Worship, Revised and Expanded Edition: Reformed according to Scripture

by Hughes Oliphant Old

For Knox, as for the English Puritans, an important part of the sign was the actual breaking of the bread, the pouring out of the wine, and actually sitting about the table. In fact Scottish churches were often built in such a way that the congregation sat around three sides of the table. When the congregation had received the bread and wine, there was a prayer of thanksgiving for the sacrament in which the worshipers dedicated themselves to live in praise to God and love toward their neighbors. This was followed by singing a psalm of thanksgiving. Psalm 103 is specifically indicated. In the course of Scottish liturgical history the use of this psalm became almost invariable. The great emphasis Knox put on the eucharistic aspects of the service is clear. Knox was very conscious that the Gospels tell us that when Jesus took the bread and wine, he gave thanks.