Question of the day ??
I am contemplating celebrating Holy Communion weekly in a new alternative style worship service that I plan starting up in September. My question is this. Is there anything wrong with doing an abbreviated version of the liturgy (maybe giving an invitation and then summing up the Great Thanksgiving in a few short sentences in a prayer)?
In other words, how important is our Communion liturgy?
posted by Greg Hazelrig @ 3:41 AM
6 comments
6 Comments:
The pastor at my parents' church only uses the full liturgy at one of their weekend services. The other three, she gives a beautiful explanation of Communion and then prays over the elements. I think that a congregational and personal understanding of Communion is more important than the specific words. Having said that, I also recognize the comfort may people draw from the traditional liturgy...
Thanks BPwife.
I asked a dear friend who loves liturgy and is a proponent of the traditions of the (C)hurch (as opposed to the traditions of the local church).
He surprised me and said that to the younger generations he saw it as a priority to change for their understanding.
Loosely quoted...sorry Andy if I messed it up.
But what do people think about this?
Greg,
My personal belief is that the "brief" form of the Great Thanksgiving should be used sparingly, but is preferable to just the words of institution.
My congregation was served previously by a pastor who never used any of our liturgy and would spring communion on them twice a year and treated it as an afterthought. When I led the congregation in the Great Thanksgiving my second Sunday here using W&TIII and a form of the Great Thanksgiving offered by the General Board of Discipleship for the Fourth of July, the response was overwhelming. I had people young and old with tears in their eyes, not from anything that I had done, but we experienced the presence of Christ at the table.
The congregation needs to participate in the call and response action of the Great Thanksgiving. If you as the officiant lead with feeling and meaning and teach the importance of the Sacrament then it can become the central part of worhsip that it is meant to be.
As you are preparing for this new service, take a look at come of publications from the Order of St Luke or the Upper Room worship book has some alternate Great Thanksgivings that can be used or adapted to your congregation.
Best Wishes. May God's blessings be upon you and your congregation.
Shalom,
Wayne
I've only served Communion twice, and started with the Great Thanksgiving in Table II.
But I've wondered about the part in the vow of ordination where clergy promise to uphold the liturgy of the UMC. Do we violate it by getting all creative and stuff with Communion?
I have just read your post and I live in England so not sure how relevant you may find this comment. Our previous minister used to vary communion sometimes using the whole liturgy, sometimes some of it and sometimes none andd personally i found this very good. Our ccurrent minister always uses the liturgy and it has become almost mechanical so does nothing for me at all
Greg,
We typically use the regular liturgy for the monthly communion. About once every 3 months, or so, we use the sung version of it, and I really like that. In our healing or other special services the pastors will cut the liturgy down to bare essentials. I guess that I'm saying, mix it up, keep it fresh.
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