Thinking of attending an Anglican service on Sunday.

[baobobtree]

I've been in a bit of an estatically spiritual mood lately, and I'm wondering about attending an Anglican service this up coming Sunday morning. I'd like to ask the Anglicans here what is done during the service, and is there anything specific I should do or need to do there?

 

[Secundulus]

I've been in a bit of an estatically spiritual mood lately, and I'm wondering about attending an Anglican service this up coming Sunday morning. I'd like to ask the Anglicans here what is done during the service, and is there anything specific I should do or need to do there?

You will be welcome. Here is a link explaining it.

http://anglicansonline.org/basics/expect.html

The Canadian Book of Common Prayer is at: http://prayerbook.ca/bcp.html The service for Holy communin is at 15.

The structure of the Holy Communion and some of the prayers, verbatum, go back to the first and second centuries AD.

They will also hand you a program at the door with the order of the service, the pages of the book that are applicable, and the hymns to be sung.

The only other thing is that if you are not a Baptised and confirmed Catholic, most Anglican Churches would prefer you not take communion. This is not snobbery, rather there are theological reasons behind it. What is traditional is that a person not taking communion can either remain in the pew or go to the altar rail and cross their arms over their chest. The Priest will give you a blessing instead of the bread and wine.

 

[Secundulus]

Here is another good link explaining Anglicanism. It is from a Church in New Zealand, but applies to all.

http://www.stjohnsroslyn.org.nz/guide_to_the_anglican_church.html

 

[ebia]

I've been in a bit of an estatically spiritual mood lately, and I'm wondering about attending an Anglican service this up coming Sunday morning. I'd like to ask the Anglicans here what is done during the service, and is there anything specific I should do or need to do there?

It's impossible to be too specific because Anglican services are very diverse. Some are very formal, full of beautiful, highly structured liturgy. Others are highly informal. Some are very traditional, others are very contemporary.

Any decent Anglican church will be very welcoming, and very tolerant of someone who isn't sure of what they are doing. If no-one helps you when you need it, find another church.

As has already been implied, you shouldn't take communion unless you are baptised and are either confirmed or normally recieve communion in another denomination.

 

[ContentInHim]

Oh, I hope you do so. I did 6 years ago and it was wonderful!

 

[heron]

I've visited Anglican churches off and on, and really enjoy their prayer books, which verbalize things I wish I'd said myself.

 

[ContentInHim]

I agree, heron. I still have my prayer book!