| Liturgy at Christ the King |
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| The following is from the Liturgy folder which resides at the back of the Church. The folder also includes relevant articles from magazines or from the Internet. It also includes back copies of the ‘Music & Liturgy’ magazine of the Society of Saint Gregory for which the parish has a subscription. What is this folder for? • to say what we mean by ‘liturgy’ • to say why we consider it so important • to explain how the ‘liturgy group’ works and how you can be involved • to make available our thoughts on aspects of liturgy that have been discussed in the group • to make available related articles/magazines What would we like you to do? • Feel free to browse through this folder. • If you visit the church, feel welcome to borrow the folder, or a relevant page, to read and reflect on. • If you wish to take anything home to read (eg ‘Our Father’ meditations) please ask first. • Feedback any comments (eg things you like or dislike), questions (eg why can’t we. . ? why do we do . . ?). • Join the liturgy group if you want to. Contents: 1. What we mean by ‘Liturgy’ and why it is so important. 2. What is the ‘Liturgy Group’ 3. Discussion topics covered so far: • The ‘Our Father’ • Children’s Liturgy • Processions during Mass i. Entrance ii. Gospel iii. Offertory ) yet to be discussed iv. Communion ) Possible future topics (suggestions welcome): • Prayers of the faithful • Sign of peace • Music during the Mass 1. What we mean by ‘Liturgy’ and why it is so important. In this folder we are considering our public worship at Christ the King, particularly the Mass, which includes ‘Liturgy of the Word’ & ‘Liturgy of the Eucharist’. ‘Liturgy’ seems to embrace far more than we can attempt to cover here, but here are some points taken from Church documents. • Liturgy is the source and summit of our lives. • All the faithful should be led to a full, conscious and active participation in liturgical celebrations. • From the liturgy . . . grace is poured forth upon us as from a fountain. • The liturgy is something we do. • The liturgy is Christ present and active in his people and his people present and active in him. (Further reading: The Catechism (p247 – 273) and Vatican II’s document ‘The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy’.) 2. What is the ‘Liturgy Group’ • It is a group of parishioners with Father Gerard & PJ who meet regularly to discuss aspects of the liturgy and to plan ahead. • It includes readers and those involved in the music and children’s liturgy. • It is open to anyone in the parish, even if they would only like to come for one occasion when the discussion is about an area that interests them. • It aims to consider and plan liturgical celebrations in order to promote the holiness of all the parishioners. • In order to do this, it supports and co-ordinates with other groups, eg the School & First Communion programme. • It considers what needs to be planned to ensure the services encourage the full and active participation of the faithful; mundane issues (like who will turn the lights off) are also covered. • It meets regularly throughout the year, particularly prior to Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter. • Currently it is meeting on a Sunday afternoon. It starts with an initial discussion about an agreed topic. It then moves on to specific planning for liturgies within the following 6 weeks, and then looks ahead to see what will need to be looked at within a couple of months. Finally it ends with evening prayer from the church’s liturgy of the hours. Our Father Should we say or sing it? • People have commented very positively about how the prayer can be more meaningful when sung – but possibly only for those who like singing! • What is important is that everyone should be able to join in. So, if sung, it should be to a well known setting. • It was felt that at CTK it should continue to be sung occasionally, not every week. • It could possibly be sung on Sunday’s where it is important to give the Our Father extra emphasis, possibly during Lent or masses involving RCIA. The Catechism has a whole section on the Lord’s Prayer, Pages 586 – P610. Children’s Liturgy at CTK • This takes place once a month, usually on the 3rd Sunday. • The children process out carrying the Children’s book of the Gospels. • They pray and listen to the Gospel and work at something related to the Gospel reading. • The children are pre- first communion. • They return in procession with the offertory gifts and then stand around the altar until returning to their places after the sign of peace. • The team of catechists meets once a month to plan for the following Sunday. Processions within the Mass: Liturgical processions can all be seen as movements of people towards the Lord. 1. The Entrance Procession • This brings the assembly to the altar • It is led by the cross. Then, if a deacon is present, he carries the Book of the Gospels. Then Father Gerard (presiding priest) and finally altar servers. • At CTK, Father Gerard only includes incense on special feasts. (The smoke rising like prayers) • The Procession stops in front of the altar, which is then reverenced. • At CTK, the Entrance procession can take a longer or shorter route, sometimes governed by factors like how many altar servers are available, or how long the accompanying hymn is. 2. The Gospel Procession • Some churches have the ‘Book of the Gospels’ carried to the place where the Gospel is to be read. • CTK had the Gospel proclaimed from the middle of the church for some years. • People should turn to the person reading the Gospel and be attentive – following the reading in the missal is not the same as listening. • There was some discussion on what the difference is between the Lectionary & the ‘Book of the Gospels’. • At CTK the presider proclaims the Gospel from the Lectionary; altar servers holding candles stand on either side. • At CTK the priest & altar servers process to the ambo (lectern) accompanied by singing of the Alleluia & antiphon. |
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| 7 petitions: ‘hallowed be thy name’ ) ‘thy kingdom come’ ) about God ‘thy will be done’ ) ‘give us this day our daily bread’ ) ‘forgive us our trespasses’ ) about our needs ‘lead us not into temptation’ ) deliver us from evil’ ) |