Last Sunday we had a close look at the Eucharist and the way our liturgy seeks to highlight the sense of Jesus' presence with us in communion. The way we "treat" the bread and wine - the kind of implements it is stored in, the words and actions of the priest and pastoral assistants, the words and actions of the people receiving communion - are all "outward, visible signs of an inward, invisible grace." Its awe-inspiring to think these ways of "doing" communion have been passed down to us from the very earliest Christians. Jesus himself may not have had an altar with a silver chalice but he did break bread, share it and pass round a cup of wine, in the Jewish tradition, much as we still do in the Eucharist today.
Perhaps this "eucharistic model" of revealing our faith in Jesus' presence by our words and actions can be applied to all areas of life!?
Okay, Stuart, not quite sure what you're getting at with that last sentence...but I'll kick off the discussion about the eucharist in general (unless there are some posts still to be processed). In the Anglican Church the Eucharist is a great way for our Christian community to come together to celebrate and join with Christ and say 'I'm sorry, please forgive me' to God and to each other. I believe that the bread and the wine are not the be all and end all to forgiveness and healing, as God can heal and forgive us in everyday life if we seek Him. But I believe that also recognising that the symbolism of food is important. Jesus often discussed stuff with people over a meal. The symbol of food and drink as our basic needs to celebrate at the climax of our service in dedication to Christ and what he did for us is an amazing experience. God through Christ gave us a meal we could do to celebrate what Christ did on earth. We could even go to the extent to say that the eucharist is something quite environmental - we rely on the earth for the bread and wine and God created it. Communion is great wherever or whenever it's done - I often feel that church isn't church without communion as a body of Christ. The Anglican Church and its liturgy have a great focus on the eucharist and I think that it is a great sacred part of the service.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of revealing our faith by words and actions - definitely should be all areas of our life. God is life and our life should be dedicated to our Creator. Every part. However God calls us to do that.
-Stanley Dunwell, St Mary's
We're heading off for our overseas trip tomorrow - and will make sure that we check in on the parish blog each week. So please keep up the news and snippets for us. Best wishes to everyone,
ReplyDeletethe Miles family.
"Perhaps this "eucharistic model" of revealing our faith in Jesus' presence by our words and actions can be applied to all areas of life!?"
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely it can! And should! And must if we are to call ourselves disciples of Christ!
For me, the eucharist is the whole game.
If we can grasp the simple miracle of meeting, recognising and honouring Christ at His table in the theatre of the liturgy, then we can appreciate the simple miracle and the presence of Christ in the worldly sharing of a meal, a cup of tea and biscuit, a cold pint at a pub or a cigarette between strangers on a street corner.
A person on the streets asking us to spare some change may very well be looking to feed a personal adddiction, but they are also reaching out from the deepest part of their humanity to the deepest part of ours in saying, "Please share what you have with me."
I reckon any such opportunity, for a Christian living "eucharistically", to share is joyful...as Christ shared everything he had with us.
I feel abit the same Stan - that a service isn't quite the same without communion. It's a very central part for me, and not just because it means the service is nearly over! (all the hard parts, you know, having to listen, are finished with!)I love the way we do it at St Mary's - gathering around the table to share a meal. I like being able to see people's faces around me - people i have come to know. It's my parish family, and its always nice to have a few guests at the table too!
ReplyDeleteHelena.
Sharing a meal as a celebration seems to be a common ground for a lot of culture / faiths. it is a way of "leveling" people. Doesn't matter if you are rich/poor/tall/short/large/small etc.. we all need sustenance. For us a Christians - our needs are both physical and spiritual - and so both needs are met at the one sitting. I think gathering around the table to share in a meal just as Christ did, helps us to remember that he to was born of flesh and bone as one of us, and needed the physical sustenance, as well as reminding us of our need for spiritual sustenance. Blessing our meal with grace is another way of remembering where our Spiritual sustenance comes from, and giving thanks for the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made. Being social creatures, we are drawn together to share physical meals, and so as with going to church each week, we are drawn together for our spiritual meal.
ReplyDeleteAlan Raycraft
One of the things that really "grabs" me in the Eucharist is that important moment when the bread is fractured. Mostly, you can hear it 'crack' and that to me is the sound of the Holy Spirit breaking through. The other is when the bread and wine are held up. I get this amazing feeling inside of me at these times that I cannot express. I am drawn to the Eucharist, to be fed and my thirst quenched Spiritually. Sometimes, you'll even see me gasp after I swallow the wine and feel both going into my being.
ReplyDeleteThis is the feeling that I take out with me into the community.
- Jill.
Some years ago I was in Eucla where a group of local Christians had gathered with a visiting priest to share a meal of cold chicken and salad washed down with cans of beer. The whole meal developed into a Eucharist service with the eating interspersed with readings, prayers, etc., just as if we were in a proper church. Chicken legs and beer may seem an odd substitute for communion wafers and wine; but it all seemed more realistic and probably a lot closer to how that very first communion was conducted. Certainly it was different, but, in its way, very moving.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the population of Eucla is about 35 (including children) and there were 5 adult locals at this meal - a roll-up of almost 15% of the population. Imagine if a city church got 15% of its local population to attend. Wow!!
Filson Beckett