March 17, 2008 alt.worship youth Blesséd Holy Week Hurriedly set-up and poorly organised (the perils of arranging yet another event during what is already your busiest week of the year), the Blesséd last night was one of those transformative masses which only happen every so often; although I was totally tied up in curating the worship, even I found it powerful. What made it easier, of course, was actually having a Priest and Deacon celebrating who actually knew what they were doing: someone with liturgical sense and a feel for what this is all about. Mother Carrie was a fab celebrant, and got the whole video-synched eucharist off to a T, as well as writing the adaptation of the Old Catholic Rite, mixed in with John 17. Mother Emma was a great Deacon, calm and collected and holding it all together as the sacred minsters knelt at a tiny altar of repose. High Points: Texting the peace to dozens of mobile phones simltaneously and the ringtones as we shared the peace: new media, new peace; Benediction (obviously), a combination of ritual and video that brought the traditional into the contemporary; a holy week liturgy which came together to say something important about this week. Low Points: Losing the celebrant’s radio mic, forgetting so many bits and pieces because it was all in such a rush and most significantly, burning two huge holes in the carpet of the church when we set the palm crosses alight! My apologies to Fr. D [thankfully, it’s only four carpet tiles, and he isn’t that upset, but I feel bad anyway. For some reason, I completely failed to spot that the bowls would overheat, and so didn’t put anything under them – mea culpa! This was the liturgy: (some of these videos have already been posted) Layout the chairs are cleared. There are beanbags and perhaps sofas. The altar is not a traditional altar, but a low table festooned with candles and lilies like an altar of repose. Gathering As people come into the sacred space, acting as a sort of gatekeeper, the celebrant is on the floor in the centre with a bowl and towels. Feet are washed as people enter as a rite of preparation and they are given a palm cross with “You are now prepared” stapled to it. At the door we also collect mobile telephone numbers for use later in the Liturgy. Video: Call to Worship http://www.youtube.com/watch?v/-B6kA2kepek (rerecorded) Relax your body… Open your mind… Engage your spirit… This is the house of God Prepare to worship. Life is an indescribable gift Our worship is a celebration of that gift (And of the giver) In our worship we have rediscovered God’s marvellous affirmation of life. Tonight we invite you to bring all that you are Into worship: Your struggles and failures, Your joys and fears, Your faith and your doubts. Your culture, Your sensuality, Your whole self. Bring your self and be at home now God is here And all are welcome Jonny Baker Liturgical Greeting Video: liturgical greeting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AndLNmeBlrI In the name of the +Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit Amen Grace, Mercy and Peace from God, our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit be with you all And also with you Words of introduction from the celebrant to begin the journey Penitential Rite The Deacon, Mother Emma calls us to penitence. Video: Why does my heart feel so sad? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbGT8aDiN3I Ritual: write in felt pens on the palms and bring them forward to be burnt At the end: “You are forgiven” is shown on screen as the priest pronounces the absolution over the palms Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has left power to his Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him, in his great mercy forgive you your offences: and by his authority given to me, I absolve you from all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The Lord has put away your sins, and pray for me, a sinner also Amen Word animation with words growing and moving, lightening flashes, images from the Passion of the Christ and resolving in the end to an image of the resurrection: Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqhRZdqp9_c GOD so loved the world that he GAVE his only son so that all who believe in him may have ETERNAL LIFE Ritual Video: Cup of Suffering http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6NpjugxTiE On the altar is a chalice with red wine vinegar in it. No mention is made of this. The people come forward to taste of “the cup of suffering” Peace In the dark catacombs, sheltering from persecution and the sword, the faithful met to bring Christ into their midst. They greeted their brothers and sisters in baptism with a kiss of peace, a further communion, a closer unity as community, and they share something special, unique and holy. At this point a text message “The Peace of the Lord be always with you. Share this.” is sent to all those who have given their numbers at the beginning. Business cards with the same are distributed, and the peace is whispered from one to another. The peace of the Lord be always with you And also with you Let us offer one another a sign of God’s peace. The peace is shared. Video: Airport Peace http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhIgWrdLNXw Preface & Eucharistic Prayer Source Text: John 17 Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLNxObCbRFo Ritual: we gather in a large circle close to the altar and lolling around Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. The Lord be with you And also with you Lift up your hearts We lift them to the Lord Let us give thanks to the Lord our God It is right to give thanks and praise This is the real and eternal life: That all may know you, the one and only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent. He glorified you on earth by completing down to the last detail what you assigned him to do. And now, Father, glorify us with your very own splendour, the very splendour Christ had in your presence before there was a world. Christ spelled out your character in detail to the men and women you call in faith. They took it, and were convinced that Christ came from God, believed that you sent him, and Christ’s life is on display in them. Your word is a consecrating truth: in the same way that Christ was given a mission in the world, so we are given a mission in the world. our goal to become one heart and mind, just as you, Father, are in Christ and Christ in the Father so that the world might believe that the heavenly Father, in fact, sent his only Son. So joining with all the company of heaven: the angel and saints, prophets, patriarchs and Our Blesséd Lady, we join in the prayers of heaven Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might Heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the Highest Blesséd are they who come in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed are you, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Father of all mercy and God of all consolation. Send now the Comforter and Helper into our midst, your Holy Spirit, to fill these gifts of bread and wine with your life, so that they may be for us the + body and blood of your beloved Son. We can no longer forget how he became one with us in suffering and death, he who was totally one with you, as he came to fulfil your will. It was before the Passover. As he loved his own who were in world, he gave them a love unsurpassed by any. He knew that he had come from you and would return to you. So, on the night he was handed over, he took bread and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me. + In the same way, after supper he took the cup and gave you thanks; he gave it to them, saying: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. + As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we taste and proclaim the mystery of faith: Father, Son and Holy Spirit: Make us one as you are one. Until your Son comes again, we do as he commanded us by celebrating the memorial of the passion, resurrection and ascension of your Christ. He always lives before you as our high priest, interceding for us and bringing his only and perfect sacrifice before you on our behalf. Send the Spirit on your Church, and guide it into all truth, so that with Our Blesséd Lady Mary, the mother of our Lord, all your saints, and all people on earth whom you have entrusted to your Son, we may inherit the Kingdom and share in the glory of Jesus Christ our Saviour; by +whom, and with +whom, and in +whom, in the unity of the Holy +Spirit, all honour and glory be yours, +almighty Father, forever and ever. Amen Lord’s Prayer Video: Short Modern, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tyT7IvcxGM Fraction We break this bread to share in the body of Christ Though we are many, we are one body Because we all share in the one bread Communion Video with Agnus Dei Benediction Video: Tantum Ergo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emhk3oRu8PY The Priest places the newly consecrated sacrament into the monstrance, censes it during the video and then gives the people the benediction of the blessed sacrament. Tea Light Candles with “Watch and Pray” are distributed Dismissal The Blessing is more than adequately done by the act of benediction. Video: Joy Division: Atmosphere http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaUOGQ_Evlc You have been consecrated in the truth And chosen by his grace May your journey through this holy week Bring you closer to the Lord Amen You are called to watch and pray In anticipation of the Lord May the Lord be before you always In his most blessed sacrament Amen Through sharing in these holy sacraments May you be challenged by the Lord’s Passion, Redeemed by his Cross, and transformed by his Resurrection Amen Go. The Mass is ended, go in the peace of Christ Thanks be to God END By spr
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