Traditional Anglican Liturgy

In the Anglican tradition, our worship is deeply liturgical. We follow a structured service that guides us through a meaningful spiritual journey. This service, which lasts about an hour and 20 minutes, is composed of five key movements: Entering God's Presence, Hearing God's Word, Responding to God's Word, Celebrating the Lord's Supper, and Going Out into the World. This format is inspired by early Christian worship and incorporates a blend of ancient hymns and modern songs rich in theology.

Our worship begins with an opening hymn, a procession of the cross, and a blessing, reminding us of Jesus' promise to be with us. We reflect on Jesus' summary of the Law (Matthew 22:37-40), which commands us to love God and our neighbors. We seek God's mercy, glorify Him with the ancient song, the Gloria, and join the global Church in reciting the daily appointed prayer known as the Collect.

Every Sunday, we engage with scripture through readings from the Old Testament, a Psalm, a New Testament Epistle, and the Gospel, following a three-year cycle known as the lectionary. A sermon, typically lasting about 15 minutes, delves into these readings to offer deeper insights and reflections.

After the sermon, we collectively affirm our faith with the Nicene Creed, a tradition dating back to 325 AD. We then offer the Prayers of the People, confess our sins, and receive God's forgiveness through the reading of "the Comfortable Words" — four brief Scripture verses. We share the Peace, taking a moment for greeting and reconciliation, which is essential before participating in Communion. At this time, children rejoin the main service from their classes to take part in Communion.

During the Lord's Supper, we present the Bread and Wine, along with our offerings, as symbols of our labor, singing the Doxology in praise. The Holy Eucharist then takes place, during which we recount the Gospel story through the blessing of the Bread and Wine, expressing gratitude for our salvation. This part of the service includes several liturgical songs and responsive affirmations. Following Jesus' instructions, we bless, break, take, eat, and drink the Bread and Wine, acknowledging this sacrament—a physical sign of a spiritual truth—through which we receive Him personally and remember our unity with Him as members of the Church.

We conclude our service by expressing our gratitude to the Lord for nourishing us with spiritual food through both Word and Sacrament. We receive a blessing and are commissioned to "go into the world in peace to love and serve," empowered by the Holy Spirit.

We invite you to join us on this worship journey and experience the rich traditions and spiritual depth of Anglican worship.

Please contact us with any questions