Bonnie Lee
Coordinator, Pastoral Office
of Worship & Liturgy
218/281-4533, x426
BLee@crookston.org
Worship & Liturgy News, Announcements and Events
Theological Background
The members of the Church join themselves to Christ’s sacrifice of praise not as
individuals but as members of his Body, the Church. It is through the apostles, the
conveners of the Church, that such worship is made possible. Without the apostles
or their ordained successors, liturgy is not possible, for it is the apostles, “who
gathered the Church to “eat the supper of the Lord [and] proclaim the death of the
Lord until he comes” and who “continued steadfastly in the teaching of the apostles
and in the communion of the breaking of bread and in prayers . . . praising God and
being in favor with all the people” (Acts 2:41-47).” Today, that Apostolic ministry is
continued through bishops and through their priests.
Saint Paul, bearer of the Apostolic ministry of the Church described himself: “Thus
should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.”
(1 Corinthians 4:1). And as Hebrews 8:2-3 describes, the Bishop--as successor to
the Apostles--is appointed as leitourgos (Liturgist) and archiereus (High Priest):
responsible for divine worship; having the task of ordering, promoting and
safeguarding the entire liturgical life of the diocesan Church.
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