Additions and Alterations to “What Is Wrong with the New ACNA Eucharistic Rites (Part 2)”

For Anglicans Ablaze readers who read my article, “What’s Wrong with the New ACNA Eucharistic Rites (Part 2),” before I made these changes, I have reproduced them below.

The first addition is to correct an omission in my discussion of the introductory rites of the eucharistic rites in Texts for Common Prayer:

In the General Instructions following the Long Form in Texts for Common Prayer permission is given to use the alternative versicle and response, "The Lord be with you; and also be with you," for the Salutation. In relegating this permission to the General Instructions, the liturgical commission gives the appearance of intentionally seeking to discourage the use of this alternative text for the Salutation. Both texts should have been printed in the two forms wherever the Salutation is used, and service leaders given the option of using one or the other of the texts or of omitting the Salutation altogether. A number of the more recent Anglican service books permit both options. The versicle and response, "The Lord be with you; and also with you" is usually printed first in the service as the preferred text for the Salutation; the versicle and response, "The Lord be with you; and with your spirit," second as the alternative text.

The second addition is to correct an omission in my discussion of the concluding rites:

The rubrics do not permit the omission of the Blessing if the Dismissal is used--one of the better features of the 1979 Holy Eucharist, Rite Two. The optional use of the Blessing and the placement of an optional final hymn before or after the Post-Communion Prayer allow the service to move to a swift conclusion after the Post-Communion Prayer (or the final hymn).

The first alteration is to a paragraph in my discussion of the concluding rites. This change reflects my most recent findings in my evaluation of the eucharistic rites in Texts for Common Prayer and my identification of their sources:

The ACNA’s liturgical commission in the eucharistic rites in Texts for Common Prayer adapt the conclusion of the 1979 Holy Eucharist, Rite One, for the concluding rites of the two forms, doing away with the one of changes that compilers of that rite made to restore the proper proportions of the concluding rites and to give much needed emphasis to their function. The commission permits the singing of hymn, psalm, or anthem after the Blessing or Dismissal.

The second alteration is to a paragraph in my discussion of the significance of the new eucharistic rites. It more accurately describes the differences between the two forms:

In my study of Anglican service books, I have examined shortened forms of the service of Morning and Evening Prayer. Texts for Common Prayer is the first service book that I have encountered that has a shortened form of the service of Holy Communion. “Short Form” may be a misnomer as the rite itself is not shorter in length than the Long Form. Elements of the Long Form have not been omitted to shorten the rite. Rather shorter prayers have been substituted for two of the prayers used in the Long Form--the Prayers of the People and the Eucharistic Prayer. Only the shorter of the two Post-Communion Prayers in the Long Form may be used in the Short Form.

“What’s Wrong with the New ACNA Eucharistic Rites? (Part 2)” may be read in its entirety here. “What’s Wrong with the New ACNA Eucharistic Rites? (Part 1)” may be read here.

Photo: St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, Fort Worth, TX