Why We Do What We Do: Ordinary Time
Throughout the Summer months we will be using prayers from Enriching Our Worship. Approved by The Episcopal Church in 1997, it was intended for worshipping communities to have more options than Rite 1 or Rite 2. It contains language that are even more contemporary than found in the Book of Common Prayer Rite 2. At Christ Church, we will use Rite 2 Eucharistic Prayers and stay with one which best fits the liturgical season.
Why so much green? Green is the color of new life given to us in the Spirit. The German mystic St. Hildegard of Bingen saw the Spirit as Viriditas or the greening power of God giving life to everything.
When do you make the sign of the cross? Like so many things in The Episcopal Church there are lots of ways to be correct. Typically, the sign of the cross starts the Liturgy with the Acclamation and ends with the Blessing. Many will also make three small crosses on the forehead, mouth, and heart at the reading of the Gospel. Others will make the sign of the cross at the absolution, the end of Creed, at the Epiclesis, or before receiving the Eucharist. Try what feels right to you, but also know why you do what liturgical actions.
All about candles. Candles not only give light, but represent our offering to God. When a candle is consumed it gives itself as an offering to create light. Much like when we offer ourselves to God our lives should bring light to the world. Originally lamps were hung over the graves of the deceased early Christian martyrs in the catacombs. The oil from the lamps took on a sacred quality because of their nearness to the bodies of the saints. When Christianity became legalized in the 4th Century the lamps moved into the public spaces. For the first centuries of Christianity candles, flowers, or even the altar book were not placed on the altar itself. The altar was thought to be too holy for mundane objects to be placed on it. Only the Gospel Book, the paten with the bread, and the chalice with the wine were placed on the altar along with the offerings from the community. This tradition is still kept in the Orthodox Church. In the Eastern Church a seven-branch menorah is used behind the altar as a way to connect with the Hebrew Temple. In the Middle Ages, six candlesticks were placed on the reredos (shelf behind the altar). More or less candles were lit according to how solemn the Eucharist. During the Reformation, candles were thought to be too “Romanish” and clergy could be jailed for candles! At one point, churches were allowed to have candles, but not to light them!! In the 19th Century, two candles came into vogue in a number of churches. Over the centuries candles have played an important role in Christian liturgy, but it has never been static. So, like much of Christian liturgy it has evolved. The big question is once again know why we do what we do. Christian liturgy is not revolutionary, but evolutionary.