John Wesley's Love Feast
Worship
AT ALL TIMES AND IN ALL PLACES
FIFTEEN READY-TO-USE SPECIAL OCCASION WORSHIP SERVICES FROM CHRISTIAN HISTORY AND TRADITION
Background
The Love Feast of John Wesley and the Moravians (Church of the Brethren) from whom he obtained the idea was never limited to Valentine's Day, though it is certainly appropriate for this day on which we celebrate love. Such a service may help to focus our attention of the true and deeper meaning of love in a society and world that uses "love" to sell cars and almost everything else.
Valentine's Day has been around for a long time. Chaucer mentions it in the fourteenth century. Actually, it goes back even beyond that to a Bishop of the Church named Valentinus. Valentinus, noted for his good and loving deeds, died as a martyr for the Christian faith and the love of God.
John Wesley's societies, classes, and bands were designed on the Moravian model to facilitate close and constant fellowship and supervision of members and to provide an area where lay ministry would be exercised. Wesley tended toward quarterly Love Feasts. The Love Feast was originally a revival of the early Christian Agape meal preceding the Eucharist.
Practical Preparation
This service should be used with a table seating at least twelve people. The emphasis is on Christian fellowship and love.
A common loaf of bread should be used to create more of a family (family of Christ) atmosphere. A tablecloth is appropriate for the table. (Unless the congregation already has a tradition of sharing a common chalice, individual cups are generally preferred.)
The hymns should be selected with care, one for praise to God, a second emphasizing Christian fellowship and the third in thanksgiving for God's love.
The minister leading the service or lay person should be encouraged to wear clothes that would commonly be worn at meals.
If it is not customary in your tradition to have lay people pray aloud for one another or to give testimony to what God's love has done in their lives, you will want to speak with individuals before the service about doing these things.
A decision will need to be made concerning the offering. The use of a small basket that can be passed hand to hand is often helpful. Depending on the size of your congregation, you may wish to have two people remove the used cups from the table if several settings of people are necessary. If the service is used in a fellowship hall, enough tables and chairs can be used to make this unnecessary. If in the sanctuary, several settings of people are usually unavoidable.
The church needs to cultivate a close, loving relationship among members in Christ. Praying for one another and sharing testimony helps us deepen those bonds of Christian love. Such building up of love and strengthening of the ties that bind are needed in every age.
Order of Worship
(Adapted from Wesley)
Hymn of Praise to God
Reading of Scripture
The following are suggested passages, from which several may be read:
Luke 6:27-36
John 15:11-17
Luke 12:22-34
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 3:16-18
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
John 6:45-58
1 John 4-7-13
Prayers for Others
Members of the Congregation
The Lord's Prayer
Meditation/Sermon "On Christian Love"
Minister
Hymn of Christian Fellowship
Congregation
The Blessing
"Blessed art thou, O Lord, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the Earth. Amen"
The Passing of the Bread
Bread in the form of a common loaf or in small portions is passed hand to hand by the participants.
An Offering
An offering is left at the table or placed in a small basket that is passed hand to hand.
The Passing of the Cup
Traditionally, a two-handled loving cup was used and passed hand to hand. Your members may desire the use of small individual cups which can be passed.
The leader: Jesus Christ said, whosoever, drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst. Amen
Thanksgiving
All
Blessed art thou, O Lord, author of all sustenance, who has nourished us from our youth. Fill, we beseech thee, our hearts with joyfulness, that in thy bountiful providence we may serve thee with every good work; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all glory and honor and power, both now and forever. Amen
Testimonies
Members of the Congregation
Testimony is given to the power and work of God's love in the person's life.
Hymn of Thanksgiving for God's Love
Benediction
Chapter 3
A Maundy Thursday
or
Holy Week Service
Early Christian Worship,
Tradition of Hippolytus
ca. 217
Background
This worship service is based on the apostolic tradition of Hippolytus, one of the oldest known Christian liturgies. The order of worship was recorded by Hippolytus, who came to prominence as a theologian at Rome during the pontificate of Bishop Victor (A.D. 189-197). According to most scholars, Hippolytus' Apostolic Tradition was a manual of church order and worship written after A.D. 217. It became a prescribed Sunday Service. In the persecution of Maximin in A.D. 235, Hippolytus was deported to Sardina, where he suffered and died.
In the Patristic Period (A.D 100-604), particularly in the Pre-Nicean period (A.D. 100-325), worship was private but corporate in nature. This was not due to economics, as there were many wealthy Christians, but due to the threat of persecution. The rulers of the Roman Empire were unpredictable. Services were held in houses of the wealthier members. They were held in secret and conducted in the Greek language up until about the middle of the third century. Greek was the language of commerce and of education.
In the service, the "Bishop" sat when preaching. People were divided according to men and women. The table held the elements of the Lord's Supper. In general, a certain outline of liturgy was used and the local groups of Christians filled out the outline in their own way.
The eucharist (Holy Communion) indicates how the people thought of worship. It was "grace (such as precedes a meal) well given." It was an act of thanksgiving.
This service is adapted for the present situation. The Paschal Mass, which is half the service, is properly understood as being connected with Easter or the Passover. This was the usual time for baptism in the early church. It is hoped that this service will be true to the spirit of early Christian worship and meaningful to all who participate.
Planning and Worship Suggestions
If possible, prepare the setting for worship in the forms that are illustrated below. As to clothing, a project for the Sewing Circle may be to create the necessary clothes needed by the minister, readers and other leaders in the service. You may want to allow several months for this project. It could be a delightful way of involving the Sewing Circle in a study of early worship.
It is recommended that the minister recruit at least three readers of Scripture, at least two people to bring forward the cup and bread during the offering, and several people to bring forward food offerings as part of the offering. These people should meet at least a week or two before the service, in order to become familiar with the service and their roles. Several people should serve as catechumens.
If the suggested setting for worship is to be used, you will need to designate people to sit in the places for the elders, deacons, and men and women saints.
For several weeks prior to the service the choir should practice the ancient hymns to be used. You may want to have them sit together in the seats for the people or in the places for the men and women saints.
It is best to announce the service several weeks in advance, in order to prepare the people for this unusual worship setting and service. It may be used as a special occasion for re-activating members, or for a special appeal to prospective members.
On the day of the service, ushers should be used to help guide people in the new worship setting in order to avoid confusion. Bulletins with historical background to the service should be given to the people as they enter.
The service tends to flow well with only a few directions given by the minister. The kiss of peace may present an uncomfortable moment to congregations not used to this custom. The minister may want to suggest that handshakes are also acceptable greetings at this point. One point in the service that may create tension is that of the Prayer of the Faithful, particularly if the congregation does not have a tradition of sentence prayers or prayers from people in the congregation. The minister may want to ask various elders or deacons to prepare to take part in these prayers of the faithful.
Another point that may create confusion is the offering, especially if the congregation is used only to passing the plate in the pew. Again, you may want to ask people before the service to take the initiative in coming forward with their gifts to the altar.
A Comment on Clothes
The early church did not place much emphasis upon clothes or "church vestments." The priest actually made a point of not dressing differently from the people. The people wore their everyday street clothes to worship. In general, they wore an alb which looks like a long white nightshirt that covers the feet. A girdle, usually of rope, was used to tie the aib to keep one from tripping when walking. An amice or scarf was worn around the neck like a collar. A Pellcium or cassock lined with fur was often worn. An overcoat was called a chasuble. During the third century, distinctions began to be made in the dress of the clergy. A stole, a narrow band of cloth, was worn as a symbol of authority. A salmatic, a light overcoat, worn by those in authority, was taken on by the bishop overseer. Deacons also wore it. For the ancient Hebrews, clothing was a way not to express their pride, but to compensate for what they had lost - that is, their innocence before God. It was a compensation for shame.
If possible, try to re-create the arrangement below, which reflects the setting for worship believed to have been used in the early church.
Candelabrum
Bishop's Seat
Lectern
Seats for Elders
Altar table
Seats for Deacons
Seats for People
Seats for People
Men Saints
Women Saints
Catechumens standing area
Mite Box (offering plate) for Poor
Order of Worship
(*Congregation stand)
Welcome and Explanation of the Service
Minister
I. Synaxis (The Assembling)
*Greeting and Response
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People:
And with thy spirit.
Leader:
Lift up your hearts.
People:
We have them with the Lord.
Lessons and Songs
*Hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy"
(Reginald Heber 1783-1826)
Lesson Revelation 4:1-11
Reader #1
*Hymn "O God Our Help in Ages Past" (Isaac Watts, 1674-1748)
Lesson Psalm 46
Reader #2
*Hymn "Low in the Grave He Lay" (Robert Lowry 1826-1899)
Lesson Luke 24:1-12
Reader #3
Sermon
Minister
Dismissal of Catechumens
The catechumens were those people who were preparing to enter the Christian faith. They usually stood in the back. It was dangerous to be a Christian in those early days. Therefore, a disciplina arcana (secret discipline) existed. These preparatory members were not allowed to take part in the Prayers of the Faithful or the Lord's Supper.
Prayers of the Faithful
These are prayers by members of the congregation for other people and for help in facing current problems. Any and all are invited to participate in prayer.
(At this point the meeting was dismissed if the worshipers were not to observe the Eucharist [Lord's Supper] that Sunday.)
II. Eucharist (Lord's Supper)
*Greeting and Response
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People:
And with thy spirit.
Leader:
Lift up your hearts.
People:
We have them with the Lord.
Leader:
Let us give thanks unto the Lord.
People:
It is meet and right.
*Kiss of Peace
"Greet one another with a holy kiss."
(1 Peter 5:14)
*The Offertory
Let the people bring their gifts to God's altar. Let the people bring the bread and wine to the altar for the Eucharist. It was also at this time in the service that the people brought the minister the food he would eat during the coming week.
The congregation will sing "Let us Break Bread Together" (American folk hymn) as we bring our offering to God.
*Prayer of Dedication (The Great Prayer)
We render thanks to thee, O God, through thy beloved child Jesus Christ, whom in the last times thou didst send to us to be a Savior and Redeemer and the Messenger of thy councel; who is thy Word, inseparable from thee, through whom thou madest all things and in whom thou wast well pleased, whom thou didst send from heaven into the virgin's womb and who conceived within her was made flesh and demonstrated to be thy Son being born of Holy Spirit and a virgin:
Who fulfilling thy will and preparing for thee a holy people stretched forth his hands for suffering that he might release from suffering them who have believed in thee;
Who when he was betrayed to voluntary suffering that he might abolish death and rend the bonds of the devil and tread down hell and enlighten the righteous and establish the ordinance and demonstrate the resurrection: Taking bread and making eucharist to thee, said, "Take, eat: This is my body, which is broken for you." Likewise also the cup, saying: "This is my blood, which is shed for you."
When ye do this, ye do my anamnesis (remembrance). Doing, therefore, in anamnesis of his death and resurrection, we offer to thee the bread and the cup, making eucharist to thee because thou has bidden us to stand before thee and minister as priests to thee, and we pray thee that thou wouldst grant to all who partake to be united to thee, that they may be fulfilled with the Holy Spirit, for the confirmation of their faith in truth,
That we may praise and glorify thee through thy child, Jesus Christ, through whom glory and honor be unto Thee with the Holy Spirit in thy Holy Church, now and forever and world without end. Amen
Fraction (Breaking of the Bread)
To thee be glory, to the Father and to The Son with the Holy Spirit in the Holy Church, now and forever and the world without end. Amen
Distribution of Elements
We will receive the elements standing in front of the altar table. (You may take the cup and drink, or you may dip your bread in the cup.) The choir will come first. The ushers will assist you as the choir sings "O Guide Every Child" and "Shepherd of Eager Youth" (written by Clement of Alexandria A.D. 160-215).
Leader: The Bread of Heaven in Christ Jesus.
People:
Amen
Leader:
In God the Father Almighty.
People:
Amen
Leader:
And in the Lord Jesus Christ.
People:
Amen
Leader:
And in the Holy Spirit and in the Holy Church.
People:
Amen
And when these things have been accomplished, let each one be zealous to perform good works and to please God, living righteously, devoting himself to the church, performing the things which he has learnt, advancing in the service of God.
Hymn "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" (Charles Wesley, 1707-1788)
Dismissal
"Peace be to the breathren and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Christ with love undying." (Ephesians 6:23-24)
The Love Feast of John Wesley and the Moravians (Church of the Brethren) from whom he obtained the idea was never limited to Valentine's Day, though it is certainly appropriate for this day on which we celebrate love. Such a service may help to focus our attention of the true and deeper meaning of love in a society and world that uses "love" to sell cars and almost everything else.
Valentine's Day has been around for a long time. Chaucer mentions it in the fourteenth century. Actually, it goes back even beyond that to a Bishop of the Church named Valentinus. Valentinus, noted for his good and loving deeds, died as a martyr for the Christian faith and the love of God.
John Wesley's societies, classes, and bands were designed on the Moravian model to facilitate close and constant fellowship and supervision of members and to provide an area where lay ministry would be exercised. Wesley tended toward quarterly Love Feasts. The Love Feast was originally a revival of the early Christian Agape meal preceding the Eucharist.
Practical Preparation
This service should be used with a table seating at least twelve people. The emphasis is on Christian fellowship and love.
A common loaf of bread should be used to create more of a family (family of Christ) atmosphere. A tablecloth is appropriate for the table. (Unless the congregation already has a tradition of sharing a common chalice, individual cups are generally preferred.)
The hymns should be selected with care, one for praise to God, a second emphasizing Christian fellowship and the third in thanksgiving for God's love.
The minister leading the service or lay person should be encouraged to wear clothes that would commonly be worn at meals.
If it is not customary in your tradition to have lay people pray aloud for one another or to give testimony to what God's love has done in their lives, you will want to speak with individuals before the service about doing these things.
A decision will need to be made concerning the offering. The use of a small basket that can be passed hand to hand is often helpful. Depending on the size of your congregation, you may wish to have two people remove the used cups from the table if several settings of people are necessary. If the service is used in a fellowship hall, enough tables and chairs can be used to make this unnecessary. If in the sanctuary, several settings of people are usually unavoidable.
The church needs to cultivate a close, loving relationship among members in Christ. Praying for one another and sharing testimony helps us deepen those bonds of Christian love. Such building up of love and strengthening of the ties that bind are needed in every age.
Order of Worship
(Adapted from Wesley)
Hymn of Praise to God
Reading of Scripture
The following are suggested passages, from which several may be read:
Luke 6:27-36
John 15:11-17
Luke 12:22-34
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 3:16-18
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
John 6:45-58
1 John 4-7-13
Prayers for Others
Members of the Congregation
The Lord's Prayer
Meditation/Sermon "On Christian Love"
Minister
Hymn of Christian Fellowship
Congregation
The Blessing
"Blessed art thou, O Lord, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the Earth. Amen"
The Passing of the Bread
Bread in the form of a common loaf or in small portions is passed hand to hand by the participants.
An Offering
An offering is left at the table or placed in a small basket that is passed hand to hand.
The Passing of the Cup
Traditionally, a two-handled loving cup was used and passed hand to hand. Your members may desire the use of small individual cups which can be passed.
The leader: Jesus Christ said, whosoever, drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst. Amen
Thanksgiving
All
Blessed art thou, O Lord, author of all sustenance, who has nourished us from our youth. Fill, we beseech thee, our hearts with joyfulness, that in thy bountiful providence we may serve thee with every good work; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all glory and honor and power, both now and forever. Amen
Testimonies
Members of the Congregation
Testimony is given to the power and work of God's love in the person's life.
Hymn of Thanksgiving for God's Love
Benediction
Chapter 3
A Maundy Thursday
or
Holy Week Service
Early Christian Worship,
Tradition of Hippolytus
ca. 217
Background
This worship service is based on the apostolic tradition of Hippolytus, one of the oldest known Christian liturgies. The order of worship was recorded by Hippolytus, who came to prominence as a theologian at Rome during the pontificate of Bishop Victor (A.D. 189-197). According to most scholars, Hippolytus' Apostolic Tradition was a manual of church order and worship written after A.D. 217. It became a prescribed Sunday Service. In the persecution of Maximin in A.D. 235, Hippolytus was deported to Sardina, where he suffered and died.
In the Patristic Period (A.D 100-604), particularly in the Pre-Nicean period (A.D. 100-325), worship was private but corporate in nature. This was not due to economics, as there were many wealthy Christians, but due to the threat of persecution. The rulers of the Roman Empire were unpredictable. Services were held in houses of the wealthier members. They were held in secret and conducted in the Greek language up until about the middle of the third century. Greek was the language of commerce and of education.
In the service, the "Bishop" sat when preaching. People were divided according to men and women. The table held the elements of the Lord's Supper. In general, a certain outline of liturgy was used and the local groups of Christians filled out the outline in their own way.
The eucharist (Holy Communion) indicates how the people thought of worship. It was "grace (such as precedes a meal) well given." It was an act of thanksgiving.
This service is adapted for the present situation. The Paschal Mass, which is half the service, is properly understood as being connected with Easter or the Passover. This was the usual time for baptism in the early church. It is hoped that this service will be true to the spirit of early Christian worship and meaningful to all who participate.
Planning and Worship Suggestions
If possible, prepare the setting for worship in the forms that are illustrated below. As to clothing, a project for the Sewing Circle may be to create the necessary clothes needed by the minister, readers and other leaders in the service. You may want to allow several months for this project. It could be a delightful way of involving the Sewing Circle in a study of early worship.
It is recommended that the minister recruit at least three readers of Scripture, at least two people to bring forward the cup and bread during the offering, and several people to bring forward food offerings as part of the offering. These people should meet at least a week or two before the service, in order to become familiar with the service and their roles. Several people should serve as catechumens.
If the suggested setting for worship is to be used, you will need to designate people to sit in the places for the elders, deacons, and men and women saints.
For several weeks prior to the service the choir should practice the ancient hymns to be used. You may want to have them sit together in the seats for the people or in the places for the men and women saints.
It is best to announce the service several weeks in advance, in order to prepare the people for this unusual worship setting and service. It may be used as a special occasion for re-activating members, or for a special appeal to prospective members.
On the day of the service, ushers should be used to help guide people in the new worship setting in order to avoid confusion. Bulletins with historical background to the service should be given to the people as they enter.
The service tends to flow well with only a few directions given by the minister. The kiss of peace may present an uncomfortable moment to congregations not used to this custom. The minister may want to suggest that handshakes are also acceptable greetings at this point. One point in the service that may create tension is that of the Prayer of the Faithful, particularly if the congregation does not have a tradition of sentence prayers or prayers from people in the congregation. The minister may want to ask various elders or deacons to prepare to take part in these prayers of the faithful.
Another point that may create confusion is the offering, especially if the congregation is used only to passing the plate in the pew. Again, you may want to ask people before the service to take the initiative in coming forward with their gifts to the altar.
A Comment on Clothes
The early church did not place much emphasis upon clothes or "church vestments." The priest actually made a point of not dressing differently from the people. The people wore their everyday street clothes to worship. In general, they wore an alb which looks like a long white nightshirt that covers the feet. A girdle, usually of rope, was used to tie the aib to keep one from tripping when walking. An amice or scarf was worn around the neck like a collar. A Pellcium or cassock lined with fur was often worn. An overcoat was called a chasuble. During the third century, distinctions began to be made in the dress of the clergy. A stole, a narrow band of cloth, was worn as a symbol of authority. A salmatic, a light overcoat, worn by those in authority, was taken on by the bishop overseer. Deacons also wore it. For the ancient Hebrews, clothing was a way not to express their pride, but to compensate for what they had lost - that is, their innocence before God. It was a compensation for shame.
If possible, try to re-create the arrangement below, which reflects the setting for worship believed to have been used in the early church.
Candelabrum
Bishop's Seat
Lectern
Seats for Elders
Altar table
Seats for Deacons
Seats for People
Seats for People
Men Saints
Women Saints
Catechumens standing area
Mite Box (offering plate) for Poor
Order of Worship
(*Congregation stand)
Welcome and Explanation of the Service
Minister
I. Synaxis (The Assembling)
*Greeting and Response
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People:
And with thy spirit.
Leader:
Lift up your hearts.
People:
We have them with the Lord.
Lessons and Songs
*Hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy"
(Reginald Heber 1783-1826)
Lesson Revelation 4:1-11
Reader #1
*Hymn "O God Our Help in Ages Past" (Isaac Watts, 1674-1748)
Lesson Psalm 46
Reader #2
*Hymn "Low in the Grave He Lay" (Robert Lowry 1826-1899)
Lesson Luke 24:1-12
Reader #3
Sermon
Minister
Dismissal of Catechumens
The catechumens were those people who were preparing to enter the Christian faith. They usually stood in the back. It was dangerous to be a Christian in those early days. Therefore, a disciplina arcana (secret discipline) existed. These preparatory members were not allowed to take part in the Prayers of the Faithful or the Lord's Supper.
Prayers of the Faithful
These are prayers by members of the congregation for other people and for help in facing current problems. Any and all are invited to participate in prayer.
(At this point the meeting was dismissed if the worshipers were not to observe the Eucharist [Lord's Supper] that Sunday.)
II. Eucharist (Lord's Supper)
*Greeting and Response
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People:
And with thy spirit.
Leader:
Lift up your hearts.
People:
We have them with the Lord.
Leader:
Let us give thanks unto the Lord.
People:
It is meet and right.
*Kiss of Peace
"Greet one another with a holy kiss."
(1 Peter 5:14)
*The Offertory
Let the people bring their gifts to God's altar. Let the people bring the bread and wine to the altar for the Eucharist. It was also at this time in the service that the people brought the minister the food he would eat during the coming week.
The congregation will sing "Let us Break Bread Together" (American folk hymn) as we bring our offering to God.
*Prayer of Dedication (The Great Prayer)
We render thanks to thee, O God, through thy beloved child Jesus Christ, whom in the last times thou didst send to us to be a Savior and Redeemer and the Messenger of thy councel; who is thy Word, inseparable from thee, through whom thou madest all things and in whom thou wast well pleased, whom thou didst send from heaven into the virgin's womb and who conceived within her was made flesh and demonstrated to be thy Son being born of Holy Spirit and a virgin:
Who fulfilling thy will and preparing for thee a holy people stretched forth his hands for suffering that he might release from suffering them who have believed in thee;
Who when he was betrayed to voluntary suffering that he might abolish death and rend the bonds of the devil and tread down hell and enlighten the righteous and establish the ordinance and demonstrate the resurrection: Taking bread and making eucharist to thee, said, "Take, eat: This is my body, which is broken for you." Likewise also the cup, saying: "This is my blood, which is shed for you."
When ye do this, ye do my anamnesis (remembrance). Doing, therefore, in anamnesis of his death and resurrection, we offer to thee the bread and the cup, making eucharist to thee because thou has bidden us to stand before thee and minister as priests to thee, and we pray thee that thou wouldst grant to all who partake to be united to thee, that they may be fulfilled with the Holy Spirit, for the confirmation of their faith in truth,
That we may praise and glorify thee through thy child, Jesus Christ, through whom glory and honor be unto Thee with the Holy Spirit in thy Holy Church, now and forever and world without end. Amen
Fraction (Breaking of the Bread)
To thee be glory, to the Father and to The Son with the Holy Spirit in the Holy Church, now and forever and the world without end. Amen
Distribution of Elements
We will receive the elements standing in front of the altar table. (You may take the cup and drink, or you may dip your bread in the cup.) The choir will come first. The ushers will assist you as the choir sings "O Guide Every Child" and "Shepherd of Eager Youth" (written by Clement of Alexandria A.D. 160-215).
Leader: The Bread of Heaven in Christ Jesus.
People:
Amen
Leader:
In God the Father Almighty.
People:
Amen
Leader:
And in the Lord Jesus Christ.
People:
Amen
Leader:
And in the Holy Spirit and in the Holy Church.
People:
Amen
And when these things have been accomplished, let each one be zealous to perform good works and to please God, living righteously, devoting himself to the church, performing the things which he has learnt, advancing in the service of God.
Hymn "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" (Charles Wesley, 1707-1788)
Dismissal
"Peace be to the breathren and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Christ with love undying." (Ephesians 6:23-24)
