“Liturgy”

...means “the work of the people.” In other words, it's what our whole community does together - Sunday morning worship. The complete service is printed in a program, or bulletin, so everyone can participate. The backbone of our worship is the traditional Western liturgy, which we inherit from millions of Christians over the past 1000 years or so. We share it today with millions of others around the world. Liturgies and prayers come primarily from the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church. Hymns are usually from the Hymnal 1982 or the supplement Wonder, Love and Praise.

On most Sundays, sung worship (10:30 service) progresses like this (although often with changes here and there).

THE COMMUNITY GATHERS

• an instrumental prelude, while many people prepare for worship by prayer or meditation

• the processional hymn, sung by the whole congregation

• an opening prayer

• another Hymn of Praise, usually the same week to week throughout a whole season

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD, when we consider what God has to say to us

• scripture readings from the Old Testament and one of the New Testament letters written to early Christian congregations

• a psalm (song from the Hebrew tradition), either spoken or sung

• a hymn, sung by the congregation

• a scripture reading about Jesus from one of the gospels

• the sermon from one of our five priests, or sometimes a guest

• one of the several creeds we share with other Christians, spoken by the congregation

• The Prayers of the People, when we pray for all the things that concern us today

THE LITURGY OF THE TABLE (Eucharist or Holy Communion)

• to prepare for eucharist, we say together a short confession, and receive God's assurance that we are forgiven

• we exchange a greeting of peace with other worshipers, like “The peace of the Lord be with you,” usually with a handshake or hug

• short prayer for people who are celebrating life milestones, like birthdays or wedding anniversaries

• the offering of gifts of money that support the ministries of St. Luke's~San Lucas, and of gifts of bread and wine for the eucharist

• The Great Thanksgiving, an interactive prayer that gives the background of the sacrament of the eucharist

• we come forward to receive the bread and wine of the Eucharist, or an individual blessing

• a prayer to conclude the eucharist

THE COMMUNITY IS SENT INTO THE WORLD

• announcements that concern the community

• a blessing from the priest

• a concluding hymn, sung by the whole congregation

• the dismissal, usually ending with “Alleluia, alleluia” from the congregation

• a festive instrumental postlude