The Gospel Book

I wanted to share with all a little more about the Gospel Book we use each Sunday and perhaps why there may be a little wondering of why I carry the Gospel into and out of the service each week. In thinking about what I would write, I did do a little research and found a few interesting facts about the use of the Gospel Book. But first, perhaps, my comments. The Gospel Book is "The Good News" of Jesus Christ brought to us each week. That is the reason the reader will proclaim, "The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to… (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John") or in some churches, "The Holy Gospel of Our Savior Jesus Christ."

Deacons handle the reading and presentation of the Gospel differently, but generally the deacon will carry the Gospel Book into the church during the procession. This is symbolic of bringing the word to the people. The Gospel is placed onto the altar and the Deacon is to reverence the Gospel and Altar then go to his/her appointed place. (I stand the Gospel Book up on the altar prior to the reading for all to see and then it is laid flat on the altar after the reading.)

When the time comes for reading the Gospel, the deacon will have the Gospel carried to the midst of the people and proclaimed to all present. There are normally two torches (candles) and a cross leading the procession to the center of the people. In some congregations, incense is used to by the deacon to "Cense" the Gospel prior to reading. If the Bishop is present, the deacon will stop for a blessing by the bishop prior to reading.

About incense in worship: The use of incense in worship is found throughout the Bible in both the old and new testaments. The cloud of smoke created by the burning incense suggests mystery and “otherness,” and the scent makes it possible for worshippers to devote themselves to God with their senses rather than just their mind. During the service, the altar is censed, the offering on the altar is censed, and all the people are censed as signs that all are offered to God as a “pleasing offering.” The censing of the people is a special way of saying that everyone present in the church is counted as family and has a vital part to play in worship. Our Christian worship erupts out of our love of God and our desire to express that love. As such we should worship Him 'with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind, and with all our strength.' Incense opens our senses and frees our mind.

In the Eastern Church, when a bishop is consecrated, he will bow to the altar with his forehead resting on the center of the altar and the Gospel Book will be placed with the writing face down on the back of his neck. When a priest or bishop is buried, he/she is buried with a Gospel Book resting on their chest, as an indication of their vocation to preach the Gospel to all. The funeral service for a priest and bishop will have several readings from the Gospels, to indicate the importance of the Gospel to their ministry.

Finally, I want to make clear that the reading of the gospel each week is the most important part of the liturgy of the word prior to the Eucharist and most often, the person preaching will use the gospel for the basis of the sermon, homily or reflection.

I carry the Gospel back out during the procession leaving after service. The reason I take the Gospel book with me is to symbolize taking the word out into the world to share with others and to lead those in church to do the same. We are all called to share the good news in our daily life.

God Bless,

Dcn. Keith