Instructional Eucharist

[benedictine]

Our interim Rector is going to do "Instructional Eucharists" for the next three weeks. What are they?

[AveMaria]

I remember doing one of those in my Confirmation classes, about a hundred years ago. ;)

Basically, we had a small group, around a conference table, and we all had a Prayer Book, and we went thru the liturgy bit by bit, pausing for questions and explanations - a lot of "What does this mean?" and "Why do we do this and not this?" and "What about ___, which is what we used to do in my ____ church?". Lot of discussion about symbolism and why water is added to the wine, etc.

It was actually quite interesting.

I'm curious, though - is your interim rector doing instructional Eucharists during Sunday services, or is it offered as part of a class? I can't quite picture it working during a regular service. :scratch:

[benedictine]

He's doing it at our Principle Sunday Service. Three weeks in preparation for Advent.

[Songspinner]

We did something like that durring lent one year. He just picked variouse topics like inceanse, candles, bells and other things we may not know about...pretty interesting stuff

[RobNJ]

Was this for the sermon ?

[Songspinner]

Yep...for a lenten series. We Always do something a little different for Lent, i don't know if this is a comman practice or not. One year we brought in people from the community to talk about their ministries (Habitat for Humantiy, Community housing and a christian Lawyer) and Last year we did a series of talks on the Oxford Movment ( Yaaa Anglo-catholics) and one year for the instructional services...actually come to think of it I think we have done that more then once, with different topics of course!

[chalice_thunder]

Our interim Rector is going to do "Instructional Eucharists" for the next three weeks. What are they?

This is interesting. I'd love to know WHY the interim Rector wants to do this. Does he/she think that your congregation doesn't know enough? Has he/she been with you for a week or two, or several months?

I would also LOVE to hear your take on it after it has happened. Perhaps you can change my mind on the subject. (Read on...)

I am not in favor of "instructed eucharists" generally - although often well-intentioned, I think all the commentary gets in the way of worship...so it's more like school.

THe liturgy is instructive in and of itself, especially if those who are leading (both lay and clergy) will just get out of the way and let it be.

I have come across many clergy who like to force their own personal piety on a congregation. Too many clergy think that they are "in charge" of the entire thing. This is not the genius of our liturgy. Like good jazz, good liturgical leadership flows from one person to another, because it is owned by all...leaders and congregation alike. There's a solid core learning: we gather, hear and respond to the word, pray together, come to the table, and then are sent forth. That is all there is to the basic structure of the eucharist.

When that core is thoroughly a part of the congregation's being, the rest can flow very naturally...preaching styles, music and the arts, reader training, etc. Again, all of this works when personalities get out of the way. The moment any leader shines the light on themselves, the worship of God can quickly dissolve.

Sorry to have rambled on so long. I served in a leadership capacity during 3 interims. None were inspiring. All were more interested in promoting themselves, as was evidenced in the liturgy.

[benedictine]

Well, I don't like the Interim rector as a priest, but I like him as a Person. He a nice guy, but... He cut down on the number of LEMs we use, and cut two of our Acolytes.

He's been with us since the end of Easter Season, a coupe of weeks before Pentecost.

[chalice_thunder]

Well, I don't like the Interim rector as a priest, but I like him as a Person. He a nice guy, but... He cut down on the number of LEMs we use, and cut two of our Acolytes.

He's been with us since the end of Easter Season, a coupe of weeks before Pentecost.

OK - I'm going to try and not be judgmental. But this STINKS! It sounds like clericalism in the extreme. Why in the world would an interim priest CUT lay ministers? (I'll answer that for you: because he wants to keep the power for himself.) Any priest who cuts lay ministry does not understand what baptism means...period.

I pray that you and your congregation will get through this.

[pmcleanj]

So benedictine!

How was the first of your instructional Eucharists? What format did it take?

[benedictine]

It was the sermon. The first non-boring sermon he's had.

[AveMaria]

Have the previous sermons been that dull? :(

[benedictine]

yes.:yawn:

[Songspinner]

so was it worth it and did you learn anything?

[benedictine]

Not a lot, but it was interesting.

[AveMaria]

At least it was interesting and not boring! (But is there anything as dull as a stewardship campaign sermon?)

[benedictine]

At least it was interesting and not boring! (But is there anything as dull as a stewardship campaign sermon?)
Probably Not.;)