Christian Liturgy - Commonalities

Commonalities

There are common elements found in all Western liturgical churches which predate the Protestant Reformation. These include:

• The Invocation or "Call to worship"
• Confession
• Absolution
• Introit, Psalms, Hymns, spiritual songs.
• Litany
• Kyrie & Gloria
• Salutation
• Collect
• Liturgical Readings (call and response)
• Alleluia Verse and other responses
• Scripture readings, culminating in a reading from one of the Gospels.
• The Creed
• The Prayers
• The Lord's Prayer
• Commemoration of the Saints and prayers for the faithful departed.
• Intercessory prayers for the church and its leadership, and often, for earthly rulers.
• Incense
• Offering

• A division between the first half of the liturgy, open to both Church members and those wanting to learn about the church, and the second half, the celebration of the Eucharist proper, open only to baptized believers in good standing with the church.

• Communion
• Sanctus prayer as part of the anaphora.
• A three-fold dialogue between priest and people at the beginning of the anaphora or eucharistic prayer.
• An anaphora, eucharistic prayer, "great thanksgiving," canon or "hallowing", said by the priest in the name of all present, in order to consecrate the bread and wine as the Body and Blood of Christ.
• With one exception, that of Addai and Mari, all of the extant anaphoras incorporate some form of Jesus' words over the bread and wine at the Last Supper: "This is my body" over the bread and, over the wine, "This is my blood."
• A prayer to God the Father, usually invoking the Holy Spirit, asking that the bread and wine become, or be manifested as, the body and blood of Christ.
• Expressions within the anaphora which indicate that sacrifice is being offered in remembrance of Jesus.
• A section of the anaphora which asks that those who receive communion may be blessed thereby, and often, that they may be preserved in the faith until the end of their lives.
• The Peace or "Passing of the Peace"
• Agnus Dei
• Benediction