To continue my thoughts on how best we may use our worship at the Eucharist...
We come to church to worship Almighty God and to receive the Lord in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. It is so easy to take all this for granted and to forget who it is we have come to meet and adore. How easy to take the love of God for granted and to behave in a sacred building, as if it were a theatre before a concert or waiting for somebody in a public restaurant! It is essential for every worshipper to focus their attention on the crucifix or the altar upon entering, take the Holy Water as a sign of our baptism into Christ and let the peace of God come upon us. The altar and the crucifix are reminders of what God has done for us and how we can express that desire for God by saying for example: "Jesus my Lord, I thee adore: O make me love you more and more."
The Liturgy (or the form of worship being used) contains a wealth from Holy Scriptures. It is the way that God can speak to us through His holy word. Whilst we wait to begin, it is a good practise to look up the appropriate page in the prayer book for the day, and to read through quietly the sacred text. It can become part of your preparation for the Eucharist as much as it is the preacher's preparation days before for his sermon.
The Eucharist usually begins with a hymn at the Sung Eucharist or a read sentence at the early Mass, then we recite together the General Confession. The confession is what it is - a 'general' confession, it is not what the Church calls 'sacramental confession' to a priest. A general confession does not require much effort and every single worshipper needs to examine their conscience occasionally as required by the Book of Common Prayer (see The Visitation of the Sick) and after expressing sorrow for sin committed, and an intention to amend our lives, the priest will in the name of Christ Himself absolve us from our sins through the power he has received at his ordination. In the Eucharist the priest will pronounce a 'general' absolution only, if you require the full absolution of God, then you need to make an act of sacramental confession! Self examination must be part of every single worshipper's preparation for the reception of Holy Communion, to receive the Lord's Body and Blood unworthily, is to profane the Body and Blood of the Lord and we bring judgement upon ourselves (1 Corinthians 11.27-29).
The Prayers or Intercessions gives us a chance of praying for the Church and the World. Petitions are offered on our behalf and we respond: 'Hear our prayer'. But what prayers and petitions have we ourselves come to offer to God in our hearts? What particular person are we praying for? What need do I have? What thanksgiving should I be making? The intercessions help us to focus our own prayers, to add to those being offered for the Church, the World, the needy, the sick and the faithful departed. Add to it your intercession and if you wish make the special offering of the Eucharistic Gifts for your own intention for that week.
God bless you all.
Your friend and priest
written by Fr Malcolm Ferrier
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