"As the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin, We Will Call and Equip Laity and Clergy to Bring People to, and Disciple Them in, a Saving Relationship with Jesus Christ.
Bishop’s Note: The Sursum Corda
|
Calendar
February 17
Bishop @ Saint Martin February 18 Diocesan Office Closed March 3 Bishop @ Saint David March 6 Ash Wednesday March 10 Bishop @ Saint John Porterville March 13-15 Bishop @ Forward in Faith Council March 17 Bishop @ Saint Alban March 23 Daughters of the Holy Cross Spring Gathering @ Saint Francis Stockton March 24 Bishop @ Saint James Lindsay March 29-30 Ministry of Pastoral Care Retreat @ Saint James Fresno March 31 Bishop @ Saint James Fresno |
We are continuing our examination of the 2019 Book of Common Prayer’s (BCP) Holy Eucharist. Last week we looked at the “offertory” and this week we turn to the beginning of the Liturgy of the Table – The Sursum Corda. This Latin term – Sursum Corda – literally means “Lift up your heart” and is the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer also known as the Great Thanksgiving. The Holy Eucharist is our thanksgiving to God for His favor and goodness towards us as well as the heart of our worship on the Lord’s Day. However it can also be, for those fortunate enough, a daily practice as well.
Holy Eucharist is a communal act of worship, and in the Anglican tradition it cannot be celebrated by the priest alone. However, a priest is required in order to celebrate Holy Eucharist and he does so not on his own behalf but on behalf of the community gathered. And so Holy Eucharist begins with the invitation to the community to “Lift up your hearts” as a way of making ourselves open and vulnerable to the Lord God Almighty. Lifting up our hearts to God is at the heart, no pun intended, of worship. Why do we lift up our hearts? To give thanks and praise to God! The Offertory
The People remain standing. The Celebrant faces them and sings or says The Lord be with you. People And with your spirit. Celebrant Lift up your hearts. People We lift them up to the Lord. Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People It is right to give him thanks and praise. This coming Sunday I invite you to ponder the importance of this invitation to lift your heart to the Lord and to give God your thanks and praise!
Bishop Menees |
|
|
| ||||||
|
|
| ||||||
|
|
| ||||||
|
|
| ||||||