God s Tapestry: Celebrating the Eucharist Around the World May We are in the Easter season, and our midweek worship experience takes us to the

Transcription

1 .داری د ن گه ج شن ما ده ید اجازه ب ناب رای ن.ف داک اری ما ب رای ما ف صح ع ید م س یح. هللا س بحان هللا س بحان و صم یم یت ب رای (اق م قدس همدل ی ت باس 1971 سال ای ران ن ش ین ا س قف)

2 God s Tapestry: Celebrating the Eucharist Around the World May We are in the Easter season, and our midweek worship experience takes us to the Middle East with an adapted Order of Holy Communion from the Diocese of Iran, Pictured is an icon of Christ s Decent into Hades. The Arabic caption is from 1 st Corinthians 5:7-8 and in English translates Alleluia. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast. For more information about the icon, please turn to page 14. The next two lines on the cover are also Arabic and translate An Order of Holy Communion (Diocese of Iran, 1971, adapted). 2

3 THE HOLY COMMUNION PREPARATION (All stand as able.) All: Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your Holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen. The Collect for the Day may be read. THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD Priest: Our Lord Jesus Christ said: The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second is like it, namely this; You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. People: Lord, have mercy upon us, and write these your laws in our hearts. (The Ten Commandments may be used in place of the above). THE CONFESSION OF SINS Priest: Let us, who truly and earnestly repent of our sins, and are in love and fellowship with our neighbors, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways, make our humble confession to Almighty God. All: Almighty Father, Lord of heaven and earth, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed; we have not loved you with all our heart; 3

4 we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Have mercy upon us, cleanse us from our sins, and help us to overcome our faults; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Priest: The Almighty and Merciful God grant you pardon and remission of all your sins, time for amendment of life, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ADORATION (All stand as able.) (Use on May 7 and May 21) Priest: O people of God, lift up your voices and glorify the living God. People: Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Eternal, we praise you, we glorify you. Priest: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. People: As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (Use on May 14 and May 28) All: Glory be to God on high, and in earth peace, goodwill towards all. We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, we give thanks to you for your great glory O Lord God: heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord the only begotten Son Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. You that takes away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. You that sits at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. 4

5 For you only are holy, you only are the Lord; you only, O Christ, with the Holy Spirit, are the most High in the glory of God the Father. Amen. THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD (The Old Testament Lesson or Epistle, and Psalm may be omitted). Old Testament Lesson Psalm Epistle Gospel (All stand as able.) Before Gospel: Glory be to you, O Lord. After Gospel: Praise be to you, O Christ. Hymn or Canticle Sermon (A short silence may be kept) CREED (All stand as able.) I believe in One God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, 5

6 and sits on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father, and the son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the Resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. THE INTERCESSION (All stand or kneel as able.) (Form 1 or 2, or some other appropriate source.) Form 1 Priest: Let us pray for the universal Church of Christ and for all according to their needs. O God, grant us your peace. People: And salvation to all human kind. Priest: Strengthen your Church; People: And increase it day by day. Priest: Guide all Christians in the way of unity; People: And grant that we may grow in your love. Priest: Give your grace to all ministers of your Church, especially to your servants, Katherine, our Presiding Bishop, and James, our Bishop. People: And strengthen them in the ministry of your Word and Sacraments. 6

7 Priest: Bless, we pray you, all those who work for the spread of your Gospel in the world; People: And encourage the messengers of your Word. Priest: Direct the minds of those who are seeking Christ. People: And make them strong in faith. Priest: Guide the world in the way of peace. People: And direct the leaders of the nations. Priest: Bring all peoples into the path of justice and harmony. People: And into obedience to your commands. Priest: May this city and province flourish. People: For the welfare and blessing of the people. Priest: Look with your favor upon universities and schools. People: That knowledge may be acquired for your glory and the benefit of human kind. Priest: We pray you to heal the sick. People: And help all those in trouble. Priest: May those who are near death have the assurance of your presence. People: That they may entrust themselves to you. Priest: Give your strength to those who dedicate themselves to the healing of the sick; People: And help them to minister to all who suffer pain. Priest: May the wants of the needy be supplied, and the hungry be fed. People: Help us to relieve their suffering. 7

8 Priest: Grant us your grace that we may hear your Holy Word. People: And help us both to receive and fulfill it. Priest: We thank you for your servants who have died in faith. People: And pray that we may follow their good examples, and share with them in your eternal kingdom. Amen. Form 2: Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus, and for all men according to their needs. Almighty God, who hast promised to hear the prayers of those who ask in faith: (Here the Intercessor may pray for the Church throughout the world, and especially for the Diocese and its Bishop; for any particular need of the Church; and a short period of silence may be kept; after which he may say:) Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer Grant that we who confess your name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and show forth your glory in the world. (Here the intercessor may pray for the nations of the world; for all in their various callings; and again a short period of silence may be kept; after which he may say:) Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer 8

9 Direct this nation and all the nations in the ways of justice and peace, that we may honor all men, and seek the common good. (Here he may pray for the sick, the poor, and for those in trouble; for the needs of particular persons; and again a short period of silence may be kept; after which he may say:) Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer Save and comfort those who suffer, that they may hold to you through good and ill, and trust in your unfailing love. (Here he may commemorate the departed; he may commend them by name; and again a short period of silence may be kept; after which he may say:) Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer Hear us as we remember those who have died in faith, and grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom. Grant these our prayers, O merciful Father, for the sake of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. People: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen. THE PEACE THE MINISTRY OF THE SACRAMENT (All stand as able.) 9

10 Priest: O God, who in Christ reconciled the world to yourself, we beseech you to accept us and these gifts and use them for your glory, for yours is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty. People: All that is in heaven and earth is yours and from your hand we give to you. THE THANKSGIVING Priest: Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them up unto the Lord. Priest: Let us give thanks unto our Lord God. People: It is meet and right so to do. Priest: It is very meet, right and our bounden duty that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto you, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, Everlasting God, who created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them, and made humanity in your own image. But chiefly are we bound to praise you for the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord: for he is the very Paschal Lamb, which was offered for us, and has taken away the sins of the world; who by his death has destroyed death, and by his rising to life again has restored to us everlasting life. Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify your glorious name, evermore praising you and saying: All: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Glory be to you, O Lord most High. Priest: All glory be to you, Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of your tender mercy gave your only Son Jesus Christ to take our nature upon him and to suffer death upon 10

11 the Cross for our redemption, who made there, by his one oblation of himself once offered, a full perfect and sufficient sacrifice and oblation for the sins of the whole world; and did institute and in his Holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that his precious death, until his coming again; who in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat; this is my Body which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of me. Likewise after supper he took the cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them saying, Drink you all of this; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins: Do this, as often as you shall drink it, in remembrance of me. People: Your death, O Lord Christ, we commemorate, your resurrection we confess, and your second coming we await. Glory be to you, O Christ. THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD Priest: The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a sharing of the Blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a sharing of the Body of Christ? People: We being many are one bread, one Body, for we all partake of the one bread and drink of the one cup. THE COMMUNION (A short silence may be kept). Priest: Let us draw near and receive the Communion of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which were given for us and feed on him in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving. People: We eat and drink in remembrance of you, O Lord. 11

12 Either: The Priest says to each communicant: The Body of Christ keep you in everlasting life. The Blood of Christ keep you in everlasting life. Each Communicant answers: Amen Or: The Priest says as he gives communion: The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for you, preserve your body and soul unto everlasting life. Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your heart by faith with thanksgiving. The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for you, preserve your body and soul unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ s Blood was shed for you, and be thankful. THE DISMISSAL All: O Lord, here we offer and present to you ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy and living sacrifice to you. In the power of your Spirit send us out into the affairs of the world so that all that we are, and all that we do may be to your praise and glory. Amen. Priest: The Lord be with you. People: And with your spirit. (The Priest may add one of the following:) The peace of God which passes understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord: And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen. 12

13 Or: Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast to that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the faint-hearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honor all; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always. Amen. 13

14 About the Cover The Icon for the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is technically the Icon of Christ s Descent into Hades, but is commonly called the Anastasis or Resurrection Icon. It is the visual Gospel, the Holy Scripture written in form and picture, for all to participate in the Good News of this event. The Icon of Christ s Descent into Hades is not a photojournalists recording of what took place in the bowels of the earth, but rather a spiritual representation of the significance, reality and importance of what Christ accomplished. Many of the elements that we see come from the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus and although the details vary from icon to icon, the essential elements remain the same: We read from The Acts of Pilate, from the text of Nicodemus The bronze gates were broken in pieces and the bars of iron were snapped; and all the dead who were bound were loosed from their chains, and we with them. And the King of Glory entered like a man, and all the dark places of Hades were illumined... Christ is shown standing on the gates of Hades which are suspended over a black hole in the form of a cross. Hades is depicted as a person, conquered and bound. Sometimes Satan is depicted with two heads to show his multiplicity and lack of integration or personhood. The hardware that held the gates in place is shattered and scattered, showing that the gates will never be closed again. Christ is dressed in a garment of white, orange or sometimes even dark hews of blue, or brown, but with gold highlights emanating light from His transfigured body, showing that He is the Light of the world. His cape flies to show that He is not ascending, going up, but actually descending into Hades, and having resurrected He is shown in His glory. This is signified by the blue Mandola behind Him, which we also see in the Transfiguration and in the icon of the Koimoiseis or Falling Asleep of the Virgin Mary. He is raising Adam from his tomb with Eve on the other side. Adam offers his hand to Christ rather than clasping Christ s hand to show that it is Christ who raises us from the dead. With His other hand, Christ raises Eve from her tomb, or He may be depicted holding a scroll in His hand, in order to proclaim the Good News to the captives. Sometimes He is shown holding a cross in His hand, the tool by which He broke apart the gates of Hell. 14

15 Christ s hands and feet show the marks of the nails, as is the case in the Icon of the Touching of Thomas, but which is not true of the Icon of the Ascension. Sometimes angels are shown above the mandola, (also known as the glory orb ), holding the tools of salvation: the cross, the lance and the sponge. These are elements that also appear in The Icon of The Extreme Humility of Christ. There are many figures surrounding Christ. On the left side in this icon we have 1) the kings David and Solomon who are Christ s relatives, according to the flesh; 2) St. John the Baptist, the last of the Old Testament Prophets is also present, proclaiming in Hades as he did in this world Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand. Some say that John died before Christ so that he could be the Forerunner even in Hades; 3) Moses is also shown, wearing a Phrygian cap, he represents the first covenant and one who witnessed the first Passover; 4) and Abel, the first to suffer injustice as the consequences of sin; 5) In the background are various kings, prophets, and righteous men who immediately recognize the Risen One. On the right side we have the contemporaries of Christ showing us that this is an eternal act that transcends time and space. This is the quintessential icon for the Orthodox faithful because in it is the fulfillment of God s purpose for humanity. It speaks of the Restoration of Adam (and all humanity) into communion with God and tells of the Awesome Victory over Death. 15