An Interesting Liturgy

[Polycarp1]

Last night a small group at our church looked at a Eucharistic Liturgy adapted from the liturgy used by the Iona Community in Scotland. (The particular version we used was adapted by the Horizon Community in Hendersonville, NC, which is connected with the Institute for Servant Leadership.)

I thought it might be interesting to quote some parts of it for discussion and critique here.

[Polycarp1]

We believe in Jesus Christ,
son of the one God,
maker and sustainer of earth, sea and sky,
born of Mary's womb,
faithful to the God of Abraham and Sarah.
Jesus healed the sick,
served the poor
and proclaimed heaven on Earth.
Condemned by the religious,
crucified by the state,
He died,
but transformed even death
and rose to life everlasting.
He blessed the disciples with his Holy Spirt
and sent them forth, east and west, north and south.
We commit ourselves to Jesus,
to one another as sisters and brothers,
and to his mission in the world,
in the grace of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

[Polycarp1]

Leader: Among friends, gathered round a table,
Jesus took bread, and, having blessed it,
He broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying
"This is my body which is given for you."

In the same way he took wine
And, having given thanks, he poured it out
And gave the cup to his disciples, saying
"This cup is the new relationship with God,
Sealed with my blood. Take this and share it."

Following now Jesus's example, we take this bread and this wine, the ordinary things of this world through which God will bless us. As Jesus offered thanks for the gifts of the earth, let us also celebrate God's goodness.

All: Blessed are you, O God, for you have brought forth bread from the earth.
Blessed are you, O God, for you ahve created the furit of the vine.
In the beginning you watered the earth, thatr man and woman might have food and drink.
You gave to your servant Sarah bread to strengthen her family on their journey, and wine to make them glad.
You called Moses and his people out of bondage, and refreshed them with food in the wilderness.
You gave Mary, Joseph, and Jesus their daily bread to share.
And here at your table you offer us bread and wine for the journey
To nourish us as sons and daughters.
And so with all our sisters and brothers,
Before us and beside us,
We join in praise of your unending greatness.

Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, present with us now,
As we do here what you did in an upstairs room,
Breath your Spirit upon us
And upon this bread and this wine,
That they may be heaven's food and drink for us.
Renewing, sustaining and making us whole,
Loving and caring in the world.

[CaDan]

Sounds good to me.

For aesthetic purposes only, I would change the first lines in the last portion of the Eucharistic Prayer from

"Lord Jesus Christ, Present with us now,
As we do here what you did in an upstairs room,"

To:

"Lord Jesus Christ, be present with us now,
And as you did for your friends and disciples then,"

It brings the friends and disciples theme from the first stanza back in.

[CaDan]

In general, I am for replacing the term "disciples" with the term "friends" as much as possible.

[nyj]

For aesthetic purposes only, I would change the first lines in the last portion of the Eucharistic Prayer from

"Lord Jesus Christ, present with us now,
As we do here what you did in an upstairs room,"

To:

"Lord Jesus Christ, be present with us now,
And as you did for your friends and disciples then,"

It brings the friends and disciples theme from the first stanza back in.
However, since there are already two (or more) gathered in His name, He already is present. There is no need to request His presence at this point.

[CaDan]

But it's always nice to ask! :)

[Polycarp1]

But it's always nice to ask! :)
Exactly! Jesus taught us to say, "Give us this day our daily bread" -- not because God won't unless we ask, but as a way of reminding ourselves that all good things come from Him, and He provides for us.

[Buttermilk]

We believe in Jesus Christ,
son of the one God,
maker and sustainer of earth, sea and sky,
born of Mary's womb,
faithful to the God of Abraham and Sarah.
Jesus healed the sick,
served the poor
and proclaimed heaven on Earth.
Condemned by the religious,
crucified by the state,
He died,
but transformed even death
and rose to life everlasting.
He blessed the disciples with his Holy Spirt
and sent them forth, east and west, north and south.
We commit ourselves to Jesus,
to one another as sisters and brothers,
and to his mission in the world,
in the grace of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
:prayer:

[Treasure the Questions]

I find myself very much in tune with the Iona Community's way of seeing things. It was great to hear John Bell speak twice at Greenbelt this past weekend. I enjoyed Wildgoose Worship on Saturday night - and it wasn't too much of an ordeal for my husband. He mostly just listened to us sing, but it was a soothing sound. I bought a Wildgoose CD, which I'm really enjoying listening to, it continues to affirm me, as Greenbelt most certainly did, and helps sooth my nerves when the teenage son frazzles them.

As to CaDan's point,
"Lord Jesus Christ, Present with us now,
As we do here what you did in an upstairs room,"

To:

"Lord Jesus Christ, be present with us now,
And as you did for your friends and disciples then,"
That does also change the meaning. The original words confirm Christ's presence is amongst us and that we are carrying on a tradition started by Jesus. Iona tend to be focused on affirmation, which is why they almost certainly chose those words very carefully.

Not that there is anything wrong with asking, or being thankful.

Disciples suggests a more radical lifestyle than friends. While Iona is an inclusive community with a theology that some might consider liberal in places, they don't offer an "anodine gospel" or an easy option by any stretch of the imagination. They call us to be involved in the world and to put right injustices etc.

Perhaps that's why I continue to hesitate about becoming an Associate Member - I'm not sure I'm up to it.:(

Karin

[Polycarp1]

This was also from the liturgy we did, but whether or not any element of it is used at Iona I don't know. It's a re-translation into English of a free translation of the Lord's Prayer into Maori by the Church of New Zealand, which is used in their prayer book. You may notice some concepts that are not quite "right" -- but it provokes one to think about what one says.


Eternal spirit,
Earth-maker, pain-bearer, life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in Whom is heaven:
The halllowing of Your Name echo through the universe!
The way of Your justice be followed by the peoples of the Earth!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on Earth!
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials to great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
Now and forever. Amen.

[Mustaphile]

....commonwealth of...

This has a very British flavour about it. :)

-edit-


With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials to great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
Now and forever. Amen.


This last part is a stirring little section..I like it. :)

[Polycarp1]

I think "commonwealth" was chosen because "kingdom" -- which of course means God's Lordship of our persons, not "governmental entity" has thrust-upon-us/not-chosen implications for most modern people, where "commonwealth" indicates our own assent to His Kingdom and His Lordship.

[Mustaphile]

I would agree.

[CaDan]

So, Polycarp: Are you actually planning to use this liturgy at your parish?

[Polycarp1]

The Bishop is fairly adamant about using the Prayer Book liturgies (or alternative services authorized by General Convention, if and when) at the primary services. However, we have authorization to use experimental liturgies at alternative services, including our regularly-scheduled First Wednesday healing service of Unction and Eucharist and a third service designed specifically for those who want alternative services. We used this particular service this past Wednesday, commemorating Aidan.

[CaDan]

Some portions of this liturgy sound familiar from my parish, particularly when George says Mass. I wonder if he has read it.

I don't know how we get away with our heavily modified liturgy. For some reason, the Archbishop doesn't seem to mind. :)

[elanor]

I love that prayer, Poly! :) This is the part that especially caught me heart:

The halllowing of Your Name echo through the universe!
The way of Your justice be followed by the peoples of the Earth!

Amen and amen! :clap: