I enjoy our Sunday liturgy immensely, look forward to it and couldn't continue without it. As a general plan, we try to bring nature into our church --- the seasons celebrated, enjoyed and elevated. A side altar near our sanctuary is decorated for each of the natural and liturgical seasons; the themes and tones and feelings of each season are visually highlighted.
During the Eucharist, we promote above all the people's participation, placing great importance on repetition so that our hymns and songs become more of a felt expression than an intellectual one. We say that people should bring their hearts to church and leave their heads at home; they should know by heart the meaning of the liturgy. We ask that people think of their church as a kitchen rather than as a restaurant; the church is a place they can claim and enjoy as their own, a place where they can pitch in and help and get their hands in the dishwater, rather than a place to stop off, get something, pay the bill and forget it.
We emphasize an unusual liturgical principle: our church must be at least as friendly as an Irish pub. We have a fifteen-minute gathering before every mass; people come together, meet and talk. Our congregation is varied: many local white people, a small number of blacks and Hispanics and various others from nearby towns have dug in to become the congregation of Sacred Heart. They need time to greet one another before they get down to praying together. Our gathering time is very important; our welcome of people, essential. New people are asked to sign our reception book and told that they will be prayed for in our holy church.
We have slightly modified our opening rites to suite the congregation. After people have gathered, talked and greeted one another, the presider comes to the podium dressed in an alb and greets them. Then, in what we call our "chit-chat," he briefly announces the week's events. The penitential rite follows, and all kneel to say the Confiteor. Then the presider recalls Jesus' admonition that we not take our gifts to the altar without first making peace, and the peace-giving follow.
Everyone spends about ten minutes greeting one another in the peace of Christ. The presider makes his way down the aisle, greeting people all the way to the back of the church. There he puts on the chasuble. The cross, the lectionary, the incense, the organ are ready. The entrance song and the procession begin with great strength and enthusiasm. The cross bearer leads with the cross and the readers follow, one of them holding the lectionary aloft; the server, always adult women and men, walk ahead of the presider who holds the censer. As all move in a slow procession, the congregation is incensed pew by pew. This is a wonderful walk down the center aisle of the church. The incense rises among the people in a deep sense of the presence of God, and as the entrance hymn ends, the presider turns to the people and says "The Lord be with you." Then the collective prayer of the day is proclaimed.