnus through the Sundays of Easter.
Chorus:
That is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
1 Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
whose blood set us free to be individuals of God. [Refrain]
2 Energy, riches, knowledge and power,
and honor, blessing and glory are his. [Refrain]
3 Sing with all of the individuals of God
and be part of within the hymn of all creation.
4 Blessing, honor, glory and may
be to God and the Lamb eternally. Amen. [Refrain]
For the Lamb who was slain
has begun his reign. Alleluia. [Refrain]
© 1978 Lutheran Church in America, The American Lutheran Church, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, and The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
The Gloria had this thought on the middle: “Lord God, Lamb of God, you’re taking away the sin of the world: have mercy on us.” The canticle Worthy is Christ is taken from phrases in Revelation 5, 15 and 19, and praises Christ because the Lamb who was slain, who made us his individuals by his blood, and lives and reigns over his church.
