Did You Know …
Christianity would still be a homogenous whole if we all understood God and the Bible the same way. Instead, each denomination has developed unique understandings and traditions about worship, dress, song, architecture, preaching, and other elements of worship.
The information found here is selected based on the Season we are in, other events, and whims. The hope is that it provides an opportunity for growth in your understanding of the Episcopal/Anglican Church. New information will magically appear early most weeks.
Cherubim: the cherubim are second highest rank in the angelic hierarchy, below the Seraphim. In western art, Putti are sometimes mistaken for Cherubim, although they look nothing alike. They are also mentioned in the Bible in the book of Genesis (Gen. 3:24) as the angels who guarded the east side of the Garden of Eden with "a flaming sword which turned every way".
Seraphim: The Seraphim and the Cherubim are, in Christian theology, two separate types of angels. The descriptions of the Seraphim, Cherubim and Ophanim are often similar, but still distinguishable.
In medieval Christian neo-Platonic theology, the Seraphim belong to the highest order, or angelic choir, of the hierarchy of angels. They are said to be the caretakers of God's throne, continuously singing Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, i. e. "holy, holy, holy"—cf. "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts, the whole earth is full of His Glory" (Isaiah 6:3). This chanting is referred to as the Trisagion.
Mission: The mission of the church as defined by the catechism, is “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ” by praying, worshipping, proclaiming the gospel, and promoting justice, peace, and love (BCP 855). This is the task of all members, ordained and lay.
Votive Lights: Candles lit before a cross or a statue of our Lord or a saint in conjunction with prayer for a special need or purpose. “Votive” comes from the Latin word votum, meaning “vow” or “solemn promise.”
Oblations: Bread and wine offered for consecration at the eucharist. It is a term derived from the Latin word meaning “to present” or “to offer” and can include monetary or other gifts presented to God. At Grace this typically includes the food basket taken to the altar by the ushers along with “plate” offerings.
Occasional Offices or Occasional Services: Prayer book rites done only on specific occasions, such as weddings. Baptisms, and funerals, as opposed to rites such as the eucharist and the daily office, which may be celebrated at any time. The Book of Occasional Services is a companion volume to the Book of Common Prayer.
Offertory: Offering of the bread and wine at the eucharist, along with the money offering and other gifts, and a fundamental part of the eucharistic action. The prayer book requires that these be brought to the altar by “representatives of the congregation” and presented to the deacon or celebrant.
Offertory Procession: The act of bringing forward the gifts of bread , wine, money, and other offerings to the altar during the eucharist.
Real Presence: Term signifying that Christ is truly present to the community through the action of the eucharist. In the words of the catechism, the eucharist is “the way by which the sacrifice of Christ is made present, and in which he unites us to his one offering of himself” (BCP 859).
Season After Pentecost: Season of the church year that runs from the day of Pentecost until the First Sunday of Advent. During this season, Sundays are numbered in order after Pentecost. This cycle of the liturgical year calls us to explore the significance of the church itself as the sign of Christ’s continuing presence and ongoing activity in the world. The liturgical color is green. Sometimes informally called Ordinary Time.
Definitions are taken almost entirely from John N. Wall (2000). A Dictionary for Episcopalians. Cowley, Boston.
