Will there be Eucharist during Good Friday service?

[PaladinGirl]

Hi everyone. Does the Episcopalian Church not have Eucharist during the Good Friday services or do they? :confused:

[gtsecc]

Absolutely - from the reserve sacrament.

[ContraMundum]

Often not. Depends on the custom of the parish. However, if it is done, it must be done from the reserve sacrament as gtsecc has pointed out.

[pmcleanj]

Hi everyone. Does the Episcopalian Church not have Eucharist during the Good Friday services or do they? :confused:

The Traditional Good Friday service is the Tre-Oro service taken from the Book of Common Prayer. I won't be going to such a service, because there isn't one being held in this entire city :sigh: . I did get to a good Tre-Oro in Marina Del Rey, two or three years ago. I used to chair, and before that, participate on, an international committee related to my work. For a couple of years in a row they managed to schedule meetings on Maundy Thursday through Good Friday.

Good Friday is a statutory holiday in Canada, but apparently not in the western U.S., or at least not normatively, since my colleagues were suprised that I should consider their scheduling to be somewhat offensive. But, it did result in some interesting opportunities to observe praxis in other diocese and Provinces.

Tre-Oro means "three hours", and takes place during the three hours that the darkness was over the land, from noon until three in the afternoon. The service starts with Morning Prayer. Every optional prayer, reading or canticle is included, and where there is an option between a longer form and a shorter form, the longer form is used. The Athanasian Creed is used in place of the Apostle's Creed, and the Great Litany is inserted before (not instead of) the Prayers of the People. Then we move into the Lord's Supper, rehearsing the ten commandments in place of the Great Commandment. We omit the confession and Credo (which were already rehearsed), the prayer of consecration (since the Lord's Supper is served from preconsecrated elements), and the Gloria (which is out of keeping with the penitential nature of Good Friday). The Lord's Supper may well be prefaced by the Exhortations and the warning for the Celebration of the holy Communion. Then we move into Evening Prayer, again leaving out the bits that were previously rehearsed. All timed to take about three hours, after which you go home and put your slow-rising hot-crossed buns into the oven so that you can break your fast.

And for all of you who keep confusing "Low Church" with "contemporary", "evangelical" and "liberal", please note that the above-described practice uses the 1662 language and forms, and is the Low-Church tradition.

[SirTimothy]

We are doing three-hours. Not as Pamela described it though...

[higgs2]

Yes, from the reserved sacrament.

Not for three hours though.

[pmcleanj]

We are doing three-hours. Not as Pamela described it though...

So ...

What ARE you doing for three hours?

And does it result in knees, hips and feet being as penitentially sore? My sister used to poke me during the Litany to see if I'd fallen asleep, or passed out...

Odd that I should like Tre-Oro nonetheless. It must be some sort of liturgical stockholm syndrome;)

[pmcleanj]

...Not for three hours though.

How will the hot-crossed buns have time to rise?

(That year in Marina Del Rey, of course, I had to buy them at the cafe down the street that was, like the other businesses in the area, open as usual. Which does tend to explain why the entire congregation consisted of two priests, a deacon, two elderly ladies and a Canadian engineer whose flight out wasn't till next morning.)

[higgs2]

How will the hot-crossed buns have time to rise?

(That year in Marina Del Rey, of course, I had to buy them at the cafe down the street that was, like the other businesses in the area, open as usual. Which does tend to explain why the entire congregation consisted of two priests, a deacon, two elderly ladies and a Canadian engineer whose flight out wasn't till next morning.)


We are bunless this year :(
:cry:

[Naomi4Christ]

We are bunless this year :(
:cry:
Why?

[higgs2]

Why?

We don't know how to make them. :sigh:

[TomUK]

In my opinion this is the one day of the year when shouldn't be an option to receive communion even if it is from the reserved sacrament. We should be totally deprived from the sacrament.

[higgs2]

In my opinion this is the one day of the year when shouldn't be an option to receive communion even if it is from the reserved sacrament. We should be totally deprived from the sacrament.

Oh dear. I'm not going to post. I had something in mind about buns and deprivation but... no. :cool:

On a serious note, why do you think that?

[Adammi]

Oh dear. I'm not going to post. I had something in mind about buns and deprivation but... no. :cool:

On a serious note, why do you think that?
I've been pondering what Tom said as I've never heard it before, but it makes sense.
I'm not sure if this is what he meant, but here is what I think he means:

Good Friday is the chief day of penance and sorrow for ones sins. If, out of grace and not out of legalism, one is so mortified by ones own sins on this holy day of repentance, then one would almost be obligated to abstain from the Eucharist for one day for the same reason that one wouldn't want to commune carelessly without prior repentance.

[pmcleanj]

We don't know how to make them. :sigh:

I'll call you, and talk you through the process. We can make our buns together.

Do you have yeast? Bread flour? Currents or candied peel? Do I need to courier you some Canadian ingredients to ensure consistant results?

I feel so guilty now ...

[SirTimothy]

I have never made them, Pamela. Would you like to post the recipe in a new thread so I could bake some too? We can get genuine English ingredients which will probably do. ;)

Tim

[TomUK]

Oh dear. I'm not going to post. I had something in mind about buns and deprivation but... no. :cool:

:D

On a serious note, why do you think that?

Upon_this_rock puts it quite well. Throughout this whole period of Lent we have been reflecting on our sins and our unworthiness to enter the kingdom of heaven. Through his death Christ has opened the way for us to spend eternity with him and to be honest i find it a little bit tacky almost to eat from the reserved sacrament. Good Friday celebrates the day when Christ was separated from the Father due to our sins and the best i can think of to remember that is to deny ourselves of Christ's body and blood - the most precious thing we have - for one day only.

I've garbled a bit there so i hope it makes sense!

[higgs2]

I feel so guilty now ...

Well then. My work here is done! :cool: :P ^_^

[norbie]

Please can someone explain "reserved Sacrament"?

For us Anglicans in Australia, the Altar is stripped Thursday night after the last Supper (Eucharist) and the foot washing.
There is no Holy Communion on Friday.
Norbie

[Adammi]

Please can someone explain "reserved Sacrament"?

For us Anglicans in Australia, the Altar is stripped Thursday night after the last Supper (Eucharist) and the foot washing.
There is no Holy Communion on Friday.
Norbie
Holy Communion is not consecrated on Good Friday. In the words of the Eastern Orthodox Church, on Good Friday "presanctified" elements are used. The bread and wine were consecrated prior to Good Friday.

[TomUK]

Please can someone explain "reserved Sacrament"?

For us Anglicans in Australia, the Altar is stripped Thursday night after the last Supper (Eucharist) and the foot washing.
There is no Holy Communion on Friday.
Norbie

Usually when Priests celebrate communion they consecrate too much. Some of that will be used to take to the sick and infirm and some will be stored in the tabernacle for the congregation to adore. What sometimes happen on Maundy Thursday is that enough will be consecrated to take them through Good Friday - that way congregations can abide by tradition and not consecrate any new elements on Good Friday but still observe Holy Communion.

[DeoJuvante]

In my opinion this is the one day of the year when shouldn't be an option to receive communion even if it is from the reserved sacrament. We should be totally deprived from the sacrament.
I think that Holy Saturday is supposed to be the one day of the year when the Eucharist is neither consecrated or received (with the caveat that Holy Saturday is considered to end the moment the Easter Vigil begins).

[Tomoz]

Since when do anglicans reserve the sacrament?

Not being flippant - just I think the prayerbook forbids it, so at what point did Anglicans start doing this?

[Naomi4Christ]

Since when do anglicans reserve the sacrament?

Not being flippant - just I think the prayerbook forbids it, so at what point did Anglicans start doing this?
I was wondering the same thing!

[DeoJuvante]

Since when do anglicans reserve the sacrament?

Not being flippant - just I think the prayerbook forbids it, so at what point did Anglicans start doing this?
I thought they all reserve the sacrament - we certainly do. You mean there are Anglicans who don't? :eek:

[SirTimothy]

So ...

What ARE you doing for three hours?

And does it result in knees, hips and feet being as penitentially sore? My sister used to poke me during the Litany to see if I'd fallen asleep, or passed out...

Odd that I should like Tre-Oro nonetheless. It must be some sort of liturgical stockholm syndrome;)

Sorry, missed this.

I need to look out my notes that I've been given on the service and find out. I'm playing for it, thus I have to be there for the whole thing...

[norbie]

Usually when Priests celebrate communion they consecrate too much. Some of that will be used to take to the sick and infirm and some will be stored in the tabernacle for the congregation to adore. What sometimes happen on Maundy Thursday is that enough will be consecrated to take them through Good Friday - that way congregations can abide by tradition and not consecrate any new elements on Good Friday but still observe Holy Communion.
Thank you Tom and a very happy Birthday to you from your Brother in Christ,
Norbie

[norbie]

Well, just come home from our Maundy Service.
It was so meaningful, the whole Liturgie, the washing of the Feet, and the last Supper and then the sad part of stripping the Altar and empty the Church, and then we stayed back for watch.
I know some Churches don't believe in the Liturgie but I think they don't know what they miss. It's like re-living Jesus last Supper, the dead on the Cross and the Resuraction.
It's starts with a full lit Church, the Rector washes every Foot of the Congregation, then the last Supper - a very spiritual and meaningful Holy Communion, and after...
the Lights slowly go out untill the end only the Pascal Candle is lit.
People sit for an hour quitly praying and then the last person leaves the Church and the Rector blows out the Pascal Candle.
It is just such a great reminder to us, that Jesus on the Cross for us - and we can only pray, Jesus please burn your love into our Hearts...
Your Brother in Christ,
Norbie

[Tomoz]

I thought they all reserve the sacrament - we certainly do. You mean there are Anglicans who don't? :eek:
We don't...and my last church didn't...
The prayer book says:

"...If any remain of that which was consecrated, it shall not be carried out of the church, but the priest and such other of the communicants as he shall then call unto him, shall, immediately after the blessing, reverently eat and drink the same".

And then a bit later:

"It is hereby declared, that thereby (kneeling) no adoration is intended, or ought to be done, either unto the Sacramental Bread or Wine there bodily recieved, or unto any corporal presence of Christ's natural Flesh and Blood. For the Sacramental Bread and Wine remain still in their very natural substances, and therefore may not be adored".

[Tomoz]

Well, just come home from our Maundy Service.
It was so meaningful, the whole Liturgie, the washing of the Feet, and the last Supper and then the sad part of stripping the Altar and empty the Church, and then we stayed back for watch.
I know some Churches don't believe in the Liturgie but I think they don't know what they miss. It's like re-living Jesus last Supper, the dead on the Cross and the Resuraction.
It's starts with a full lit Church, the Rector washes every Foot of the Congregation, then the last Supper - a very spiritual and meaningful Holy Communion, and after...
the Lights slowly go out untill the end only the Pascal Candle is lit.
People sit for an hour quitly praying and then the last person leaves the Church and the Rector blows out the Pascal Candle.
It is just such a great reminder to us, that Jesus on the Cross for us - and we can only pray, Jesus please burn your love into our Hearts...
Your Brother in Christ,
Norbie

I'm with you Norbie - I think the Maundy Thursday liturgy is probably one of the most powerful. I'm so disappointed I couldn't get to one tonight

[gtsecc]

Since when do anglicans reserve the sacrament?

Not being flippant - just I think the prayerbook forbids it, so at what point did Anglicans start doing this?
Since around the forth century.

[higgs2]

I think that Holy Saturday is supposed to be the one day of the year when the Eucharist is neither consecrated or received (with the caveat that Holy Saturday is considered to end the moment the Easter Vigil begins).
I would have said the same.

[gtsecc]

Well, the service we have on Saturday is the Easter Vigil.

[Mary of Bethany]

Holy Communion is not consecrated on Good Friday. In the words of the Eastern Orthodox Church, on Good Friday "presanctified" elements are used. The bread and wine were consecrated prior to Good Friday.

Ini the Orthodox Church we never receive on Great and Holy Friday. There is no communion of any kind given on that day. We have "Presanctified" Liturgies on the other Wednesdays and Fridays of the Great Fast, but not on this day.

:)

Mary

[higgs2]

Well, the service we have on Saturday is the Easter Vigil.

Same here, and Holy Saturday ends (as the previous post said) when the Easter Vigil begins.

[norbie]

Well, the service we have on Saturday is the Easter Vigil.
Oh yes, just come back from our Easter Vigil. It was so wonderful. First the Liturgy of the Word with readings from Genesis and Isaiah, then the renewal of the Baptist Vow, and then the first Eucharist, so meaningful, 'do this in rememberence of me'.
Before the start I made a Fire, the Rector blessed this New Fire and then we lighted the new Pascal Candle from it. The Rector slowly walked in a complete dark Church and stoped 3X and sung 'The Light of Christ', it was very spiritual and moving.
And we thought about Christs Dead - he took our Sins with him - we are forgiven.
And now hope for a new, clean Life in the footsteps of our Lord.
Have a blessed Easter all.
Your Brother in Christ,
Norbie

[TomUK]

Sounds great. I can't wait for our Easter Vigil in 6 hours or so.

(i always find it really bizarre that you are now in Easter and we're not. Same thing at Christmas.)

[pmcleanj]

12 hours until the Vigil for me ... and even that's too early. They're holding it at 8:00p.m.:doh: It won't even be fully dark by then!

I found it so funny leaving the church after the Maundy Service, through freshly falling snow that had to be brushed off the car before I could open the doors -- to look back to the Christmas midnight service when we'd been able to leave boots and coats behind because the ground was dry and clear and the night air balmy! We'll be having tomorrow's sunrise service in the snow, by all predictions.

Some questions for my Anglo-catholic friends about Good Friday praxis: I went to the Cathedral yesterday for the Tre-Oro and found it rather odd:

1) It only lasted two hours: they left out the Athanasian creed and the Morning Prayer dialogues and canticles. Is a two-hour "Tre-Oro" service something you've seen before?

2) Instead of plain black cassocks, (as I would have expected the alternative to plain black academic gowns to be) the clergy wore white albs and copes. Red copes. I'm guessing they chose red from the red=martyerdom logic, but even so it grates on my liturgical sensibilities. Christ isn't a martyer, Christ is Christ. Is wearing brocaded scarlet robes for the Good Friday liturgy a trend I should expect?

3) The communion from the reserved sacrament was offered in one kind only. Again, that's contrary to all rubrics in the Prayer Book and to the Articles, and to my several decades of varied Anglican experience. Did you receive in only one kind yesterday?

[higgs2]

12 hours until the Vigil for me ... and even that's too early. They're holding it at 8:00p.m.:doh: It won't even be fully dark by then!

I found it so funny leaving the church after the Maundy Service, through freshly falling snow that had to be brushed off the car before I could open the doors -- to look back to the Christmas midnight service when we'd been able to leave boots and coats behind because the ground was dry and clear and the night air balmy! We'll be having tomorrow's sunrise service in the snow, by all predictions.

Some questions for my Anglo-catholic friends about Good Friday praxis: I went to the Cathedral yesterday for the Tre-Oro and found it rather odd:

1) It only lasted two hours: they left out the Athanasian creed and the Morning Prayer dialogues and canticles. Is a two-hour "Tre-Oro" service something you've seen before?

2) Instead of plain black cassocks, (as I would have expected the alternative to plain black academic gowns to be) the clergy wore white albs and copes. Red copes. I'm guessing they chose red from the red=martyerdom logic, but even so it grates on my liturgical sensibilities. Christ isn't a martyer, Christ is Christ. Is wearing brocaded scarlet robes for the Good Friday liturgy a trend I should expect?

3) The communion from the reserved sacrament was offered in one kind only. Again, that's contrary to all rubrics in the Prayer Book and to the Articles, and to my several decades of varied Anglican experience. Did you receive in only one kind yesterday?

Well, I didn't go, but I'm pretty sure it was black cossacks, black draped on the crosses. Communion in one kind, yes. And our priest puts it at the "altar of repose" Thurs. when the altar is stripped. And a one hour service, I'm pretty sure.

Off to do penance since I didn't actually go...

[pmcleanj]

... but I'm pretty sure it was black cossacks, ...

Are you sure you're not thinking Russian Orthodox :D

[higgs2]

Are you sure you're not thinking Russian Orthodox :D

Hee hee! ^_^

ANd they marched through the church...

[Polycarp1]

Actually, the Liturgy of the Presanctified, with the Solemn Collects, is a deeply moving service, in some ways the epitome of one part of what Holy Communion ought to mean: "This is My Body, given/broken for you"; "This is My Blood of the new covenant, poured out for you."

Amighty God, we pray You graciously to behold this Your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands ofvsinners, and to suffer death upon the Cross; who now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.