Table 1-1.Variations in the Rites of Christian WorshipContinued
PROTESTANT Style #2
PROTESTANT Style #3
PROTESTANT Style #4
PROTESTANT WORSHIP WITH
COMMUNION
PROTESTANT WORSHIP
WITHOUT COMMUNION
CREATIVE PROTESTANT
WORSHIP
The Word of God
Opening Rite, Hymn of Praise, Acclamation
and Collect, Summary of the Law, Kyrie,
Collect of the Day, Ministry of the Word,
Lesson, Psalm, Epistle, Hymn, Gospel,
Sermon, Nicene Creed, Prayers of the People,
Confession, Absolution and Comfortable
Words, Peace
The Holy Communion
Offertory,
Anthem,
Presentation,
Great
Thanksgiving, Eucharistic Prayer, Breaking
of
the
Bread.
Music
of
Communion,
Thanksgivings after Communion, Hymn
Dismissal
Closing Voluntary, Procession
In the communion for most faith groups
following a traditional Protestant Worship
with Communion, the communion is generally
reserved for baptized Christians of the
particular faith group.
Prelude
The Call to Worship
Hymn, Act of Praise (psalm),Invocation,
Anthem
The Preparation for Prayer
Offertory Anthem, Doxology and Hymn
The Word
Scripture, Sermon, Hymn
The Benediction
Postlude
Variations in the Protestant Worship may
include a reception of new members, infant or
adult baptism, ritual of fellowship, and
sharing of concerns.
Normally no specific worship outline is
given. Chaplains, clergy, and congregations
respond to a known form, or are spirit
moved. A typical order for a free style of
worship may be:
Prelude Music, Call to Worship, Prayer for
the Sick, Welcome of Visitors, Choir Song,
Offering, Worship and Praise Songs and
Choruses, Message, Salvation Prayer
Variations
to
a
creative
Protestant
Worship service are periodic communion
services,
water
baptism
normally
immersion of adults, baby dedication,
membership day, testimonial service, and
feetwashing.
Communion, a remembrance of Jesus
Christs action, is open to any Christian
desiring to participate.
Some determining factors in a creative
service include listening to community
needs, gathering a representative group,
determining the given trends, clarifying
expectations, discussing human needs,
identifying the season (life cycles of Navy
and nature), identifying implications for
outreach, and shaping of form.
undergone even broader changes. Changing
styles of worship have occurred in every
Christian community in America. As explained
earlier, we are living in an age marked by
pluralism. This means we are living in a society
in which many dissimilar ethnic, religious, or
cultural groups coexist within one nation.
Within the pluralistic denominations of the
Christian faith, members and religious support
personnel must respect diversity
in
the
Christian rites of worship and the changes that
may evolve.
Special Concerns
In todays Navy, chaplains must address
special concerns in administering the rites of
Christian worship. These concerns include sexist
language, involvement of the laity, uplifting
worship appointments,
user-friendly
worship
spaces, small chapels for daily use, public prayer in
interfaith settings, and other complex issues. Since
the chaplains are involved with these issues, you,
the RP, should also be aware of them.
Basic Concepts
Whether formal or informal, the rites and ceremonies of
Christian worship are demonstrations external acts or
gestures that guide prayers or liturgical worship. In
all cases, Christian rites and ceremonies are based on
four concepts: (1) symbolism, (2) consecration, (3)
recurrence, and (4) commemoration. Regardless of the
denomination or style, the rites and ceremonies in
Christian worship recall and convey the heritage of the
people in a shared experience. In the following
paragraphs, we will look at some special rites of worship
and their different interpretations and practices.
SACRAMENTS
Sacraments are religious rites that confer special
graces. Christian practices such as baptism and the
eucharist were called mysteries in the early church,
and they continue to be called mysteries in the
Orthodox church to this day. From the time St.
Jerome translated the Greek word mysterion into the
Latin word sacramentum, the Christian church has
referred to these rites as sacraments.
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