The Church Year

cistern

a recepticle for holding liquids, usually water or oil

cruet

a small flat-bottomed vessel with a narrow neck and a stopper

Missal Stand

the structure that holds the alter book providing all the textual materials needed for the celebration of communion

Cycle

1. the full set of seasons in the church year
2. the full set of readings appionted for each year in the three-year lectionary - cycle A, cycle B, cycle C.

Mensa

a flat stone inlay or other solid material that forms the top of an altar

Major Festivals

Major celebrations of the (Luther) church year: Easter Day, Ascension Day, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, Reformation Day, All Saints' Day, Christmas Day, and the Epiphany. 

Pentecost

1. the 50th day after Easter
2. the day the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples
3. the Old Testament seven week period following the Passover known as the Feast of Weeks

paten

a small plate, usually made of silver or gold, used to hold the communion bread (host)

Chalice

a goblet or footed cup for holding wine during commuion

host

a piece of communion bread

Pri-dieu

a piece of furniture for kneeling during prayer

Sedilia

the chairs in the sanctuary where the pastor and service assistants are seasted

Commemorative Days

days which "remember" past events or people, usually saints.

Orindary Time

used by the Roman Catholic Church to indicate the parts of the liturgical year that are not included in the major seasons of the church calendar, ususally the time between the Day of Epiphany and Ash Wednesday plus thet time after the Day of Pentecost until the First Sunday of Advent. 

Epiphany

the holiday on January 6th (the thirteenth day after Christmas) celebrating the visit of hte Magi to the infant Jesus and the season that follows it until Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.

chrism

consecrated oil used for anointing, usually of hte newly baptized but sometimes the sick, for some requiring consecration by biship, mostly consisting of olive oil mixed with gragrance - usually balsam

Reredos

decorcations behind or above the altar, typically a wooden screen, hanging, or panel containing or displaying inspirational adornment

Triduum

the "three days" falling at the end of Lent: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil which are considered to be one continuous worship service.

Ambo

a lectern, reading desk, or elevated platform from which the scripture lessons are read, may also serve as the pulpit for preaching

Processional Cross

a crucifix or cross carried during parade-like entrances into the sancturary

flagon

a covered vessel mad eof precious metal resembling a pitcher

Pulpit

the stand used for preaching the Word

pyx

a small round container used to carry the consecrated host for distribution outside the sanctuary

Minor Festivals

 Lesser celebrations of the (Lutheran) church year such as: saint's day and other commemorations.

Alter

raised structure, also known as "the Lord's Table where offerings are brought and the elements of breas and wine are presented during communion

Advent

a time fo expectant waiting and preperation for the celebration of the nativity of Jesus at Christmas.

Lectern

a book stand or reading desk that holds the book used for reading scripture in public worship, may also serve as the pulpit for preaching

Season

a particular portion of the church year which consists of six seasons: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost;

Advent begins on the 4th Sunday prior to Chirstmas on December 25th - it is the start of the liturgical year - HAPPY NEW CHURCH YEAR!

Christmas season begins Dec. 25th for twelve days; season of Epiphany begins on January 6th until Shrove Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday);

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday continuing until the day before Easter (40 days exluding Sundays);

the Easter Season continues from the Day of Resurrection until the Day of Pentecost fifty days later;

the Days after Pentecost run nearly six months until the first Sunday in Advent. (Day of Easter is calculated in the West as the first Sunday after the full moon that falls on or after the Spring Equinox [usually March 21st]).

Font

designates a recepticle for baptismal water

Gradine

a shelf or one of a series of shelves behind and above the altar for the holding of an alter cross, altar lights or candles, vases of flowers and sometimes the Tabernacle.

Baldachin

a canopy used to cover an alter, fabric, wood, stone, or metal; on occasion it may atop the bishop's throne, certain statues, or processions

ciborium

a chalice-like vessel used to hold the bread (host) during communion

Lent

Fourty days (not counting Sundays) prior to Easter.

Agnus Dei -- (lamb of God)

again greets Christ who comes in the sacrament as the "lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" (Jn. 1:29)

Kyrie

kyrie eleison is "Lord have mercy," the cry of the lepers and others who came to Jesus begging for help

Distribution

the delivery of the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the bread and wine through the proper application of hte pronoun "for you"

Creed

a summary of the main teachings of Scripture (usually the Apostles' or Nicene)

Epistle

reading from New Testament letter by apostles

Preface and Sanctus

"holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabbaoth: Blessed is he who comes int he name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest." This hymn welcomes Jesus our Savior who comes to us with his Body and Blood and the forgiveness of sins in the Sacrament. This song or phrase joins us with the prophet Isaiah (6:3), with the people of Israel (Ps. 118:25-26), and the worshippers on Palm Sunday (mt. 21:9).

Hymn

between the creed and sermon is the usual place for the chief hymn reflecting the theme of the day (Hymn of the Day); best hymns are filled with biblical images and phrases

Introit

a selection of Psalm verses fitting the theme fo the Sunday and including a confession of the Triune God

Our Father

the prayer as Jesus taught us; which in Luther's opinion delivered the theology of the cross

Benediciton

the blessing given for Aaron to speak upon Israel (the Aaronic blessing, Numbers 6:24-26)

Words of Institution (consecration)

the Words Jesus commands to be used in the Sacrament; they work no change in the elements but are a proclamation of the presence of Christ in a partiuclar way as "for" the hearers

Gradual

(or Alleluia verse) selected verses from an apporpriate Psalm announcing the Gospel

Gloria

gloria in excelsis Deo is the song of the angels announcing the birth of Christ: "glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Lk. 2:14), making each Sunday a celebration of Christmas

Gospel

a reading from matthew, mark, luke, or john - the life and teachings of Christ

Thanksgiving

the song spontaneously arising from the throast of those who have been fed with one heavenly food - the foretaste of the feast to come

Collect

short prayers with a set pattern: 

1. addressing God
2. acknowledging some aspect of his mercy or work, which forms basis of the request
3. making a request for a certain blessing
4. stating the desired result
5. closing in Jesus' name with a Trinitarian doxology

Prayer of the Church or Litany

the specific prayers of hte congregation for the church, the world, and all those in need; often it follows a set or repetitive form as in a litany

Sermon

the "viva vox evangelii" (the living voice of the good news) wherein the preacher "applies" the Word of God - that is, Jesus Christ - to the hearers

Thurifer

the server or acolyte who carries and swings the thurible in which incense is burned during the Eucharist and other liturgies

Sacristan

A person who works in the sacristy, the room for storing and working with various items needed for hte liturgies and worship of the church. Such items may include vessels, vestments, books, bread and wine, candles. Individual members of parish's alter guide might be called sacristans

Greeter

smetimes called, "minister of hospitality" with formal duties welcoming ppl during worship event

Crucifer

a particular acolyte who carries the processional cross during a formal entry into the sanctuary

Acolyte

lay helpers to the ministers during a worship service

Assisting Minister

lay or clergy who "assist" the preside by performing part of the order of worship

presiding minister

the clergy who presides over (celebrates) Holy Communion Service

Deacon

if ordained to "Word and Service" they belong to distinct order of ministery: deacon, priest, bishop wherein they provide preaching, teaching and care-giving but do not preside Holy Communion; if not ordained, they are usually lay ppl who have charge if spiritual and worship life of congregation and sometimes assists the pastor during worship

Compline

the last of the four services of the daily office usually done just before bed; a simple service of scripture and psalm reading, prayers and the Lord's Prayer

Chant

the singing of liturgical prose text to the rhthm of speech

vespers

also known as evening prayer - the third of the four daily offices: matins (morning), None (noon), Vespers (evening), and Compline (bedtime).

rubric

a word or section of text which is traditionally written or printed in red ink to highlight it for the purpose of instruction on performing the rite or ritual

Anaphora

the central prayer of the Eucharist, also known as the Great thanksgiving, including the consecration, the Anamnesis, and the communion, derived from the Greek, meaing a "lifting up" or "offering."

suffrages

responsive intercessory prayer petitions usually concluded with a collect

matins

the first of the four services of the daily office, sometimes called Morning Prayer, traditionally the longest service in the daily office

Fraction

the breaking of dividing of the host during communion

rite

an established, ceremonious, repetitive, usually religious act

pointing

the ordering of syllables to plainchart music

lectionary

a book or listing that contains a collection of scripture readings appointed for worship on a given day or occasion

permissive rubric

an instruction that may be carried out

versicle

the short sentence often from the pssalms that is sung by the officient and responded to by the congregation

mandatory rubric

an instructional that must be carried out

responsive reading

a scripture that is read aloud antiphonally by both leader and congregation

epiclesis

specifically the invocation of the active presence of the Holy Spirit durign the Eucharistic prayre so that the bread and wine may become the body and blood of Christ; generally the invocation of the Holy Spirit to enter some substance or material so that it becomes "holy" or "blessed"

ordinary

a set of texts in the communion service that are generally invariable

Corpus

the figure of Christ on the cross

hours

an officially designated set of daily prayers or services to be recited or conducted at the appropraite times

Anamnesis

a memorial prayer off rememberance recalling past events; when used in Eucharistic prayers, they serve to make present the saving events of Jesus' death and resurrection

choir position- or loft - 

a gallery set aside for the seating of the choir and placement of an organ and other instruments, it is usually int eh west end of the nave.

antiphonal

verse-by-verse alternation etween groups of singers or readers for the singing or recitation of the Psalter

proper

a set of texts in the communion service that may vary from day to day

doxology

words of glory or praise to God, usually in Trinitarian form

homily

a sermon intending to edify the congregation on practical matter and not intended a theolgocial commentary

pericope

a certain portion of text (usually scripture) that is recognized apart from its setting

litany

an intercessory prayer including various petitions that are siad or sung by the leader with fixed responses by the congregation

loft

upper level or balcony in a church

Apse

a semicircular or plyhedral construction at the end of the chancel containing the alter and sancatuary, roofed with a half dome.

undercroft

a cellar or storage room

Eucharistic lights

two candles on the alter lighted during communion but not for other services - originally provided light for reading the alter book

narthex

an entry space, foyer, or anteroom of a church between the door and the nave

Baptistery

the litugical space where the font is located for the celebration of baptism

vigil light

1. a candle kept burning in the cancel to symbolize the presence of hte holy sacramnet
2. a candle lighted by a worshiper for a special devotional purpose
3. a light or candle kept burning before a shrine or before an icon

Christ candle

a candle symbolizing Christ as the light of the world and his presence in the midst of his people

sacristy

the room adjoining a church where vestments, alter hangings and linens, sacred vessels, and liturgical books are kept until needed for use in worship; sometimes clergy vest there.

transcept

in a cruciform or cross shaped church building, the parts of the building which are the two lateral arms of the cross extending from teh nave and chancel

chancel

the area of the church set apart for the alter, lectern, pulpit, credence table, and the sedilia (seats for officiating and assisting ministers) sometimes including the choir, usually raised aboce the level of the nave.

vesting room

also called a "vestry" where the clergy store and put on vestments or otherwise dress for worship

predella

a raised platform or footpace for the alter

sanctuary light (lamp)

a light or candle which burns near the reserved sacrament when the elements of communion are kept on (or near) the alter between services.

nave

the place in the church building for the congregation, between the sancuary and the narthex, and derived from the Latin "navis" (ship) an early symbol of the church

pascal candle

a large, decorated candle that symbolizes the light of Christ who was crucified, died, rose, and ascended into heaven. It is lighted at the Easter Vigil, at all services during teh season of Easter, at baptisms, and other festival days

Eucahristic pall

a stiffened square of fine linen that is placed over the Paten

stole

a strip of material 4 inches wide....

parament

an ornamental and usually symbolic ecclesiastical hanging or vestment, conveying information

miter

A TALL, divided hat usually worn by bishops but not restricted to them

veil

1. a square of cloth covering the paten and chalice until preparation for communion
2. a covering applied to crosses after the stripping of the alter on Maundy Thursday
3. a head covering worn as part of a religous habit or dress code

Funeral Pall

a cloth to cover the deceased, casket, or coffin at funerals... white robe of baptism, announcing that days of baptism have come to end in the realization of baptism's promise

surplice

a wide-sleeved ample version of the linen alb designed to be worn over other vestments, particularly a fur-lined alb for northern climates

Fair Linen

the white linen that covers the alter, adorned with white crosses

cincture

a rope or band of cloth encircling the body around or above the waist so as to "gird" a garment

Cassock

an ankle-length tunic with long narror sleeves; usually girt at hte waist with belt or cincture but sometimes buttoned from neck to foot, may be any color

Frontal

imagery hung on the front of the alter

maniple

an ornamental vestment in the form of a band, two - four inches wide, somewhat longer than a yard - placed on left arm

corporal

a square white linen cloth saller than the alter upon which the host and chalice are placed during the celebration of Mass

cere linen

a waxed linen cover placed under the fair linen

antependium

a screen or veil hanging from front alter, pulpit, etc.

Chasuble

an outer vestment, usually circular in shape, worn like a front-and-back cloak but not covering the hands, indicating the status of clergy as preside at Mass (Holy Communion)

Lavabo

a device or container to provide water for the washing of hands during ceremonies

amice

a rectangular piece of linen pulled over the head to protect other vestments

alb

a long white tunic reachign to the feet, made of linen and belted with girdle or cincture at the waist

cope

a ceremonial version of an outdoor cloak; a semi-circular piece of cloth wrapped about the shoulders and held with clasp

purificator

a small inen cloth used in the Eucharist to wipe the chalice and to dry the celebrant's fingers and mouth

biretta

a square cap with three or four ridges or peaks, sometimes with a tuft traditionally worn by Roman Cahtolic Clergy, sometimes anglican and Lutheran