Absolution: a declaration, traditionally reserved for ordained ministers, of the forgiveness and wiping away of sins. It is simply an announcement of God's gift of forgiveness to the penitent.

Advent: from the Latin "to come," Advent is the first season of the church year, comprising the four weeks prior to Christmas. St. Mark's includes an Advent wreath with four candles to celebrate the season.

Agnus dei: the canticle "Lamb of God" used during the liturgy of Holy Communion. The text is based on the biblical account of Jesus' Baptism in which John the Baptist refers to Jesus as "the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29b), the origin of the Christian reference to Jesus as the Lamb of God. Since the medieval times, the Agnus Dei has been sung as a reference to Christ's crucifixion for the world's salvation.

Blessing or benediction: the blessing of the congregation announced by the presiding minister at the close of a liturgy. The Sign of the Cross, a longstanding tradition at the benediction, is a reminder of our Baptism.

Brief order of confession and forgiveness: a confessional order (always led by an ordained pastor) which may be used prior to the Holy Communion liturgy. This brief rite is preparatory to the eucharistic liturgy, but not a part of it.

Canticle: a brief song of praise which is frequently from the Bible (usually from other than the book of Psalms). Canticles are at the heart of the church's daily prayer services and generally take their name from the opening words of the text.

Christmas: proclaims the advent of Messianic salvation. It is Incarnation -- Word becoming flesh, full of grace and truth and dwelling among us.

Church year: the orderly organization of the seasons, festivals and commemorations in which the Church proclaims and participates in the mystery of Christ's life, death and resurrection. The church year is divided into three sections, (a) the Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany cycle, (b) the Lent, Holy Week, and Easter cycle which includes the Day of Pentecost, and (c) the time of the Church, the Sundays after Pentecost, a time of spiritual growth and learning. Throughout the church year are found days in which the lives of saints or events are remembered.

Closing hymn: at Saint Mark's we sing a closing hymn of praise as the choir, clergy and assisting ministers leave the sanctuary. This is followed with the words "The mass is ended. Go in peace. Serve the Lord." To which we respond "Thanks be to God."

Creed: from the Latin for "I believe," the creed is a statement of the beliefs of the church. The three ecumenical creeds are: (1) The Apostles' Creed, which grew from a simple confession at baptism into its present form by about 750 AD. It is a summary of the teaching of the apostles and continues to serve primarily as the baptismal confession of faith. (2) The Nicene Creed, adopted at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, and expanded by the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD. The Nicene Creed was first used in the eucharistic liturgies in the eastern church in the fifth century. By the eleventh century it had spread throughout Europe and had become a standard part of the communion liturgies of the western church. (3) The Athanasian Creed was named for Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, who died in 373; however it was probably written by others at a much later period. This creed is characterized by its stress on the doctrines of the Trinity and of the Incarnation.

Deacon: from the Greek diakonos, meaning servant. In the Lutheran liturgy, the deacon (normally a lay person) in the principal assisting minister during the mass.

Easter: the celebration of the resurrection of Christ. The Easter season, a period of celebrating the joy of the resurrection, consists of the fifty days from Easter until Pentecost.

Entrance hymn: a part of the opening actions of the Eucharist is sung by the congregation as the choir, clergy and assisting ministers take their places for the liturgy. At Saint Mark's, the congregation stands as the hymn is introduced by the organist and faces the entrance where the procession to the altar begins. We turn with the movement of the processional cross, and as the cross passes us we often bow our heads in reverence for the principal icon of our faith.

Epiphany: from the Greek "manifestation" or "appearance," Epiphany is the festival on January 6, celebrating the manifestation of Christ to the world and recalling the visit of the Magi. The season of Epiphany follows until the Transfiguration of our Lord (the Sunday before Ash Wednesday). This season bridges the Christmas cycle of Christ's incarnation with the Lent cycle of his passion.

Eucharist: in this part of the Mass, we start by sharing God's peace with one another and bringing our gifts of money, bread and wine to the altar. We lift our hearts in praise for the gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation and we hear the words of Jesus as we remember his death and resurrection. We ask the Holy Spirit to unite the gathered community in the Lord's bread and cup, the body and blood, so that we might proclaim God's salvation to the world. We pray the Lord's Prayer, and share the body and blood of Christ. The "Meal" concludes with a canticle song of praise and a brief prayer.

Eucharistic prayer: the great prayer of thanksgiving in the Liturgy of Holy Communion, also known as the anaphora. The form of the Eucharist prayer is one of giving thanks and praise to God for life and creation, followed by the Words of Institution and the concluding Doxology.

Evangelical Lutheran Worship: the official hymnal and book of worship materials for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It was first published by the ELCA in 2006 and is a refinement of some of the remarkable liturgical achievements of past centuries, especially the (green) Lutheran Book of Worship from 1978. Although it has several new features -- including the fact that it's available electronically -- it is a faithful representation of the structures and outlines of the worship of the Western Church. St. Mark's uses the hard copy of ELW in the chapel and prints a full service folder each week (from the electronic version) on Sundays.

Gathering: the first section of the Mass, in which God calls and gathers us through the Holy Spirit, and in response we acclaim the graciousness of God in song and prayer. The gathering of the people may include an entrance hymn. At Saint Mark's we sometimes use a litany in procession in place of the Hymn of Praise. The "Gathering" continues with the Prayer of the Day as we prepare to hear the word of God.

Gospel: from the Greek for "good news," the Gospel is the major reading of the day and is always from one of the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. At Saint Mark's, the Holy Gospel is often read from the midst of the people by the deacon (the principal assisting minister) of the day's liturgy.

Great Thanksgiving: the portion of the Mass including the Preface Dialog, Proper Preface, Sanctus and the Eucharistic Prayer, and the Lord's Prayer. The Great Thanksgiving derives from the Jewish meal rituals in use at the time of Christ when God was blessed for creation and redemption.

Greeting: an opening invocation by pastor and people, in which the pastor says "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all," and the people respond "And also with you."

Holy Week: the week before Easter, beginning with the Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday) and ending with the Triduum (Maundy Thursday through Easter Vigil).

Hymn of Praise: a canticle, sung prior to the Prayer of the Day in the entrance rite of the Holy Communion liturgy. The traditional "Glory to God in the Highest" dates from as early as the fourth century and has been used in the mass since the twelfth century. The other text, "Worthy is Christ" (based on Revelation) was written especially for contemporary Lutheran worship.

Hymn of the day: the principal hymn of the liturgy, normally sung immediately following the sermon. It is carefully chosen from the church's rich treasury or music and poetry and is selected to reflect the principal theme for the day. This is a unique gift from the Lutheran tradition to the liturgy.

Kyrie: a litany of intercession at the beginning of the Holy Communion liturgy which was introduced in the church in Jerusalem as early as the fourth century. By the fifth century, this "Deacon's Litany" had spread throughout the church, and it continued to be in litany form until the eighth century, when the litany form disappeared and only the responses, "Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison" survived ("Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy"). In Evangelical Lutheran Worship, it is a series of petitions, for the church, the world and ourselves, offered by the deacon, to which the congregation responds, "Lord, have mercy."

Lent: the forty day season of penitence and preparation for the Triduum of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Lent is the first part in the Easter cycle of the church year.

Litany: a highly organized form of prayer and intercession, inherited from Judaism, widely used in Christianity from its early centuries. It includes a congregation response to each group of petitions. At Saint Mark's, it is often used in procession during the seasons of Advent and Lent.

Liturgy: comes from the Greek, meaning "a public work" or "the work of the people." It is the collection of those rites and ceremonies of the Church, offered for the adoration of God and the sanctification of God's people. This word is particularly connected to the order of service (also called the Mass) used in the Holy Communion.

Mass: a term used since the fourth century for a prescribed order of worship. At Saint Mark's the entire congregation is involved in taking part in the words and actions of the Mass -- often also called the Eucharist, Holy Communion, the Service, or the liturgy. This form of celebration of the Lord's Supper has been in continuous use since the earliest recorded days of the Church.

Maundy: from the Latin for "command." Maundy Thursday in Holy Week is the first day of the Paschal Triduum. This liturgy commemorates the institution of the Lord's Supper, the rite of footwashing, and the betrayal of Jesus. Maundy Thursday signals the end of the Lenten season by providing the Absolution that was promised during the Ash Wednesday liturgy. Because this liturgy is the first part of a unified liturgy extending through the vigil of Easter, the benediction is not given on either Maundy Thursday or Good Friday, but is delayed until the Easter Vigil.

Offering: the gifts of the people of God given in response to the love of God. It is a gathering and presentation -- not only of money, but of the bread and wine which will be used in the celebration of the Holy Communion. As Jesus gave his life for all the people of the world, we thank God and offer to him all that we have, our lives, our time, and our possessions. During the gathering of the gifts, the ministers prepare the table for the meal.

The peace: a profound action which is a sign of mutual acceptance, reconciliation, love and baptismal unity in which the people of God share the peace of God with each other. The sharing of God's peace is a response to the good news of Jesus Christ which has been proclaimed, and at the same time an act in preparation for the Communion which follows.

Pentecost: the "green" season of the church year between the Day of Pentecost (for which the color is red) and the Christ the King Sunday (white). This season is normally about six months long and is a season for growth, renewal, and learning. The length of the Pentecost season is determined by the date set for Easter.

Post-communion canticle: a song of thanksgiving for the Eucharist, sung by the congregation following the Holy Communion, as the altar is being cleared. The post-communion canticle first appeared in the German liturgy in 1525 and is a tradition unique to the Lutheran Church. We normally sing the Song of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32), "Lord now you let your servant go in peace," or one composed for Evangelical Lutheran Worship.

Prayer of the Day: a brief prayer, traditionally known as the "collect," offered by the presiding minister at the conclusion of the entrance rite in the liturgy. It prepares the way for the scripture readings prescribed for the day.

Prayers of the People: a series of intercessions offered to God on behalf of the church, the world and all people who might be in need. At Saint Mark's, this prayer -- sometimes called the Prayer of the Church -- is in the portion of the Mass known as the liturgy of the word.

Preface dialog: the introductory portion of the Great Thanksgiving, based on the ancient Jewish meal ritual which is a salutation by the people and the presiding minister with the words "Lift up your hearts," "Let us give thanks to the Lord our God" (from Lamentations 3:41), and the response "It is right to give our thanks and praise."

Prelude: from the Latin, meaning "to play before," the preslude is a musical work which precedes the liturgy. At Saint Mark's, it is usually played on the organ and it is a time when the people of the church gather and prepare their hearts and minds for the worship of God.

Proper Preface: follows the preface dialog and expresses reason for giving thanks and for praising God. These words vary from season to season within the church year. The proper preface concludes by acknowledging that the worshipping assembly is joined to that of the whole Church in heaven and on earth.

Psalm: a psalm or portion of a psalm appointed for use immediately after the first lesson is read. Following the practice learned from the early temple and synagogue, Christians make regular use of the psalms in their homes, at eucharistic celebrations and at prayer. At Saint Mark's, the psalm is normally a sung inter-action between the choir (or a soloist) and the congregation.

Sanctus and Benedictus: the song of the seraphim from Isaiah 6:3, "Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might," combined with Matthew 21:9. It probably dates from the second century liturgy and recalls both the heavenly vision of the prophet Isaiah and the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

Scripture readings: the portions of the Bible appointed to be read aloud as part of the liturgy for the day. The collection of these readings is known as the lectionary. There are normally three readings: the first from the Hebrew scriptures, (except during the Easter season), the second from the New Testament epistles, and the third usually from the Holy Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John (normally read by the deacon ).

Sending: the simple ending to the mass. We receive the blessing of God and are invited to leave in peace, sent out to serve in the world, to speak the good news we have heard, to care for those in need, and to share what we have received with the poor and hungry.

Sermon: a talk by an ordained minister (or occasionally a deacon). At Saint Mark's, the sermon, normally based on the readings for the day, is a proclamation relating the living word of God to modern life. The preacher is God's spokesperson to us, explaining the word and applying it to our own lives, time and conditions.

Sign of the cross: an action which recalls and proclaims Christ's death on the cross and our union with him through our Baptism. It is normally done by moving the fingers of the right hand from forehead to chest, then from left to right shoulder, and then to the center of the chest. It is often made (a) as the Trinitarian invocation is spoken, at the beginning of the Order for Confession and Forgiveness and when it is repeated during the Absolution, (b) at the announcement of the Holy Gospel, (c) at the Creed when reference is made to eternal life, (c) during the Sanctus as "Blessed is he" is sung, (d) before and after receiving the Holy Communion, and (e) as the presiding minister concludes the closing Benediction.

Sub-deacon: in Lutheran usage, a sub-deacon (usually a lay member of the congregation) is the second assisting minister (along with the deacon) at the celebration of the Holy Communion.

Triduum: the three holy days from Maundy Thursday through the Vigil of Easter which focus on Christ's passage from death to life. Although changed over the years, the Triduum has been observed liturgically since the fourth century. In current practice, the Triduum begins with the evening liturgy of Holy Communion on Maundy Thursday, includes the services of Good Friday and ends with the celebration of the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. The Triduum is a single unified observance of Christ's Passion and Resurrection.

Trinitarian formula: the words "in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" are the words spoken by the presiding minister during the baptism during the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. The basis for this formula is the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19.

Vestments: the garb worn by those who minister in the services of the church. The word "vestments" is also often used for the fabric coverings of the altar. Another word for the fabric on the altar, pulpit, and lectern is "paraments."

Word: this part of the Mass comes from the rich treasure of Scripture. This encounter with the living God includes the readings, the Sermon proclaiming the Word of God, the Hymn of the Day responding to the word, and the Prayers of the People in which we pray for the Church, the people of the world, and those who suffer or are in need.

Words of Institution: that portion of the Eucharistic prayer (spoken only by the presiding minister) which recalls and proclaims the actions and words of Jesus during the institution of the Holy Communion in the Upper Room. The Words of Institution -- "Take and eat..." and "Take and drink..." -- are a harmony of the four New Testament accounts of the institution of the Lord's Supper. These words have been a part of the Holy Communion liturgy since the days of the apostles.

With thanks to St. Peter's Lutheran Church, New York.