Wow! We had a much expanded group with many new faces. Why don't you come and join us this week? We will start the study at 5:30 and then there will be dinner at 6:30. Rumor has it pot roast is on the menu this Wednesday...
Because there were so many new folks our Fearless Leader did a great job of recapping sacraments in general and also items particular to United Methodists. We recalled that a sacrament is an outward sign of an inward grace, the work of God within humans, and through them God discloses things that are beyond human capacity to understand through reason alone. Some faiths observe sacraments ( the action of God) while others observe ordinances, which are remembrances commanded by God but in which humans are the actors.
That moved us into some of the different understandings of the elements - the bread and wine. Some faiths believe in transubstantiation - the actual physical properties of the bread and wine are changed to be the body and blood of Christ. For some, mainly those who follow ordinances, the elements are a memorial representation. As United Methodists, we fall in the middle. Our liturgy and beliefs tie us to the Bible stories and we call the living Christ to us through the elements. If Christ was merely human then the most we could do would be to remember him, as a memory. Because we believe Christ is divine, we call the living Christ to us.
In doing so we remember not only what God has done in the Biblical narrative, but what God is doing for us here and now. We remind ourselves of the New Covenant - the indwelling of God in our hearts, the unmerited grace that is extended to us - and we offer ourselves as "... a holy and living sacrifice..." What, exactly, does that mean? That we sacrifice our will for the will of God? And is there a right or a wrong way to take communion? Sometimes we use intinction, or individual cups, or a community cup. As United Methodists we only use grape juice, some faiths only use wine. In our church we have used wafers, crackers, bread cubes, and individually torn bread. In some churches you walk to the front, in some you kneel at an altar or rail, in others communion is taken while seated in your pew or chair. The United Methodist tradition of celebrating communion once a month, or even once a quarter, grew out of the reliance on circuit riders, who were only with congregations on a limited basis. John Wesley called on us to celebrate communion as often as possible, and some of the newer congregations celebrate communion every week. If you would like to research the United Methodist understanding a good place to start is here: http://www.gatewayumc.org/pdf/hcfinal2.pdf
We closed questioning in what form is communion most meaningful to you? And therein, my friends, lies the benefit of attending an organized study like this. Clearly there are many ways to celebrate communion, and many understandings of its purpose, but the big question is what does it mean for you? Joining in a class like this affords me (or sometimes forces me) to take at least one hour a week to think about important questions of faith. When I recite the liturgy do I really know and feel the sacrifice for me? Do I really comprehend the magnitude of the gift of grace, for me? Does it really matter what form the sacrament takes, or is celebrating the sacrament and feeling and understanding it on the deepest levels what is important?
One of my favorite Wesley quotes is, "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity." Our emphasis is on an individualized understanding of and relationship with God within the framework of the essentials. Each one of us is shaped by our own unique experiences and history, so how can we experience and understand God in the same way as our neighbors? This is why I am a United Methodist. Not because my Grandmother said so, or because it is the church of my childhood (even though it is). In this church I can develop and grow and have a unique understanding of faith in the non-essentials, know that I have a community of faith that is firmly rooted and bound together by the essentials, and we reach out to all in charity. And in closing, another favorite Wesley-ism, "Though we may not think alike, may we not all love alike?"
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Breaking Bread
First, the invitation. We had great discussion, but even better dinner together. Why not plan to join us next week? Discussion at 5:30, dinner at 6:30 so those of us who sing in the choir can make 7:00 rehearsal. Come on, it's fun! And it means one less dinner to plan and prepare!
We started out last week by looking at the sacraments, learning what a sacrament is, and this week we moved on to focus on one of the sacraments. So why do we celebrate communion? What's with the different names for it - The Lord's Supper, Holy Communion, Eucharist. And as United Methodists, what are some of the key points in which we believe?
Nuts and bolts - we learned that the name Lord's Supper references 1 Corinthians chapter 11:20, the last supper Jesus celebrated with the Disciples. Thank you, Paul, for the name. Holy Communion emphasizes the coming together in community of people with people and the people with God. And, finally, Eucharist is from the Greek for thanksgiving, or gratitude. Luke 22:17-19 describes Jesus giving thanks at The Last Supper. United Methodists need an ordained elder or commissioned local pastor to bless the elements and to pray the epiclesis - the invocation of the Holy Spirit in the liturgy. That would be the part that goes, "Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood..." And we settled on the thought that Jesus chose common elements, bread and wine, because they would be consumed regularly by everyone. That makes communion and relationship with God open and available to everyone.
But is there a danger in using common elements? Does regular celebration with common elements lead to a mundane, rote ceremony? The United Methodist Church moved the liturgy from the back of the old hymnals to the front of the new hymnals and even created a document - This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Communion - to highlight and emphasize the importance and significance of Holy Communion. Part of me has to wonder what spurred the creation of that document. I know that I sometimes just go through the motions, having memorized the congregational part of the liturgy some time ago. It becomes an act, a work of man, something we "should" do. And therein lies the benefit for me of this study. It is renewing my awe, understanding, and wonder that Jesus died for my sins, that he loved me enough to do that. Really? Me?! I grew up in a hell-fire-brimstone church and internalized the message very early on - I was not and am not worthy, never will be. So really, there is a mistake. That "everyone" reads "everyone except you" on my pages.
As United Methodists we celebrate an open table, a table that is open even to children. That means you don't have to be United Methodist, you don't have to be a member of our congregation, you don't have to be "good enough" in order to come to the table. Our liturgy says, "Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another." His table. That is the most important point for me, remembering that it is the Lord's table and He says who is welcome. And if God finds me good enough to die for my sins, to work in my life, to offer me undeserved grace that on my own I could never earn, then the least I can do is use the physical act of communion to remember all that.
For next week's class we will start by thinking this week on another part of the liturgy of communion. It is:
"And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith."
What does it mean and how do we offer ourselves as a holy and living sacrifice?
Please be sure to check in here for notices about possible time changes for the class. In this very busy season there is a great demand on our facilities, and we may have to dance quickly. We will post any changes to our regular schedule as quickly as possible.
We started out last week by looking at the sacraments, learning what a sacrament is, and this week we moved on to focus on one of the sacraments. So why do we celebrate communion? What's with the different names for it - The Lord's Supper, Holy Communion, Eucharist. And as United Methodists, what are some of the key points in which we believe?
Nuts and bolts - we learned that the name Lord's Supper references 1 Corinthians chapter 11:20, the last supper Jesus celebrated with the Disciples. Thank you, Paul, for the name. Holy Communion emphasizes the coming together in community of people with people and the people with God. And, finally, Eucharist is from the Greek for thanksgiving, or gratitude. Luke 22:17-19 describes Jesus giving thanks at The Last Supper. United Methodists need an ordained elder or commissioned local pastor to bless the elements and to pray the epiclesis - the invocation of the Holy Spirit in the liturgy. That would be the part that goes, "Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood..." And we settled on the thought that Jesus chose common elements, bread and wine, because they would be consumed regularly by everyone. That makes communion and relationship with God open and available to everyone.
But is there a danger in using common elements? Does regular celebration with common elements lead to a mundane, rote ceremony? The United Methodist Church moved the liturgy from the back of the old hymnals to the front of the new hymnals and even created a document - This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Communion - to highlight and emphasize the importance and significance of Holy Communion. Part of me has to wonder what spurred the creation of that document. I know that I sometimes just go through the motions, having memorized the congregational part of the liturgy some time ago. It becomes an act, a work of man, something we "should" do. And therein lies the benefit for me of this study. It is renewing my awe, understanding, and wonder that Jesus died for my sins, that he loved me enough to do that. Really? Me?! I grew up in a hell-fire-brimstone church and internalized the message very early on - I was not and am not worthy, never will be. So really, there is a mistake. That "everyone" reads "everyone except you" on my pages.
As United Methodists we celebrate an open table, a table that is open even to children. That means you don't have to be United Methodist, you don't have to be a member of our congregation, you don't have to be "good enough" in order to come to the table. Our liturgy says, "Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another." His table. That is the most important point for me, remembering that it is the Lord's table and He says who is welcome. And if God finds me good enough to die for my sins, to work in my life, to offer me undeserved grace that on my own I could never earn, then the least I can do is use the physical act of communion to remember all that.
For next week's class we will start by thinking this week on another part of the liturgy of communion. It is:
"And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith."
What does it mean and how do we offer ourselves as a holy and living sacrifice?
Please be sure to check in here for notices about possible time changes for the class. In this very busy season there is a great demand on our facilities, and we may have to dance quickly. We will post any changes to our regular schedule as quickly as possible.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Giving Up
It is Ash Wednesday, and as I mentioned last week we will not be meeting tonight, but we will be breaking bread together and celebrating a sacrament - Holy Communion. I thought about not posting this week, but it turns out I didn't have to look far for inspiration. I got the proverbial 2X4 to my head, and here is how the story goes:
I was talking to a single friend this week. She was excited that she had met a really nice guy a couple of weeks ago and looking forward to getting to know him. They had met for coffee a couple of times, chatted online, a casual and easy relationship so far. Then, out of the blue, he tells her that he just doesn't see them dating. Basically, in not so many words, he kindly told her that she just wasn't Christian enough for him.
Those of you who know me probably saw the hackles go up on the back of my neck, my lips curl back and heard that low growl beginning to rumble. That's what happened in my mind, so that the wolf in me could hunt him down and make him pay for hurting my friend. Wow! That is a really graphic image, probably the result of our vampire-werewolf obsessed culture. I suppressed the urges and tried to counsel my friend, telling her she really didn't want to be with a guy who made a judgment like that after just a couple of weeks. He probably needed to be black and white, strict, dogmatic and narrow minded. By the time we finished I think I had her thanking her lucky stars, seeing it as a good thing, and yet she was still willing to pursue a friendship with him.
I have to admit I was feeling pretty proud of myself. I had helped my friend over a rough spot. I knew this guy must be a lousy human being to be so mean to her. After all, who thinks they are a better Christian than the next guy? And right about then is when it happened. If you had been standing anywhere near me you would have seen me stagger when that darn hunk of wood caught me upside of the head. Thwack! I was being just as judgmental, and in some ways even meaner, than he was! Man! I really do hate it when my own words are wielding a 2x4 and looking for me.
How many times have I said that I believe in a God of change, who constantly reaches out to each one of us in ways that we will be able to understand, in ways that facilitate and encourage our response. So, if I really do believe that then why wouldn't God have reached out to this fellow in such a way that he will be able to be in relationship with God based on his own unique experiences? It isn't that his way is better or worse than mine, just that it's different. And that different just didn't mesh with my friend's understanding. (Sigh) Yep. There's a bite mark on my behind, too.
In the children's sermon this week our student pastor talked about fasting, or giving something up for Lent. As Methodists we don't always follow that practice but she encouraged all of us to try it. I had planned to give up my current go-to-when-I'm-stressed-food, thinking it would force me to actually deal with my feelings and help with my weight loss journey. But after the head-thwacking knocked some sense into me, my mind cleared and I realized I had other work to do. Then it came to me. I pulled out the purple bracelet and put it back on my wrist. A group of us had tried the Complaint Free World challenge a couple of years ago, and it felt like it was time to remind myself what it was all about. The challenge is to not complain, gossip or criticize for 21 consecutive days. On the way to 21 days, each time you catch yourself complaining, gossiping or criticizing you must switch the bracelet to the opposite wrist and start over again. It is tedious, frustrating and quite an informative exercise. if you would like more information check out this link:
http://www.acomplaintfreeworld.org/
Next time you see me I will have the purple bracelet on, and I will be trying to remember that different is not better or worse, in and of itself; that God reaches out to each one of us in unique ways; and that during this season of Lent I really need to work on contemplating more than just the daily details of life. That way I will be able to see the forest and the trees. And dodge the next 2x4.
I was talking to a single friend this week. She was excited that she had met a really nice guy a couple of weeks ago and looking forward to getting to know him. They had met for coffee a couple of times, chatted online, a casual and easy relationship so far. Then, out of the blue, he tells her that he just doesn't see them dating. Basically, in not so many words, he kindly told her that she just wasn't Christian enough for him.
Those of you who know me probably saw the hackles go up on the back of my neck, my lips curl back and heard that low growl beginning to rumble. That's what happened in my mind, so that the wolf in me could hunt him down and make him pay for hurting my friend. Wow! That is a really graphic image, probably the result of our vampire-werewolf obsessed culture. I suppressed the urges and tried to counsel my friend, telling her she really didn't want to be with a guy who made a judgment like that after just a couple of weeks. He probably needed to be black and white, strict, dogmatic and narrow minded. By the time we finished I think I had her thanking her lucky stars, seeing it as a good thing, and yet she was still willing to pursue a friendship with him.
I have to admit I was feeling pretty proud of myself. I had helped my friend over a rough spot. I knew this guy must be a lousy human being to be so mean to her. After all, who thinks they are a better Christian than the next guy? And right about then is when it happened. If you had been standing anywhere near me you would have seen me stagger when that darn hunk of wood caught me upside of the head. Thwack! I was being just as judgmental, and in some ways even meaner, than he was! Man! I really do hate it when my own words are wielding a 2x4 and looking for me.
How many times have I said that I believe in a God of change, who constantly reaches out to each one of us in ways that we will be able to understand, in ways that facilitate and encourage our response. So, if I really do believe that then why wouldn't God have reached out to this fellow in such a way that he will be able to be in relationship with God based on his own unique experiences? It isn't that his way is better or worse than mine, just that it's different. And that different just didn't mesh with my friend's understanding. (Sigh) Yep. There's a bite mark on my behind, too.
In the children's sermon this week our student pastor talked about fasting, or giving something up for Lent. As Methodists we don't always follow that practice but she encouraged all of us to try it. I had planned to give up my current go-to-when-I'm-stressed-food, thinking it would force me to actually deal with my feelings and help with my weight loss journey. But after the head-thwacking knocked some sense into me, my mind cleared and I realized I had other work to do. Then it came to me. I pulled out the purple bracelet and put it back on my wrist. A group of us had tried the Complaint Free World challenge a couple of years ago, and it felt like it was time to remind myself what it was all about. The challenge is to not complain, gossip or criticize for 21 consecutive days. On the way to 21 days, each time you catch yourself complaining, gossiping or criticizing you must switch the bracelet to the opposite wrist and start over again. It is tedious, frustrating and quite an informative exercise. if you would like more information check out this link:
http://www.acomplaintfreeworld.org/
Next time you see me I will have the purple bracelet on, and I will be trying to remember that different is not better or worse, in and of itself; that God reaches out to each one of us in unique ways; and that during this season of Lent I really need to work on contemplating more than just the daily details of life. That way I will be able to see the forest and the trees. And dodge the next 2x4.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Sacred Sacraments
Housekeeping first - next week (March 9) we will not meet for Bible study, but we will meet at 6:00 for a light supper followed by Ash Wednesday service at 6:45. Join us for either or both. We will resume our meetings on the 16th at 5:30.
This week we began a new study on the sacraments. OK, I knew that baptism and communion are the only sacraments we celebrate in the United Methodist Church, but exactly what does sacrament mean? Do you know what it means? This study will focus on what we believe as United Methodists, so we focused on Wesley's definition of a sacrament as the outward sign of an inward grace. That generated a whole new round of questions. What is grace? Why do we need it? How do we receive it? What does it mean for me? I'll do my best to summarize our discussion and where we landed, and invite my cohorts to correct me when needed. (So be sure to read the comments to see what I got wrong!)
Grace is the unmerited favor of God, or as Brueggeman said, "Grace is grace precisely because it cannot be earned." As Methodists we believe there are three kinds of grace - Prevenient (the grace that comes before everything); Justifying (the grace that allows us to realize our need for grace and internalize that need); Sanctifying (the process and journey of salvation, or as Wesley said "...going on to perfection..."). We need grace because of original sin, because we are all separated from God, because we have free will and God wants us to choose God. But we cannot choose God without an invitation (prevenient grace). When we choose God (justifying grace) we respond to God's invitation and begin the journey (sanctifying grace) to salvation. Kind of a linear progression, but we did spend some time discussing the fact that none of our journeys are linear. There are always setbacks, jumps forward. It's life, and life is messy, but the good news is that it is part of the journey. It is OK to feel like you are apart from God, even when you know in your heart that you are not. Isn't that what happened to Jesus in the Garden?
There are means of grace. These are things that we CAN do to participate with the act of grace in our lives. What are they? Prayer, repentance, worship, Bible study (individual or group), fasting (that is from Wesley and clearly something I have never done), being in community with other believers, the sacraments. So this isn't a get-out-of-jail-free card, we are required to participate.
The sacraments are visible reminders for us of the action of God in our lives. Some denominations celebrate ordinances instead of sacraments, because in their traditions it is the people doing the action. A sacrament requires the belief that God is the actor, apart from anything we do, by grace not by works. Baptism is the work of God and offering of grace to that individual. Communion is the ongoing offering of grace and invitation from God to be in relationship with each one of us - partaking is our response and acceptance.
I don't know about you, but I confess to not having a complete understanding of the sacraments and just going through the motions. I attend service and participate in communion every month, but it has become rote, routine, regurgitation of the memorization. When we have baptism, it is kind of the same thing, only since they are less frequent I do pay a little more attention. I think this study will be good for me, to renew and deepen my understanding of the sacraments will take me a little farther forward on the path I am on, which I really hope is sanctifying grace. But I'm still figuring that one out. Why don't you join us?
This week we began a new study on the sacraments. OK, I knew that baptism and communion are the only sacraments we celebrate in the United Methodist Church, but exactly what does sacrament mean? Do you know what it means? This study will focus on what we believe as United Methodists, so we focused on Wesley's definition of a sacrament as the outward sign of an inward grace. That generated a whole new round of questions. What is grace? Why do we need it? How do we receive it? What does it mean for me? I'll do my best to summarize our discussion and where we landed, and invite my cohorts to correct me when needed. (So be sure to read the comments to see what I got wrong!)
Grace is the unmerited favor of God, or as Brueggeman said, "Grace is grace precisely because it cannot be earned." As Methodists we believe there are three kinds of grace - Prevenient (the grace that comes before everything); Justifying (the grace that allows us to realize our need for grace and internalize that need); Sanctifying (the process and journey of salvation, or as Wesley said "...going on to perfection..."). We need grace because of original sin, because we are all separated from God, because we have free will and God wants us to choose God. But we cannot choose God without an invitation (prevenient grace). When we choose God (justifying grace) we respond to God's invitation and begin the journey (sanctifying grace) to salvation. Kind of a linear progression, but we did spend some time discussing the fact that none of our journeys are linear. There are always setbacks, jumps forward. It's life, and life is messy, but the good news is that it is part of the journey. It is OK to feel like you are apart from God, even when you know in your heart that you are not. Isn't that what happened to Jesus in the Garden?
There are means of grace. These are things that we CAN do to participate with the act of grace in our lives. What are they? Prayer, repentance, worship, Bible study (individual or group), fasting (that is from Wesley and clearly something I have never done), being in community with other believers, the sacraments. So this isn't a get-out-of-jail-free card, we are required to participate.
The sacraments are visible reminders for us of the action of God in our lives. Some denominations celebrate ordinances instead of sacraments, because in their traditions it is the people doing the action. A sacrament requires the belief that God is the actor, apart from anything we do, by grace not by works. Baptism is the work of God and offering of grace to that individual. Communion is the ongoing offering of grace and invitation from God to be in relationship with each one of us - partaking is our response and acceptance.
I don't know about you, but I confess to not having a complete understanding of the sacraments and just going through the motions. I attend service and participate in communion every month, but it has become rote, routine, regurgitation of the memorization. When we have baptism, it is kind of the same thing, only since they are less frequent I do pay a little more attention. I think this study will be good for me, to renew and deepen my understanding of the sacraments will take me a little farther forward on the path I am on, which I really hope is sanctifying grace. But I'm still figuring that one out. Why don't you join us?
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