Introducing Glory to God by Mary Louise Bringle

Author:Mary Louise Bringle
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781611645330
Publisher: Geneva Press

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Ruling elders or deacons may lead the prayer of dedication, reflecting their respective roles as stewards of the community’s gifts and leaders in the church’s service to the poor.

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With a few exceptions, the great thanksgiving in Glory to God is “all rubrics”—encouraging presiders to learn the ancient form of the liturgy while inviting seasonal variation, creative development, and extemporaneous prayer. The exceptions are worth noting. First, the words of institution are provided in the midst of the eucharistic prayer (one of three options in the DFW). This placement keeps the narrative of Jesus’ meal “on the night before he died” at the center of the rite; at the same time, it allows for other words from Scripture (see below) at the breaking of the bread, setting the stage for a joyful feast with the risen Lord. Second, the prayer for the Holy Spirit is “spelled out,” both because of its significance in Reformed sacramental theology (highlighting the role of the Spirit in the efficacy of the Sacrament) and because of its importance in ecumenical dialogue. Third, a Trinitarian doxology concludes the prayer, recapitulating the Trinitarian structure of the whole Great Thanksgiving. As noted above, embedded musical responses point to the role of music in enhancing congregational participation in the prayer.

After the Great Thanksgiving, the contemporary, ecumenical version of the Lord’s Prayer is provided. This choice reflects the Reformed value of worship in the common language of the people (versus a form of English that hasn’t been spoken for several hundred years). The breaking of the bread follows, with suggested words from John 6:35 and 15:5; evocative and easily memorized, these sentences of Scripture will help set the tone for a resurrection meal. Suggestions of congregational songs from Glory to God are offered for singing during the Communion of the People—another effective way to enhance the celebration of the sacrament. Following the Prayer after Communion, words are provided to accompany the extended service of communion, in which deacons or ruling elders take the message of the gospel, the bread, and the cup to home-bound or hospitalized members immediately after worship. This is another new development in Glory to God, encouraging other ordered ministers to exercise their spiritual gifts in pastoral care.

Sending

In the rite of sending, the church is commissioned for participation in God’s mission. The service of God in public worship prepares the way for the service of God in public life. The Greek noun leitourgia (meaning “work of the people”), from which we get the word “liturgy,” conveys this double sense of public worship and public work or witness. The Hebrew verb ’avad, used repeatedly in Exodus, also captures this dual meaning: “‘Let my people go, so that they may worship me’” (Exod. 9:1).

A rubric at the beginning of the sending indicates that this is a good place for “brief announcements related to the church’s mission.” Placing such announcements here will help to show how the church’s service in the world flows from the service of worship.

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