Quite some time ago, I was studying some of the practices
of the ancient apostolic church and ran across some of the writings of Justin
Martyr. In his Apology 1.67, he describes just a portion of what took place in
ancient times:
. . . and on the day called Sunday, all who live in
cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of
the apostles or
the writings of the prophets are
read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president
verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. . .
