The Morning Prayer Model of Worship

I have been doing this pastoring thing for 4 years now. When I came here, I was convinced that I was going to shape worship into the four-fold pattern that is all the rage in liturgical renewal. I knew I would have a tough time especially with the "Table" portion of the service. We are now at the place where we celebrate the Holy Communion on the first Sunday of the month plus the major holy days. Occasionally we celebrate twice in a row (last we was the 1st and this week is Transfiguration). Rarely we get 3 celebrations in a row. I am enjoying our progress.

But my frustration continues to be with attempting to do 4-fold without doing the Table. I know many enjoy coming up with creative substitutes for the Lord's Supper, but for me there is no substitute. Either we do it or we don't. There's no having our cake and eating it too. Trying to make things 4-fold when they weren't just felt contrived and fake. So I began reading and thinking. Starting with 1 Advent we transitioned from 4-fold or Word & Table pattern to patterning our worship after Morning Prayer in the BCP. It is a loose adaptation, but I have found it to be very functional - especially on Sundays when the Holy Communion is not celebrated. Our pattern is now: (1) Confession; (2) Psalm; (3) Lessons; (4) Creed; (5) Prayers; (6) Benediction. When we celebrate communion we simply add the communion service between the prayers and the benediction just as you would if you were doing morning prayer with communion. So, here is our service for Transfiguration (it will take about 75 minutes):

The Confession
• Greeting/Welcome

LEADER: The Lord , our God, is holy.
PEOPLE: Come let us adore him.

• Confession/Pardon (for confession we do a moment of silence)
• Peace


The Psalm
• Opening Hymn: Let it Rise (ABS2 – 13): as written
• Psalm 99

LEADER: Open our lips, O Lord.
PEOPLE: And our mouths shall proclaim your praise.

LEADER: Praise the Lord our God and worship at his footstool.
PEOPLE: For the Lord our God is holy.
LEADER: The Lord is king.
PEOPLE: Let the peoples tremble!
LEADER: He sits enthroned upon the cherubim;
PEOPLE: Let the earth quake!
LEADER: The Lord is great in Zion. He is exalted over all the prophets
PEOPLE: Let them praise your great and awesome name.
LEADER: Mighty King, you love justice, you have established equity;
PEOPLE: You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
LEADER: Praise the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain.
PEOPLE: For the Lord our God is holy.

LEADER: Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
PEOPLE: As it was in the beginning, is now , and will be forever. Amen.

• Invocation
• Praise Medley

I See the Lord (MSPW – 31): as written
O Worship the King (STL – 64): 1,2,4
Glory in the Highest (ABS3 – 76): as written


The Lessons
• Prayer of Illumination:
• 1st Lesson: 2 Corinthians 3.12-4.2 & Children’s Sermon
• 2nd Lesson: Exodus 34.5-8, 29-35 & Anthem
• 3rd Lesson: Luke 9.28-43 & Sermon


The Creed (STL – 8)


The Prayers
• Prayer Medley:

Shine, Jesus, Shine (ABS – 120): v. 1, chorus, v. 3, chorus
Love Divine All Loves Excelling (STL – 507): 1,2,4
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (STL – 327): chorus only

• The Collect (ALL)

ALL: All Glorious God, who before the passion of your only-begotten son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Give us, as we bask in the light of his glory, the strength to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.

• The Intercessions (PASTOR)
• The Lord’s Prayer (ALL)
• The Offering


The Holy Communion (for communion we do the full Eucharistic liturgy)


The Benediction
• Announcements
• Sending & Blessing
• Closing Hymn: Glory Be to God the Father (STL – 16): 1,4