sentence: Then we all rise together and pray , and , as we before said , when our prayer is ended , bread and wine and water are brought , and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings , according to his ability , and the people assent , saying Amen ; and there is a distribution to each , and a participation of that over which thanks have been given , and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons .
question: who _ _ participated _ _ _ ?
answers: the people