Your thoughts on the following matters of liturgy

I'm curious to hear thoughts on some of the following practices. Some you might be in favour of, some you might be neutral about, and some you might not care for. I'm curious about which and why:

  • Standing during scripture reading as a sign of respect
  • People in the CanRC seem to have debated individual cups for communion versus a shared cup, but I can't recall the same debate over bread. What I've seen a few times now is communion done with people tearing bits off a communal loaf. Is this practiced anywhere in the CanRC as well? It seems to me to emphasize oneness, while at the same time being perhaps more hygenic than all sharing a common cup
  • Not having the minister on the pulpit for the whole service. Langley seems to be gradually moving in this directionm with an elder now introducing the "pre"-service song. Generally, I've found that in the PCA typically an elder (or elders) will lead the first part of the worship service before the minister steps up to the pulpit. (This may include the call to worship, one or more prayers and much of the congregational singing.)
  • Responsive readings ... of passages of scripture? ... of some confession? A couple of comments on this issue: when responsive readings of scripture are done, responsive readings may be set out in the back of a hymnal (or perhaps in a liturgy sheet or on an overhead). The second bit of this question follows from the responsive reading of part of the Heidelberg Catechism this afternoon in the URC. I've emphasized a few times how I think that the catechism is inappropriately elevated in the CanRC, but if one is to put such a document in such a place this seemed perhaps more effective than simply having the minister recite the questions and the answers.
  • Laughter during the sermon if the minister says something humourous. This isn't done in the CanRC, but do you think that this is intrinsically wrong to have during worship?

Comments

Standing during scripture reading as a sign of respect

How is standing more respectful?

People in the CanRC seem to have debated individual cups for communion versus a shared cup, but I can't recall the same debate over bread. What I've seen a few times now is communion done with people tearing bits off a communal loaf. Is this practiced anywhere in the CanRC as well? It seems to me to emphasize oneness, while at the same time being perhaps more hygenic than all sharing a common cup

How does that emphasize oneness? I see nothing wrong with the way we're doing it now, and no advantage in changing it.

Not having the minister on the pulpit for the whole service. Langley seems to be gradually moving in this directionm with an elder now introducing the "pre"-service song. Generally, I've found that in the PCA typically an elder (or elders) will lead the first part of the worship service before the minister steps up to the pulpit. (This may include the call to worship, one or more prayers and much of the congregational singing.)

Aldergrove has the elder introducing the pre-service song, as well as reading the announcements. Consistory made this change because they thought the announcements should come from an elder; seems to me that ministers are members of consistory too so I'm not sure it's all that different really. And technically, the service hasn't actually started yet because it's the so-called "pre-service song". If the elder's role was expanded, I would question what the point is. In theory you could have the elder doing most of it, needing the minister only for the sacraments and possibly the blessing. Normally elders only play a major role in conducting the worship service if there is no minister (as in Aldergrove). The minister is supposed to be conducting/leading the service so IMHO shifting various duties to an elder is silly.

Responsive readings ... of passages of scripture? ... of some confession? A couple of comments on this issue: when responsive readings of scripture are done, responsive readings may be set out in the back of a hymnal (or perhaps in a liturgy sheet or on an overhead). The second bit of this question follows from the responsive reading of part of the Heidelberg Catechism this afternoon in the URC. I've emphasized a few times how I think that the catechism is inappropriately elevated in the CanRC, but if one is to put such a document in such a place this seemed perhaps more effective than simply having the minister recite the questions and the answers.

IMHO responsive reading has no place in the Canadian Reformed Church. I don't have anything to support my views other than it just feels wrong.

Laughter during the sermon if the minister says something humourous. This isn't done in the CanRC, but do you think that this is intrinsically wrong to have during worship?

Worship is not a comedy hour. Sometimes a minister or elder will say/do something humourous by accident, but even then IMHO laughter is not appropriate. Smirking is ok though.

How is standing more respectful?

It's somewhat less passive than sitting. I recall hearing somewhere (the White Horse Inn perhaps?) that a priest was not allowed to be seated while in the temple (I'd have to dig around a little more to find the scriptural support for this). I've also heard that many (Greek) Orthodox churches to this day don't have pews in them for this very reason.

Consider how you'll find people standing in courtrooms, in the military, at weddings, at various points during worship services, etc. This can also be found in Victorian etiquette. For example, if there were any women in a room who were standing, it was considered inappropriate for men to be seated.

How does that emphasize oneness?

There you have a common loaf... rather than separate pieces of bread (which may or may not have come from the same loaf).

In theory you could have the elder doing most of it, needing the minister only for the sacraments and possibly the blessing. Normally elders only play a major role in conducting the worship service if there is no minister (as in Aldergrove). The minister is supposed to be conducting/leading the service so IMHO shifting various duties to an elder is silly.

I kind of like the way the phrases teaching elder and ruling elder are used in the PCA. Is there any reason why the pastor should conduct the entire worship service rather than splitting up responsibilities?

IMHO responsive reading has no place in the Canadian Reformed Church. I don't have anything to support my views other than it just feels wrong.

Isn't Psalm 136 typically viewed today (even within the CanRC) as having been used as a responsive Psalm in Old Testament worship?

Worship is not a comedy hour.

I totally agree that worship is not a comedy hour, but I guess that the question is whether or not it should be a completely sterile environment.

Sometimes a minister or elder will say/do something humourous by accident, but even then IMHO laughter is not appropriate. Smirking is ok though.

I think that I'll disagree with you on smirking - I generally find it more offensive than laughing. Was smirking the word you were actually looking for though or were you thinking of something slightly different? (as the dictionary definitions suggest that smirking is generally offensive/smug/derisive)