Praise & Worship: Our Liturgy
Our liturgy is grounded in the ancient church of the apostles and predates the canonization of the New Testament. Through a full and authentic liturgy we can express religious truth, denounce heresy, and offer a complete expression of worship to the Trinity.
The following elements are a part of our worship every Sunday at Church of the Advent:
- Hymns, Praise & Worship Music, Liturgical Dance
- Collects & Prayers
- General Confession of Sin and Absolution
- Reading of Scriptures & The Sermon -
Ministry of the Word
- Proclaimation of Faith in the Nicene Creed
- The Prayers of the People
(for the Church, nation, needy, etc.)
- The Passing of the Peace
(greeting one another in the name of the Lord)
- The Offertory
(presenting our tithes and offerings to the Lord) ?
- Celebration of the Holy Eucharist
- The Lord's Prayer & Agnus Dei
- Prayer of Thanksgiving
- The Blessing and Dismissal
Our prayer is that everyday we may, with the boldness of King David, "dance before the Lord with all our might" (2 Sam. 6:14); and "worship Him in gladness with joyful songs (Psa 100:2); and then proclaim in loud voice before all the heavens and the earth "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb - be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" (Rev. 5:13).
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Holy Eucharist
Holy Eucharist or the Lord's Supper, as it is sometimes referred, is the focal point of worship. In it the fullness of Christ's redemptive work on the cross is revealed along with God's infinite love in the sacrifice of His only Son are made manifest on our lives.
The term Eucharist is from the Greek word "euchar?tia" meaning gratefulness or thanksgiving; sometimes translated as greatful thanksgiving.
It is one of the Dominical Sacraments of the Church (those instituted by Jesus Christ himself). Evidence for the Eucharist can be found in three of the four Gospels Matthew 26:25-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-23 and in the Epistles of St. Paul - 1Corinthians 11:23-25.
In St. Luke's Gospel (22:19), he writes that at the Last Supper; "...He(Jesus) took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
In St.John's Gospel (6:53) Jesus said: "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood you will not have life in you."
The Church from its earliest existance has always understood a Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
St. Ignatius of Antioch wrote: "The Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ" (To Smyrna 7:1).
St. Justin the martyr wrote around 145 A. D: "We have been taught that the food is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh" (Apology 1. 66. 2).
The Council of Trent in 1551 defined that Jesus is really present in the Eucharist, body and blood, soul and divinity.
Who can receive Eucharist ?
All baptized believers who recognize the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist are invited to receive.
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