Holy Eucharist
The Holy Eucharist, also called the Mass, the Lord’s Supper, and the Divine Liturgy, is the principal act of Christian worship on the Sunday and on other major Feasts. In this service we ‘continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers’, as our Baptismal Covenant puts it.
The Eucharist comprises two main parts: the Word of God and Holy Communion.
The first part of the service centers around the reading and explication of the Bible. Up to four passages of Scripture are read or sung – usually two each from the Hebrew Scriptures (including a Psalm) and the Christian Scriptures (including a reading from the Gospels) – and a sermon or homily preached upon one or more of the readings. Prayers, hymns, and the saying of a creed are also part of this half of the service.
The Holy Communion consists of the blessing and sharing of bread and wine following the example given in the Gospels and established in the early Church. This ritual, rich with meaning, is a means of strengthening of our union with God and one another as we remember Christ’s life, death and resurrection.
