"Smells and bells" enhance worship

The bell may be a small hand bell or set of bells, or a gong rung with a clapper, or the tower bell of the church. The term is based on the practice of ringing the bell three times during the time when the bread and wine are consecrated.

The practice of accompanying the consecration with bells dates from the fifteenth century. Since the practice emphasizes certain elements of the Eucharistic prayer more than others, some prefer to ring the bell only after the conclusion of the Eucharistic prayer, including the great Amen. At St. Barnabas, the Sanctus bell is also sounded to indicate to worshipers that the service is about to begin, and then we rise for the processional hymn. Smells and bells add to the sensory experience of worship and draw us closer to God.

For Christians today, incense is associated mainly with prayer, as Rev 8:3-4 suggests. When burned or heated, usually over charcoal, certain woods and solidified resins give off a fragrant smoke. Both the materials and the smoke are called incense. Incense was widely used in Judaism and other cultures of the ancient world as a means of sacrifice, purification, and veneration. Frankincense or pure incense, the resin of certain trees, was among the gifts brought by the Magi to the young child Christ (Mt 2:11).

Incense is burned in a thurible, an ornate metal(usually brass) container with a removable lid on a chain. Orthodox thuribles have bells on the chains to add an auditory experience when the is swung to emit smoke. St. Barnabas' thurible has bells. Thuribles are carried by a thurifer, who leads the processional. The bishop or priest will cense (purify) the altar prior to the Eucharistic prayer by walking around it making three short swings of the thurible at the corners and center. The thurifer then censes the altar party (clergy and acolytes). After that the thurifer walks to the front of the congregation (standing), bows and censes the congregation. The people bow(out of respect) in return. This is called "censing the faithful."

Regular use of incense became a part of worship in the fourth century. Thereafter incense was burned at several points in the Daily Office and the Eucharist, and extensively in eastern churches. An opening for Evening Prayer in the Book of Common Prayer is "Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice" (Ps 141:2) (BCP, pp. 61, 115). The BCP states that incense may be used during the singing of Phos hilaron in the "Order of Worship for the Evening" (p. 143), and during the covering of the altar in the "Consecration of a Church." There are congregations where incense is used at the Easter Vigil and other major feasts, and some parishes use it regularly on Sunday. At St. Barnabas, smells and bells are used for the High Holy days of the church year, for visits of the bishop, and on special occasions. Come have a listen on Easter-April 4th @ 10am. We'll have our smells and bells on and will be waiting for you.