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With the abolition of the Roman Catholic Mass came the task of explaining the meaning of the Reformed service of worship. In July, 1531, shortly before his death, Zwingli wrote his “Exposition of the Christian Faith” addressed to a Christian king and described therein his new liturgy. It was radical for his time, yet his order of service may sound familiar to many worshipers today. Your own church may wish to use it some Sunday in commemoration of Zwingli the liturgist, or as the order of worship on Reformation Sunday.

HERE FOLLOWS SUBSTANTIALLY THE ORDER OF SERVICE WE USE AT ZURICH, BERNE, BASEL, AND THE OTHER CITIES OF THE CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE:

First, in a sermon of appropriate length is preached the goodness of God which He has shown us through His Son, and the people are directed to the knowledge of this and thanksgiving for it. When this is finished a table is placed in front of the choir, so-called, before the steps; this is covered with a cloth, the unleavened bread is placed upon it, and the wine poured into cups. Then the pastor comes forward with two assistants, and they all turn towards the people, so that the pastor or bishop stands between the others, having on only the usual garb worn by men of standing and ministers of the Church. Then the pastor begins in a loud voice, not in the Latin tongue, but in the vernacular, so that all shall understand what is going on, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” The assistants respond in the name of the whole church, “Amen.” The Pastor: — “Let us pray.” Now the church kneels.

“Almighty and everlasting God, whom all creatures rightly worship, adore, and praise, as their Maker, Creator, and Father, grant unto us miserable sinners that we may in sincere faith render that praise and thanksgiving which Thy only begotten Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, instructed us to do, through that same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord who liveth and reigneth with Thee, God, in the unity of the Holy Spirit world without end. Amen.”

Then the assistant who stands on the left reads, “What is now read is written in the first Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, eleventh chapter,—‘When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s Supper,’ ”, (v. 20), and the rest as far as, “not discerning the Lord’s body” (v. 29).

Then the assistants and the Church respond, “Praise be to God.” The Pastor, “Glory to God in the highest.” The Deacon, “And on earth peace.” The Sub-deacon, “To men a sound and tranquil mind.” The Deacon, “We praise Thee, we bless Thee,” and the rest to the end of this hymn, the assistants reciting it alternately, verse by verse, the Church understanding the whole and admonished at the beginning that each man is to say over in his heart and consider in the sight of God and the Church the things that are said. The Deacon says, “The Lord be with you.” The assistants respond, “And with Thy spirit.” The Deacon, “What is now read is written in the Gospel of John, the sixth chapter”. The church responds, “Glory be to Thee, O Lord.” The Deacon, “Thus spake Jesus, ‘Verily, verily I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna,’ etc., to the words, ‘the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.’” After these words the Pastor says, “Glory to God who deigns to forgive all our sins according to His word.” The assistants respond. “Amen.” The Pastor, “I believe in one God.” The Deacon, “the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.” The Sub-deacon, “And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord.” and the rest to the end of the Apostles’ Creed, so-called, the ministers repeating it alternately in loud voice just as they did before the hymn, “Glory in the highest.”

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