LIFE 2009 October: The Mass - Gather

There’s certainly more to life when we Eucharist-size it. Tonight we begin a three-session series on the mass. Our first session tonight is about the gathering rite, the first section of the mass. We’ve titled this session Go! Set! Ready! Think we’ve got it backwards? We’re doing that on purpose. We’re going to back our way into gathering for mass.

Let's take a look at the GO section of our game.  The book of the “rules” for the mass is called the sacramentary. It has not only the prayers but also the “rules”/regulations for celebrating mass. The sacramentary tells us there are 5 parts to the gathering rite (or entrance rite).

• Entrance Song
• Greeting
• Lord have mercy
• Gloria
• Opening prayer

Next, we’ll look at SET! Let’s think about all the things we have to get set before mass can start.

• Welcome one another – and before that?
• Announcements – and before that?
• Catch up with each other
• Find a seat
• Be greeted by usher
• Notice any news (deaths, anniversaries, special events, seasons)
• Drop off giving tree donations
• Come in the doors
• Drive into the parking lot (arrive on the church grounds)

Do you ever think of these things as part of the gathering? They are! All of these are part of the gathering of God’s people, getting us set for mass. In gathering we make a choice. We make a choice to be present here, present with one another.

So that briefly covers the Go and Set phases of gathering for mass. We will spend our breakout time looking at the READY piece. We’ll see how getting ready can begin very early in the week especially when we learn how to Eucharist-size our ordinary lives.