Two interesting articles I saw on CNN.com today: First - "Solar Power Makes Tiny Village Beam" - This is story about a village in India that previously without electricity - until just two years ago. Then, a man named Ram, who doesn't have...
Now that I am finally cast-free, I have to begin the oh-so-fun work of packing and making arrangements with movers. I have a moving company lined up, although I am checking out one more company that I just recently had recommend to me. Sorting through...
I recently finished reading Michael Foss's book Power Surge , and have been meaning to write up a review. When I received the church profile for Franklin Lakes, where I will begin September 1st, I was struck in their profile by their statement, "seeking...
I've either read or seen several things lately that deserve a mention, but aren't things I will take the time to review fully. So, here's a brief review of many things: Movies: Evan Almighty - We went to see this as a group from my church...
Well, Camassia, I hate to say "I told you so," but, you know....
here,
here,
here and
here. I won't play the spoiler and give away all the details, like I once did to
Marvin! : ) I'm not completely vindicated; in some ways I am not, but I think my basic premise was vindicated. Thanks for indulging me as I engage in a bit of foolishness! : )
Pastor nightmares. Not nightmares about pastors, no. Some people have these, I'm sure. But I'm talking about nightmares related to the work of being a pastor. I don't usually have nightmares. I didn't even while I was a child have nightmares...
My internet is MIA at my house/church right now, and I'm in the library trying to do everything I might need to do online before I crutch it back out to the car. (6 days to go...) I still have a review or two to write, but for now, for brevity, is...
As I've mentioned, I'm beginning a new appointment on September 1st. Both here in Oneida, and in Franklin Lakes, NJ, congregations are in a time of transition. This is only my second appointment, and so I don't have a lot of experience with...
Here is an excellent sermon on the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) by Rev. Edward Markquart. Markquart's site is a frequent stop in my sermon preparation, and I particularly like this one. My sermon is almost, but not quite yet done. Sometimes I read...
Today, I've reached the breaking point in this whole being in a cast nonsense. I had a lot of running around to do today, after a busy week, and I'm just wiped out. My ankle doesn't hurt - it is the rest of my body that can't wait for...
I've just finished reading Power Surge by Michael Foss, which I'll review later. Foss talks at one point about stewardship and giving in his congregation. He writes, "We no longer ask for annual pledges. We have come to believe that the Holy...
*No, not me. Please, I've only been a pastor for four years. Thankfully, it is a little early to feel burnt-out yet. I have my days, of course, and times when a particular event/person/situation makes me feel a touch of burnout. But I'm still...
If you read this blog regularly you know I'm a huge fan of Jesus Christ Superstar. Here's a YouTube clip of my brother's friend Robert Tucker singing Gethsemane. I don't really like the orchestration on this a lot, and it is too loud Read...
The Many Seasons of Communion
Jonathan’s Journals As a pastor, one of the things that I take great comfort in is that, although I can mess up a sermon, I cannot mess up Holy Communion. Christ has promised to be with us in this holy meal, and nothing I can do or say can keep Christ from fulfilling His promise. Every time we participate in Holy Communion, it is an encounter with God (even if we aren’t always paying close attention).
Although Christ is always present at the Table, it is interesting to see how the shades and emphasis of meaning in this meal can vary according to circumstances, whether it be my own personal life situation, the church’s condition, or the season in the church year. For example, sometimes my situation in life is such that I need the sacrament to give me comfort in a time of grief. What a grace! At other times, the sacrament challenges me to move out of complacency. Also a work of grace! Sometimes, the sacrament just gives me the grace to keep plugging away, staying on the road with Jesus. At other times, it is the reassurance I need to know that Christ is with me. Occasionally, the Holy Spirit even uses this time to convict me of my sin, and show me ways that I need to change or deepen my level of commitment! And of course, this meal is always an offer of forgiveness and a promise of new life.
The emphasis and shades in meaning also change with the seasons of the church year. For example, during Lent, we focus on Jesus’ pilgrimage toward suffering and death. The meal that we remember from the gospels is the Last Supper, immediately before Jesus’ death. We therefore experience Holy Communion as somewhat of a memorial meal. During this penitential season of Lent, it is appropriate to kneel as we receive communion, as a sign of our humility, repentance, and sorrow for our sins. This is one dimension of Holy Communion, experienced not only during Lent, but also in the other penitential season of the church year: Advent. (Just as Lent is preparation for Easter, so Advent is preparation for Christmas. Some of you have noticed that I wear my black robe during these two seasons!)
We experience Holy Communion with a different emphasis during the season of Easter. In Easter, we emphasize the sacrament not as a memorial meal, but as a victory celebration, the first fruits of God’s new creation. The focus is not on Jesus’ death, but on his resurrection. The somber moods of Lent are replaced with the festive celebrations of Easter. During the season of Easter, we emphasize that this meal is an encounter with the living Lord. It is appropriate to receive the sacrament during the season of Easter standing, as a sign of joy and delight. The emphasis is not so much on remembering the past, but on experiencing our Living Lord in the here and now. If the Last Supper is the meal we remember during Lent, the road to Emmaus meal becomes our focus during Easter: when the risen Christ surprises his disciples and overwhelms them with joy.
My general practice is to receive Communion kneeling during penitential seasons like Lent and Advent, and standing during festive seasons like Easter and Christmas. During the “in between times” (like the long season of Pentecost in which we now find ourselves) we generally alternate between standing and kneeling. These are not hard and fast rules, just different ways we can experience the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Communion throughout the church year.
The good news is that whatever the season, whatever the method, whatever the state of mind we are in, the grace of Jesus Christ is always there for us in this holy meal, ministering to us through the Holy Spirit whatever we may need to continue as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, and sanctifying the church as the body of Christ, given for the life of the world.
Update: Read this post please - this article that I was referring to has been removed at the request of the author, who prefers to wait until the full study report is out later this year (I think) to have the conversations taking place. You should read...