Last modified January 2018

General

Gathering together to worship God, to hear the scriptures read and explained, to pray andto obey the command of Christ to share in the Holy Communion has been a part of Christian practice since the very beginning of the Church. To aim for excellence in our gatherings means that our gatherings glorify God and are helpful to those who participate.


For the Anglican Church the liturgy we use for our worship is of particular importance because the Anglican Church is not a ‘confessing church’. That is, the Anglican Church has avery limited range of statements of belief. These are the Nicene and Apostles Creeds, the Articles of Religion and the doctrine of the Book of Common Prayer (1662). For the Anglican Church our doctrine is contained in and expressed by our authorised liturgy. It is the case that liturgy always reflects doctrine but for the Anglican Church our liturgy is very important in reflecting and communicating what we believe.


Because of the very important role liturgy has in communicating the Christian faith the Anglican Church has taken liturgy very seriously and seen it as something of the Church not individuals. The notion of ‘common prayer’ is important to us not so that attenders will always get the same no matter which Anglican service they attend (predictability) but so that the belief of the Church reflected in the liturgy is ‘owned’ and approved by the church as a whole. Therefore liturgies which can be used in our church must be authorised not by an ordained minister or a congregational meeting or even a diocesan synod but normally by the most representative body the Anglican Church of Australia has-the General Synod. Recently at General Synod a canon was passed which has been adopted in the Diocese ofAdelaide allowing for some extra flexibility but that ordinance still requires authorisation ofliturgy at a greater than Diocese level.


Before they are ordained or licensed Anglican clergy make a solemn commitment to useauthorised forms of liturgy only. Liturgies authorised by the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia are: The Book of Common Prayer (1662), An Australian Prayer Book(1978) and A Prayer Book for Australia (1995). It should be noted that the restriction to using authorised liturgies applies to both Eucharistic and non- Eucharistic liturgies and includes weddings, baptisms and funerals.


Section 4 of the Constitution of the Anglican Church of Australia includes a mechanism for authorising deviations in authorised liturgies but the intention of this section is forpermanent and not ‘one off’ purposes and requires a general meeting of parishioners to approve a proposed deviation before a submission is made to the bishop for approval.


Liturgies which reflect particular themes or occasions can be very helpful in enabling people to worship and grow in discipleship of Christ. There are two broad avenues for introducing this variety. The first is the General Synod Canon Concerning Services. Section 5 of the Canon includes the following:

  1. The minister may make and use variations which are not of substantial importance inany form of authorised service authorised by section 4 (BCP, AAPB, APBA or viasection 4 of the Constitution) according to particular circumstances.

  2. Subject to any regulations made from time to time by the Synod of a diocese, a minister of that diocese may on occasions for which no provision is made use forms of service considered suitable by the minister for those occasions.

  3. All variations in forms of service and all forms of service used must be reverent and edifying and must not be contrary or a departure from the doctrine of this Church.

  4. A question concerning the observance of the provisions of subsection 5(3) may be determined by the bishop of the Diocese.

If an ordained minister in the Diocese of Adelaide is in any doubt whether or not liturgical variations are appropriate under this Canon they should consult the bishop prior to usingthe variation.


The second avenue for flexibility is via the resources of the prayer book itself. This is particularly evident in A Prayer Book for Australia. Not only does APBA offer a variety of services but the rubrics within the services offer even more options for variety. Those leading worship are encouraged to make use of the flexibility offered by attention to theresources of the prayer book and a careful reading of the rubrics.

Welcoming worship

Our liturgy is rich and has much depth. It is steeped in Scripture. However, increasingly welive in a society disconnected from Church culture. This means we have to work hard atmaking worship accessible for those who are new or who attend occasionally. Those whohave the responsibility to prepare and lead worship have an important role in helpingpeople to feel included and welcome.


A multitude of books and page numbers can often alienate the newcomer. People can behelped to use the Prayer Book if some elements such as the Psalm and Collect are printed inthe Sunday Pew Bulletin, thus minimising the need for the constant changing of place. In thesame way, if more than one hymn or songbook is to be used it may be better to produce asong sheet or include the words in the Pew Bulletin (with appropriate copyright clearance and acknowledgements.


If data projection is used care should be given as to the amount of text projected as largeamounts of text on a screen can be difficult to read. White text on a dark background has been shown to be best for people with eyesight difficulties.


We should seek to use inclusive language in our public worship. Readings from Scripture should be drawn from an inclusive language version such as the NRSV or the new inclusive version of the NIV. While many of our older members understand the use of the masculine as inclusive, our younger members almost certainly will not. Their education has required the use of inclusive language.


It is important, however, that the use of inclusive language is inconspicuous. Forced or awkward English is no enhancement of worship!


The Diocese has a helpful resource in its Inclusive Language Policy.


Authorisation to lead worship or preach

No clergy member may officiate or preach in any Church or registered congregation withoutthe licence or written permission of the bishop. No lay person may conduct a service ofworship or preach in a church or registered congregation unless he or she holds the licence of the bishop or has received written permission from the bishop.


In all cases where a Parish Priest or Priest-in-Charge desires a visiting clergy member topreach or officiate (other than a Clergymember holding the Bishop's Licence or Permissionto Officiate), permission should be sought from the Bishop before an invitation is issued tothe Clergymember concerned. The letter to the Bishop should indicate that the person to beinvited as a clergy member is in good standing within his or her own diocese. Professional Standards checks will be completed prior to permission being given. These checks can takequite some time so advance notice will improve the likelihood of permission being granted.


Robes

The Diocese of Adelaide has passed the "Canon Concerning Vesture of Ministers 1992". Thecanon recognises that the ministers of our church have worn "distinctive vesture while ministering in Divine Service", but also that the vesture worn may "vary from time to time and place to place".


It is expected that clergy will robe when leading morning worship. Some flexibility for particular services may be negotiated by conversation with the Bishop.


Vessels and linen

The chalice and paten we use at the Holy Communion should be of such quality as issuitable for their solemn use, and kept in good order. Plated vessels may be re-plated for amodest sum by a silversmith. It is neither seemly nor hygienic to use a badly worn or pittedchalice. New or newly plated vessels ought to be scalded or washed in hot soapy water after each use.


We owe to the dignity of the Sacrament and to the sensibilities of communicants to bethorough in cleaning the vessels immediately following the service. They should be kept in adust free cupboard and preferably locked. A final wipe with a purificator before filling withwine helps to ensure cleanliness and avoids the distressing sight of dust particles on thesurface of the wine. The use of the pall during periods when the chalice is not beingadministered is helpful and it is better to place the pall "top down" on the altar so that dustis not picked up from the altar and transferred to the chalice when the pall is replaced.


In services where there are many communicants, a ciborium is a helpful vessel to use. It isoften more seemly to use this chalice-like vessel than a very full paten.


Administration of the Holy Communion

The bread used in Holy Communion must be "wholesome" and the wine "fermented juice ofthe grape and of good quality" (Canon P4 1992). With the approval of the bishop, the wine offered to some of the communicants may be "unfermented juice of the grape and of good quality".


There is increased anxiety in the Church about the safety of the Common Cup. This means we must ensure that we take every precaution in the administration of the Sacrament.


Here are some guidelines:

  • Make sure the vessels are appropriate. They should be precious metal or glass only.

    Please do not use pottery chalices or those made of non-precious metals such aspewter. Ensure that the metal vessels are in good condition and do not have pitting in their surfaces. You may need to have some vessels re-plated. Scald vessels before use and store appropriately.

  • Ensure that those assisting in the administration wash properly immediately beforethe service and use the purificator properly. A purificator should never be wiped inthe same place twice. It helps to provide multiple purificators. I encourage those administering to hold the chalice around the stem. Most chalices have a ball on the stem for this purpose. It may be good to encourage people receiving not to handlethe bowl of the chalice, but to steady it by a hand on the base.

  • If intinction is being offered, it should be provided from a chalice designated for this purpose. A minimum of wine should be used.

  • If there are consecrated elements remaining after the communion they may be keptsafely in an aumbry approved for this purpose so the ancient practice taking thecommunion to the sick who are not able to attend church may be practiced.

  • If remaining bread and wine is not being kept for this purpose they should be eatenand drunk reverently by the priest and/or communicants prior to the conclusion ofthe service or if quantities of consecrated wine remain and it is not convenient todrink the wine it may, following ancient practice, be poured reverently on the ground