What is Ordinary Time? The liturgical calendar is divided into three seasons—Christmastide (Advent), Eastertide (Lent), and Ordinary Time (everything in between). For this season, the Open Door is focusing on simplicity and consistency.

What is liturgy? Liturgy is a ritual practice going back thousands of years in the Christian tradition. The word roughly translates from Greek to “work of the people.” In the liturgical tradition, services are not built around the personality of individual leaders but rather around communal and embodied practices of readings, prayers, songs, and communion.

What do we believe? The Open Door is a community with a wide array of Christian beliefs and traditions. If any words in these ancient prayers do not feel “correct,” understand that we do not necessarily believe that being “correct” is the purpose of worship. You are invited to doubt, question, and deconstruct anything you hear — authentic response is a creative and blessed act. Wherever you are on your journey, you are welcome here. To learn more about our values and practices, you can visit our About Us page.

Why these songs? For Ordinary Time, we will be using a limited song book. New songs will be selected to mark the change of seasons.

Please note that some lyrics have been slightly amended to reflect the values of our community—with an eye toward inclusivity and generous orthodoxy.

What is the bell? Many in the Open Door identify as contemplatives and mystics — traditions that focus on embodied experience over doctrine. If God is to dwell among us, we must first make space in our hearts, minds, and bodies. When the bell chimes, you are encouraged to breathe deeply and invite all parts of yourself to this moment so that you may more fully encounter God’s Holy Spirit.

What is this prayer? The Call to Worship is a traditional part of many difference services. Our Ordinary Time prayer is called the “Collect for Purity” and is taken from the Book of Common Prayer.

What is this? Traditionally, liturgical services include three separate scripture “lessons”—one from the Hebrew Bible, one from the Gospels, and one from the Epistles. Sermon topics are usually built around these passages, which are determined by the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship.

For Ordinary Time, we will be reading passages from the NRSV translation.

What’s this? This is our opportunity to enter into conversation with God, who has assured us They will hear our prayers. It consists of three parts:

Prayers of the People: The following prayers have been adapted from Form IV of the Book of Common Prayer. The call and response is a version of a “Kyrie Eleison” (“Lord have mercy”) and is a central part of many liturgical traditions.

Prayer of Confession: This is a moment to hold ourselves accountable before each other and God.

Assurance of Pardon: Spoken in response to the confession, this affirms the Good News that all are forgiven—for our God is a God of Grace. Our Assurance of Pardon is adapted from Psalms 103:10-12

Liturgist: Grant, Almighty God, that all your children may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world. Lord, in your mercy–

People: Hear our prayer.

Liturgist: Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations, in the ways of justice and peace; that we may honor one another and serve the common good. Lord, in your mercy–

People: Hear our prayer.

Liturgist: Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own abundant creation, that we may honor its holiness and use its gifts rightly in the service of others and to Your glory. Lord, in your mercy–

People: Hear our prayer.

Liturgist: Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them peace wherever they are. Lord, in your mercy–

People: Hear our prayer.

Liturgist: We commend to your mercy all who have died or suffered at the hands of sickness, tragedy, or injustice. We pray for the peace of your kingdom to mend this broken world. Lord, in your mercy–

People: Hear our prayer.

Liturgist: Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he loves us. Lord, in your mercy–

People: Hear our prayer.

Liturgist: We now invite those in our congregation to share the prayers of their heart – be it sorrow, celebration, or anything in between. You may do this either aloud or in silence.

(you may add the prayers of your heart)

Liturgist: For these prayers, spoken and unspoken, Lord, in your mercy–

People: Hear our prayer.

What is this? For Ordinary Time, we will be using a rotating message, which includes other activities besides sermons. To learn more, please tap any of the categories below.

Why is the sermon so early in the service? This is the placement as outlined in the Book of Common Prayer. It reinforces a general movement from “head” to “heart” as we enter more deeply into prayer in preparation for communion.

Sermons in the liturgical tradition are often less central (and shorter) than in other Protestant traditions, which tend to privilege preaching while eliminating other historical elements of the liturgy.

Testimony is a space for members of the Open Door to share their personal stories with the congregation. These are not “lessons” or “lectures” — but rather an opportunity to practice the radical theology of open listening as we enter into another person’s narrative.

The term "lectio divina" is Latin for "divine reading" or "sacred reading." It emphasizes a slow, deliberate, and prayerful approach to engaging with Scripture. It often involves four separate phases: reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation.

Lectio Divina is not intended as a purely intellectual exercise, but rather as a means of encountering the divine through the Scriptures.

In the liturgical tradition, the homily (sermon) is designed for spiritual edification rather than doctrinal instruction. They are often (but not always) based around biblical passages taken from the liturgical calendar.

As with all things at the Open Door— consider the sermon an invitation for you to engage with an idea. Doubting, questioning, and disagreement are welcome.

Sharing meals together is one of our five practices. In this season, we will be regularly eating meals as a part of our worship service. Sometimes this will be catered, sometimes it will be a potluck. To learn more about our five practices, you can go here.

What’s This? In the liturgical tradition, communion is the centerpiece of worship — it happens every week.

Why these particular words? This language is adapted from “Eucharistic Rite II” in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. The Anglican Church was formed around the principal of “via media” (middle way) in an attempt to reconcile the extremes found in more dogmatic practices. Consequently, this language was specifically crafted to accommodate a wide array of theological beliefs.

What’s this song? The “Sanctus Benedictus” is a song traditionally used in the Communion Service. “Sanctus” means “Holy” and “Benedictus” means “blessing.” The language is taken from the books of Revelation and Matthew. There have been countless settings for this song. We are singing one created uniquely for the Open Door

Minister: On the night our Lord Jesus Christ was handed over to suffering and death, he took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

[see 1 Corinthians 11:23-26]

Can I take Communion? The Open Door practices an “open table.” If you desire to follow in the way of Jesus, you are welcome to partake. God’s grace is abundant and requires nothing but a willing heart. You do not need to be in a particular headspace or emotional state. No matter who you are or where you are in your journey, this table is for you.

What if I don’t want to take communion? If for any reason you would prefer not to take communion, you are invited to remain in your seats or come forward with your arms crossed to receive a blessing.

What’s this song? This song is called the Agnus Dei (“Lamb of God”). It is inspired by John the Baptist's proclamation of Jesus as the "Lamb of God" (John 1:29). Similar to the Sanctus Benedictus, it is a traditional part of the Eucharistic Rite and has many settings.

What’s this prayer? A benediction is a short prayer of blessing, often used at the end of services. Our Benediction is taken from 2 Corinthians 13:13

What’s this song? The Doxology is a short hymn of praise. The tune is known as the “Old Hundredth” and is widely used in protestant traditions. We have amended the traditional words to make them more inclusive.