Anglican (Church of England) worship
Public worship focuses on praising God through preaching, Bible reading, prayer and music, especially in the Holy CommunionA service celebrating the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ involving the sharing of the bread and wine (body and blood of Christ) in church. service where people receive the bread and wine. Because this is liturgical worshipA church service which follows a set structure or ritual., the words and actions to be followed are set out in the Book of Common PrayerThe Anglican prayer book that contains the order of services and prayers.. There are services of morning and evening prayer.
Features of worship
- The altarA table used for Eucharist, Mass, Lord鈥檚 Supper. Some denominations refer to it as Holy Table or Communion Table. or Communion Table is the main focus and is where the Holy Communion service takes place. This is because Jesus' death is considered a sacrificeThe act of giving something precious to another person or to God.. There is also a pulpitAn elevated, enclosed platform in a church where the minister or priest will stand to give a sermon. where the sermonReligious teaching usually given verbally to a group of believers. is preached and a lecternA stand supporting the Bible, often in the shape of an eagle, in a church. where the Bible is placed for reading aloud to the people.
- There may be choir stalls and an organ to accompany hymn singing. Candles and a cross remind people of the death of Jesus and his resurrectionThe rising of Christ from the dead, three days after the crucifixion.. Many churches have stained glass windows that tell stories in pictures from the Bible.
- Some Anglican services are very formal and similar to the CatholicA group of Christians who accept the Pope in Rome as their leader.Mass (Christianity)A Roman Catholic service of worship that involves receiving Holy Communion., but others are very simple and informal.
- The priest leads the Holy Communion part of the service in most churches but in some a lay peopleMembers of a religious community who are not ordained, eg those who are not ministers, monks or nuns. reader conducts them. At various points, people go to the altar to receive bread and wine, which represents the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
- The congregation follows the service in the prayer book and responds to the prayers through written replies. Readings and some prayers usually change every week but others stay the same. Readings from the Bible are followed by a sermon that explains their meaning for people today.
The service usually ends with an opportunity for quiet reflection.