SUMMARY

1. The Offertory is that part of the Eucharist when the bread and wine are brought to the altar and offered to God.

2. As food and drink keep us alive, and are the first things we work for, so the bread and wine represent our life and work, what we are and what we do.  With the bread and wine, therefore, we also offer ourselves and our lives to belong to God.

3. St Augustine the Great reminds us that at the Offertory we are on the altar, and we are in the chalice.

References

1. ©The Archbishops’ Council (2000) Common Worship.  The Order for the Celebration of Holy Communion also called The Eucharist and The Lord's Supper. Order One.  Available from:
http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/liturgy/commonworship/texts/hc/orderone.html  (Accessed 25 August 2010) (Internet)

2. ©The Archbishops’ Council (2000) Common Worship.  The Order for the Celebration of Holy Communion also called The Eucharist and The Lord's Supper. Order One.  Available from:
http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/liturgy/commonworship/texts/hc/orderone.html  (Accessed 25 August 2010) (Internet)

3. Temple, W. (1950) Readings in St John’s Gospel (First and Second Series), London: Macmillan and Co Limited.

4. Wright, T. (2004) John for everyone.  Part 2,  London: SPCK.

5. Augustine the Great (5th century) Sermon 229, cited by Dix. G. (1945) The shape of the liturgy, Westminster: Dacre Press.