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The five examples which follow have come from a variety of authors, who prepared their liturgies for distinct contexts. While we have attempted to make the texts conform to certain typographic norms, the degree of detail and commentary in the texts varies. Draw what you can from each example-and be encouraged and inspired to encounter the Scriptures anew!
Further texts contributed by Grove readers
- contributed by Pam Odam and Richard Seel.
Send contributions to Ian Tarrant c/o Grove Books Ltd, Ridley Hall Road,
Cambridge, CB3 9HU.
The introduction and arrangement of the material in the accompanying Worship booklet W 175 is copyright Ian Tarrant, and the individual services are copyright the authors named on them. Individual services may be reproduced freely for use in local worship, with the following copyright notice: 'This service is copyright (named author) and is reproduced from Grove Worship booklet W 175 Scripture-Based Liturgies by Ian Tarrant, Grove Books Ltd, 2003.'
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| Introduction | |
| Occasion: | An ecumenical service for Oxford colleges and courses involved in theological education. A working group representing all the different participants produced the service.1 |
| Theme: | The walk on the Emmaus Road, and a celebration of the new life and the new start of the resurrection. |
| Shape: | A one hour service, followed by a meal together.
The service uses the story of the Road to Emmaus to give a sense of journeying together as we recognize Jesus with us. As we clearly celebrate Easter as those who know he is risen, rather than being in the confusion and sadness of the two on the road, the service does not follow the story exactly. It does however provide us with a general shape that is reflected in the various elements of service-as the outline shows. The service and meal are seen as integral-so that we have a sense of Jesus' presence with us as we 'break bread together' at the meal. The service sheet explains this, and explains that for this reason the order of service does not exactly fit the story at this point. The service ends with the sense that all the disciples are coming together in their excitement that they have seen Christ, and that he has made himself known to them in different ways-thus celebrating our diversity. |
| Opening action: | Background music as people come in, then lights
off and silence.
Unaccompanied anthem of the story of the Road to Emmaus, during which two 'disciples' walk in together-lighting candles down central aisle as they go, co-ordinated to reach the front at climax of the anthem, then lights on. The two 'disciples' read 24.13-15a, then step to either side of sanctuary. |
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| Introduction in Service Sheet
In
the first days after the resurrection there was a growing sense of
excitement and wonder as the disciples met with the risen Lord. Jesus met
with them in different places, and made himself known to them in different
ways.
This evening we celebrate a common faith, yet find that we too have
come to recognize the risen Lord in different ways and through different
experiences.
The story of the disciples on the Road to Emmaus, as told in Luke 24,
records the process of discovery for two disciples, and their desire to
tell the news to others.
The story begins with their confusion at what has happened, and their
experience of walking with Christ while yet unable to recognize him; then
the sense of excitement as, still unrecognized, he opens up their
understanding of the Scriptures and the words of the prophets; then the
moment of recognition as Jesus broke bread and they ate together; ending
with the dash back to Jerusalem to add their story to the others that gave
testimony to the resurrection.
This story shapes our celebration today. It holds some parallels for
us, although we have the benefit of all of Scripture and the hindsight of
the collective faith of the church over the centuries.
We hope that the quotations from Luke 24 will help us to focus on
different aspects of our journey of faith: our realization that Christ is
present with us, and yet the recognition that we too have times of
confusion or times when his presence is cloaked by lack of understanding
or sin; the Creed as a rehearsal of all that we have come to understand as
Truth through Scripture and the collective faith of the church, yet still
mindful that we do not yet fully understand; the ministry of the Word
celebrating the way in which Scripture brings us to greater understanding
and the way our hearts are warmed as Christ reveals the Truth through it;
prayer as we invite Christ more into every aspect of our lives, our
learning, our discipleship and ministry and our world; and a celebration
of our faith as we recount some of the many different ways in which God
has revealed himself to us.
For the disciples going to Emmaus Jesus made himself known in the
breaking of bread as they ate together. So we see the meal together as
part of the service. Our fellowship together will continue to celebrate
the unity we have in Christ, and will be an opportunity for Christ to be
made more fully known to us in one another. |
| Gathering | |
| Anthem | sung by choir As we walked home at close of day (J Bell & G Maule) |
| Reading | Luke 24.13-15a |
| Hymn | Jesus calls us here to meet him (J Bell & G Maule) first 3 verses only; expressing our coming together in God's presence, as the disciples met with Jesus on the Road |
| Penitence | |
| Reading | Luke 24.15-16 |
| These disciples were kept from
recognizing Jesus.
Let us now come in prayer to ask God's forgiveness and mercy for the times when it is we who are at fault, and turn a blind eye to his presence among us. Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, We confess that there are times when we have turned against you, when you have become hidden from us by our own sins, when we have chosen to turn away from you and your ways. For these times when we have rejected you, we are truly sorry: We confess that there are times when we have failed to recognize your presence in others who are sharing the journey of life alongside us, and failed to show love to them as we would want to show our love to you. For these times when we have rejected you, we are truly sorry: We confess that there are times when in our weakness or negligence, we have failed to turn to you in our needs, and have accused you of lack of love for us. For these times when we have rejected you, we are truly sorry: We confess that there are times when we have failed to recognize your presence in one another, and have marred the unity of your body by prejudice, misunderstanding, and arrogant judgement. For these times when we have rejected you, we are truly sorry: Lord, for all those times when our own choices, desires, sins, and lack
of love have blotted you out of our thoughts, words and deeds, we are
truly sorry: In your mercy renew in us such a sense of your presence with us, and such assurance of your promise to us that you are with us to the end of the age-that our whole lives may be lived in the light of the knowledge that you walk beside us. Lord in your mercy Song—Cantor and response: Remember, remember your mercy, Lord |
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| (Paul Inwood) | |
| Affirmation of Faith | |
| Reading | Luke 24.17-24 |
| Apostles' Creed in question and response form, as a recitation of the facts as we have received them, echoing the account of what the two disciples rehearsed with Jesus along the way (Common Worship p 143). | |
| Hymn | We have a gospel to proclaim expressing our belief a hymn which reflects the record of Christ's passion and resurrection. |
| Reading | Luke 24.25-27,32 |
| Song | Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus |
| Reading | Isaiah 53.4-12 |
| Sermon | reflecting vv 25-27 and v 32 when Jesus explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself, and they asked themselves 'were not our hearts burning within us' when Jesus talked to them and opened up the Scriptures. |
| Reading | Luke 24.28-29 |
| Prayer | expressing v 29, inviting Jesus to come in to stay with the disciples. |
| Intercession
Prayer for unity
by greater recognition of Christ in each other. |
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| Song | Breathe on me, breath of God (E Hatch) also expressing v 29-a prayer for God to be with us and in us. |
| Celebration of faith | |
| Reading | Luke 24.30-31, 33-35 |
| A 'fanfare' of short
sentences, in celebration of the different ways in which Jesus has made
himself known to us his disciples; concluding with the Easter Acclamation:
Alleluia! Christ is risen. |
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| Hymn | Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son expressing joy in faith |
| Prayer and Dismissal for
meal together, with a repeat of the Easter Acclamation:
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
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| Reading | Luke 24.30-31a |
| The Peace Thanksgiving for the meal |
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Notes
1. Thanks to Carolyn Headley (Tutor in Spirituality and Liturgy at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford) for supplying this text, which has been abbreviated. Back
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