Offering of Incense
Objective
- A greater appreciation for the rites of the Offering of Incense
Key Verse
“Let my prayer be set forth before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice” (Psalm 141:2)
Body
Introduction
- The use of incense in Scripture
- Used in the Old Testament at the Altar of Incense
- Used in the New Testament for Jewish worship
- Used in Revelation in the heavenly church
- Where does the Offering of Incense fit in the grand scope of the Divine Liturgy
- Agpeya Prayers
- Offering of Incense
- Divine Liturgy
- Offering of Incense was a big part of the daily life of early Christians
- They would wake up in the morning and go attend Matins in the church before work
- Then they would go to work
- Then they would come to the church and attend Vespers before going home
- Then they would go home
- Now let's head into the church and go through the rite of Vespers and Matins Offering of Incense
Vessels of the Offering of Incense
- The boys can sit/stand in the women's altar at first, and then in the deacons area on the right side
- The Censer
- Review what does it represent and how
- The Cross
- The use of the Cross
- How the Cross and the Gospel book are used together and represent the Lord Jesus Christ
- The Book of the Gospel
- Readings of the Offering of Incense
The Circuit of Incense
- Two circuits of incense - minor circuit during Verses of Cymbals, major circuit during Doxologies
- Demonstrate the route that Abouna takes when he goes around
- Read the prayers that Abouna prays in both
The Order of the Rite
- Thanksgiving Prayer
- Verses of Cymbals
- Minor Circuit of Incense
- Litanies [Order of the Litanies]
- Doxologies
- Major Circuit of Incense
- Creed
- Ⲫⲛⲟⲩϯ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲁⲛ
- Psalm and Gospel
- Short Litanies
- Absolution
Application
- Attend Vespers and Matins and try and pay attention to those things, remember that at all times you are praying and being prayed for
- 2023 Resolution - to attend Vespers and Matins