Bowing before the Altar

[Daniel9v9]

I'm attending an Anglican service once a month for the Eucharist and I quite like it. (There are no Lutheran English services where I live). Anyway, I noticed they bow a lot before the Altar. I understand that this is merely an expression of faith, and I'm aware of a few different practices related to this in the various branches of Christianity.

However, forgive my ignorance, what does the different Lutheran churches around the world do?

Also, is this a normal custom in the Anglican Eucharist? I suppose it depends a bit on the style; I wouldn't expect HTB for example to do this, but perhaps in a more high church setting?

Just more curious than anything. I was wondering if it's simply something "Japanese".

 

[Paidiske]

I can only answer the bit about whether it's normal in Anglicanism; but I would say it is normal in all but very low churches. Certainly common in the "broad middle" and in high churches. (At least, in my experience).

 

[Paidiske]

One does not bow to the altar; one bows to God. The altar is the location at which it is customary to worship God in this way.

 

[PloverWing]

Bowing before the altar is also common in my experience of Anglican (Episcopal) churches in the US.

 

[seeking.IAM]

I attend an Anglo-Catholic high church in the U.S. Although practices may very from person to person, it is common to bow or genuflect when approaching the altar or passing in front of it. There are other points during the liturgy when one may bow as well, during recitation of the Nicene Creed or the reading of the Gospel.

It incorporates physical participation in worship just as one might find clapping, jumping up and down, hand-raising etc. in other worship traditions but in a more somber and orderly way, which would be very Anglican, at least in the high church.

 

[Tigger45]

LCMS congregants bow in unison as they are lined up at the communion rail just before kneeling (if able) to receive the Eucharist and then stand and bow in unison after consumption.

 

[Albion]

LCMS congregants bow in unison as they are lined up at the communion rail just before kneeling (if able) to receive the Eucharist and then stand and bow in unison after consumption.

That's very true and a good point to make, Tigger.

In Anglican churches where it is common to see a lone worshipper bowing when passing in front of the altar or upon entering his pew, it often is the case that the next person will not do that--or he might genuflect instead. As far as I can tell, everyone thinks of this as something personal. It's not controversial.​

 

[Tigger45]

Back in the early '90's I was a member of an ELCA congregation and I don't believe I ever saw anyone, including the pastor, bow towards the alter and at my current LCMC congregation it is rare but on occasion a few do, probably RC converts, bow towards the alter.

The demographics of my LCMC congregation are broken up into three main groups. First Lutherans, primarily previously ELCA members. Second LDS and third Roman Catholic converts.

 

[Paidiske]

That's very true and a good point to make, Tigger.

In Anglican churches where it is common to see a lone worshipper bowing when passing in front of the altar or upon entering his pew, it often is the case that the next person will not do that--or he might genuflect instead. As far as I can tell, everyone thinks of this as something personal. It's not controversial.​

For people in the congregation, this is true. For those assisting with the service - servers, readers, clergy, etc - many parishes will have what one vicar of mine called the "house style," an expectation that we all bow at particular points etc.

This has caused me issues on occasion, as this is not actually a practice I learned in my first parish, and it was hard for me to get my head around it. When I first had to bow as part of a sanctuary party, I really hated it and felt it was an issue of conscience. (And then I went somewhere where they expected one to genuflect...!)

 

[Daniel9v9]

Thanks everyone! That's very interesting

Though just to clarify, when I said bowing, I did mean something a bit separate from kneeling/bowing/sign of the cross before receiving the bread and the cup.

To give you a couple of examples: In Japan, whenever someone approaches the altar to read Scripture, they will first bow to the altar, then proceed to the stand to read. Likewise, at the end of the service, the minister will bow on the left of the altar, put out one candle, bow again in the middle, then bow one more time before putting out the right candle.

Again, I understand it as an expression of faith, and serves as a symbol to teach reverence for God, so it's certainly not a criticism by any means. It's just a different adiaphora from what I've experienced before!

PS: Part of the reason behind my curiosity is that I was asked to read at the next service, which was somewhat unexpected but nice I just wanted to make sure I didn't cause any offence, even if it's minor.

 

[GreekOrthodox]

I grew up Missouri Synod Lutheran and as an acolyte and then as an elder (deacon for practical purposes), I was taught to bow before entering and after leaving the sanctuary. As an Greek Orthodox reader and chanter, it is customary to bow or at least cross yourself before entering the nave (the main part of the church) as well as anytime entering the sanctuary or crossing the mid line of the church during the liturgy. This is especially true for us clergy. As the old saying goes, "When in Rome (or Japan), do as the Romans do."

 

[FireDragon76]

The altar servers and pastor bow around the altar. But in terms of bowing or genuflecting towards the altar when getting up or down from the pew, I've not seen that in a Lutheran church.

Some people bow at various parts of the service. Like the descensus in the Creed, or during the Words of Institution.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

The altar servers and pastor bow around the altar. But in terms of bowing or genuflecting towards the altar when getting up or down from the pew, I've not seen that in a Lutheran church.

Some people bow at various parts of the service. Like the descensus in the Creed, or during the Words of Institution.

It depends on local custom, however, I have never been to a LCMS/LCC service where clergy, servers and congregational members don't bow to the altar when approaching the Altar, or entering the chancel.

While not real common, some clergy will genuflect during the Verba in the service of the Sacrament.

In most of our congregations it is customary to rise and stand during the last verse of a hymn if it names the three persons of the Trinity (doxological).

 

[FireDragon76]

It depends on local custom, however, I have never been to a LCMS/LCC service where clergy, servers and congregational members don't bow to the altar when approaching the Altar, or entering the chancel.

While not real common, some clergy will genuflect during the Verba in the service of the Sacrament.

In most of our congregations it is customary to rise and stand during the last verse of a hymn if it names the three persons of the Trinity (doxological).

Does your church stay seated to sing hymns? I've not been to one that does that it some time (Methodist churches in my childhood).

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

We stand for the processional and recessional hymns; stay seated fro the hymn of the day with the above noted exception; and remain seated for hymns sung during the distribution of the Eucharist. Also standing where ever the Rubrics indicate. Since the hymn of the day is followed immediately by the sermon, we rise at the end of the hymn for the Pastors address from the pulpit.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I hope the link works, but this is a narrated video explaining the rubrics of the Divine Service (Lutheran Mass) While at the very upper end liturgically, many of the elements are present in the smallest, most informal services.

 

[Paidiske]

I am astonished to see dalmatic and tunicle in a Lutheran church! Clearly I have been sheltered.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I am astonished to see dalmatic and tunicle in a Lutheran church! Clearly I have been sheltered.

Not common, but not unheard of. More common in Europe in larger Churches.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Couple more videos from Europe:

 

[Daniel9v9]

I am astonished to see dalmatic and tunicle in a Lutheran church! Clearly I have been sheltered.

Yeah, Lutheran adiaphora is quite similar to Anglican, and likewise it ranges in formalism. A high church setting is certainly more common in northern Europe. In Norway (where I'm originally from) I've never seen anyone not wearing dalmatic or tunicle. Sometimes a Crosier.

One thing which is perhaps a bit distinct to Scandinavia is that they often wear purple shirts: