what to say in a prayer to open sacrament meeting

"Worshiping at Sacrament Coming together," Ensign, Aug. 2004, 24–28

Bishoprics and branch presidencies have many responsibilities that can be delegated. Just they cannot delegate responsibility for sacrament meetings. Mostly, they preside and are thus responsible for both the spirit and the content of these meetings. My didactics on sacrament meetings will therefore be of particular interest to bishops and branch presidents and their counselors—also as to members of the Church participating in these weekly services.

Doctrinal Foundation

Sacrament coming together is the 1 ward or branch coming together that we attend every bit a family unit—the basic unit of the Church. Families and members need to arrive well before sacrament meeting begins. We nourish, equally the Lord commanded, to receive the sacrament and renew our covenants.

He instituted the sacrament to remind us of His Amende. As a final and particularly prepared Passover supper was ending, Jesus took staff of life, blessed and broke it, and gave it to His Apostles, maxim, "Take, eat" (Matt. 26:26). "This is my body which is given for yous: this do in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19). Then He took the cup, said a blessing of thanks, and passed it to those gathered about Him, maxim, "This cup is the new testament in my claret" (Luke 22:twenty), "which is shed … for the remission of sins" (Matt. 26:28). "This practice … in remembrance of me. For as often every bit ye consume this bread, and drinkable this cup, ye practise [proclaim] the Lord's decease" (ane Cor. 11:25–26). In this manner, He linked the sacrament to His impending Crucifixion.

God had alleged, "This is my work and my glory—to bring to laissez passer the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). Then the Son of God voluntarily laid down His life to complete the will of His Father. Thus, immortality became a reality and eternal life a possibility for all who would ever live upon the earth.

We commemorate His Amende in a very personal way. We bring a broken heart and a contrite spirit to our sacrament meeting. It is the highlight of our Sabbath-twenty-four hours observance (run into D&C 59:8–thirteen).

The sacramental prayers have been revealed by the Lord. These prayers contain covenants and a promise (run into D&C 20:77, 79). We covenant to take upon us the proper name of Jesus Christ and go on His commandments. We eat the broken bread in remembrance of His torso. Nosotros drink the water in remembrance of His blood that was shed for usa. And we witness that we volition e'er recollect Him. The promise: we volition always take His Spirit to be with us. What a approving!

Planning Sacrament Meeting

With these doctrines in mind, bishoprics and branch presidencies need to plan sacrament meetings thoughtfully in social club to proceed the meetings focused on the Lord and His Amende, His example, and the doctrines of the gospel.

Invitations to speak should be extended well in advance and include a clear description of the topic assigned and fourth dimension allotted, along with an offer to help. Those asked to pray should include members not ofttimes called upon. Avert patterns of prayers given past a husband and wife at the same coming together. This conveys an unintentional bulletin of exclusion to those who are single. And remember: prayers are non sermons.

Parting missionaries may be given an opportunity to speak in a sacrament coming together. Their family members and friends are not invited to speak. Two or more departing missionaries may speak in the same service. Returning missionaries who have served honorably should be invited to speak in sacrament meeting and be given time to share spiritual experiences and conduct testimony.

Sacrament meetings afford an opportunity for youth to speak briefly on assigned gospel subjects. At other times, high councilors will be assigned by the pale president to speak.

Members may be called to serve as greeters and ushers. They can welcome worshipers and seat them comfortably, while holding a few rear and aisle seats for those with special needs.

Audiovisual materials such as videocassettes and transparencies should not be used in a sacrament meeting.

Occasionally members may exist unable to nourish because of illness. In such cases, priesthood holders could be assigned by the bishop or branch president to administrate the sacrament to them where they are confined.

A typical sacrament meeting will include:

• Prelude music.

• A welcome and acknowledgment of the presiding authorisation and representative from the high council, if assigned.

• An opening hymn and prayer.

• Ward or branch business, such as:

  —Releasing and sustaining of officers and teachers.

  —Recognizing children who advance from Primary, members called on missions or other assignments, attainments of young men and young women.

  —Presenting names of brethren to receive or advance in the Aaronic Priesthood, names of new ward or branch members.

• Confirmation of new members.

• The sacrament hymn and the administration of the sacrament.

• Gospel messages and optional additional music.

• A closing hymn and prayer.

• Postlude music.

Those to be released and sustained do not need to exist presented individually. They may be proposed as groups—get-go those to exist released, so those to exist sustained in the priesthood, and those to exist sustained for callings in the auxiliaries.

Sacrament meetings should begin and stop on time and should not be overprogrammed. Prayer meetings need non exist held before sacrament meeting. Those participating should be seated at least v minutes before the meeting begins and so they can be spiritually prepared for a worshipful experience. During that tranquillity interval, prelude music is subdued. This is not a fourth dimension for conversation or transmission of letters but a period of prayerful meditation as leaders and members prepare spiritually for the sacrament.

Music

The hymns of the Church are the basic music for worship services and the standard for congregational singing. Other advisable selections may be used for prelude and postlude music, choir music, and special musical selections. Opening and closing hymns are unremarkably sung by the congregation. The sacrament hymn is always sung by the congregation.

Ideally, each Church building unit of measurement has a choir, with an invitation to sing periodically. A choir can bless lives. Sister Nelson and I accept fond memories of our participation—years ago—in the choir of our small co-operative in Minneapolis, Minnesota. When we and the others came frontwards to sing, there were more of u.s. in the choir than at that place were members remaining in the congregation.

Pianos, organs, or their electronic equivalents are the standard for use in Church building meetings. If other instruments are used, their use should be in keeping with the spirit of the meeting. Instruments with a loud or less worshipful sound, such as almost contumely and percussion, are not appropriate for sacrament meeting. If a pianoforte, organ, or accompanist is non available, appropriate recordings may be used for accompaniment.

The song of the righteous is a prayer unto the Lord (see D&C 25:12). Some members seem reluctant to sing, peradventure because of fear. We each demand to forget our fears and sing every bit an opportunity to praise our Creator prayerfully. Music in sacrament meeting is for worship, not functioning. Nosotros must not allow our sacred music slip away from us nor allow secular music to supervene upon it.

Conducting Sacrament Coming together

Bishoprics and co-operative presidencies have responsibility not only to programme these meetings, but to conduct them. They should practise and so reverently. Some in the congregation are praying for delicate promptings and communication from sky. Establishing a spirit of reverence volition help them receive those promptings. Recollect: reverence invites revelation.

Those conducting the meeting begin by extending a cordial greeting. Detailed announcements are more than appropriately handled some other time. Considering nosotros invite all to come up unto Christ, friends and neighbors are ever welcome but not expected to have the sacrament. Still, it is non forbidden. They choose for themselves. We hope that newcomers among united states of america volition always exist fabricated to feel wanted and comfy. Petty children, equally sinless beneficiaries of the Lord's Atonement, may partake of the sacrament as they prepare for covenants that they will make subsequently in life.

Our meetings are always to exist conducted as directed past the Spirit (meet D&C 46:2). Occasionally something unexpected may arise that a presiding officer may wish to clarify or correct, as prompted past the Spirit. Otherwise, no additional commentary is given later the last speaker has spoken.

Administration of the Sacrament

Bishoprics and co-operative presidencies preside over the Aaronic Priesthood in wards and branches. They, forth with quorum directorate, will accept every precaution to see that the sacrament is prepared in advance of the meeting and that the passing of the sacrament has been thoroughly planned. Those who administer the sacrament are to look their all-time and exist dressed appropriately. White shirts non only await nice, but they are a gentle reminder of other sacred rites, such as baptismal and temple ordinances, at which white article of clothing is also worn.

Sacramental prayers are to be offered understandably because he who prays is giving voice to covenants that others are making. Cleanliness and purity of heart are expected of those privileged to bless the sacrament. The presiding authorization receives the sacrament first.

Fast and Testimony Meeting

Fast and testimony meetings are held one time a month, normally the offset Sunday. Generally, babies are blessed on that 24-hour interval. Afterwards the sacrament, the conducting brother bears a brief testimony. He then invites members to bear brief, heartfelt testimonies of the Savior, His teachings, and the Restoration. Parents and teachers should assist children acquire what a testimony is and when information technology is appropriate for them to limited it. Younger children should learn to share their testimonies at abode or in Primary until they are old enough to bear an appropriate testimony unaided in fast and testimony meeting.

Personal Participation

Each member of the Church bears responsibleness for the spiritual enrichment that tin can come from a sacrament coming together. Each should sing with a grateful heart and respond with an audible "amen" at the determination of a prayer or a testimony. We personally ponder the Amende of Jesus Christ. We reflect upon the significance of His suffering at Gethsemane and His Crucifixion on Calvary. At this time, each of us is to "examine himself" (1 Cor. 11:28) and reflect upon personal covenants fabricated with the Lord. At this time, we meditate upon the sacred things of God.

Gratefully, I thank the Lord for the sacrament coming together and all that it has meant in my life. It has repeatedly rekindled my faith and immune me to renew my covenants from week to week, helping Sister Nelson and me to alive and rear our family unit in the glorious light of the gospel.

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Source: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2004/08/worshiping-at-sacrament-meeting?lang=eng

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