WORSHIP IS CENTERED ON GOD’S GIFTS Worship is first of all about what we come to receive from God, secondly about what we offer him. We call this hour the Divine Service – for in it God serves us his saving grace in Christ. It is the chief “family hour” of those baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Justin Martyr describes this gathering as follows: On the day called Sunday… the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read… They next earnestly offer common prayers for themselves, along with the one who has been illuminated and for others everywhere… Then bread and a cup of water mixed with wine are brought… When the president has given thanks and the whole congregation has agreed, those whom we call deacons give to each person present a portion of the consecrated bread and wine/water.. This food we call Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake except those who believe that what we teach is true, and who have received the washing that forgives sins and grants rebirth – and who are living as Christ commanded. We have been taught that the food consecrated by the word of prayer is the flesh and blood of the incarnate Jesus.