The Disciples Eucharist - A Celebration in a Modern Idiom
Composed and Arranged by Kate Wood & Dixie Stephen
for (and with) the 5 p.m. worship community
of Grace Church, Traverse City, Michigan, USA
November 15, 2014
Click here for print ready worship bulletin booklet.
Commentary on the Disciples Service of 2014
The historical exploration of how the Eucharistic
Celebration has evolved in the church paired with our
previous time of cultural exploration of liturgy has resulted
in this Eucharist we are about to celebrate. Taking into
account comments and conversation after each of our
historical services and brief discussions about what people
would like to see in the service, this one began to take shape.
You will see a framework that follows the current service
somewhat closely, because so many people indicated the
fondness they have for the current ritual. At the same time
you will note more of a participatory format for the
congregation that seeks to more fully include the people in
the work of the service. This may be seen as an evolution,
but if you recall some of the early services, it may be seen
somewhat as a return to the early models of fellowship.
There are also elements from the Celtic services of prior
years (thank you Fr.Wally Draeger), since there was some
phrasing from those seemed to speak to relationship with
God more viscerally than other language.
We begin in simple song and praise together (no
separation at the altar) looking to immerse ourselves in the
love and glory of God. The busyness of the world, the
monotony of daily routine, and preoccupation tend to
separate us from the divine. The celebration of the Eucharist
is an interruption to this pattern, calling us instead to
immerse ourselves in God’s love and care. We are reminded
of the presence of God in creation and our place in it. We are
reminded that we were created in love, are dearly loved and
called to love the world.
Through instruction of the Word, we are informed and
further formed so that we can carry the message of our
loving God into the world. The discussion of the bible
readings with the congregants and priest allows us to
struggle more fully with the pertinence of the word in our
lives, rather than simply being told. We are called to be
disciples and priests daily, so instruction and discussion
prepares us more fully for this role.
Prayers of the People come from the people and include a
confession of failure that in our guilt or regret separate us
from one another and God. Prayers and forgiveness
strengthen us and renews our compassion for ourselves and
our world. It is our opportunity to think about where we
missed God in our lives in the previous week and where we
might need God in the coming days. Again we are called
back to relationship through healing Grace.
The passing of the peace may seem like an interruption,
but it is a celebration of the renewal of the Body of Christ. It
is a joyous greeting of each brother and sister of their place
within the Body of Christ and the body of the church.
We send the priest and lay Eucharistic minister to the
altar as our representatives for the consecration ritual.
Praying together we ask for the strength, renewal and
presence for the coming week as God’s representatives in
the world. In receiving and giving the bread and wine we
are reminded that a spark of the divine lives within us and
relationship with God and each other fans the spark into a
flame.
Finally we are sent into the world renewed and strengthened.
We are reunited in holy relationship as people of
God and reminded to share the love of God with the world
through support of each other in daily prayer and service.
Click here for print ready worship bulletin booklet.
No comments:
Post a Comment