SACRAMENTSCOMMUNION IN CHRISTIANTRADITION, THEOLOGY AND PRACTICE

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It’s Communion Sunday.Do you know where your parishioners are?

•First Thoughts?•Favorite prayers, hymns,

ways of receiving?•Meaning, purpose?•Expectations, hopes, concerns?•Any reaction to new practices?

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Sacrament as Sign

□ A SIGN: direct, singular meaning

▪ Includes, but is not limited to, ritual sacraments

▪ Points to where God can be found in the world

▪ Affirms that God’s presence is always

A sacrament is a Signof the

presence of God in the world.

Image Source: http://www.alanknox.net/2012/10/breaking-bread-means-sharing-a-meal-together/

Sacrament as Symbol

SYMBOL: indirect, multi-layered, metaphorical

Symbols become sacramental when they give us knowledge and experience of God in the world

Examples: From the ordinary: bread, wine, table,

water, choosing (laying on of hands) To the extraordinary:

word of God, body of Christ, heavenly banquet, neighbor, people of God

Image Source (clockwise from top): http://fbc-tempe.org; http://extension.unh.edu/Counties/Merrimack/FdNutri.htm; http://thesimplewomansdaybook.com/the-finished-work-of-jesus-christ-on-the-cross/; http://www.shawnphelps.com/?p=517; http://www.artbible.info/art/large/156.html; http://www.flickr.com/photos/opp4wealth/with/5013631294/#photo_5013631294; http://soulmerlin.com/almanack/?cat=18; http://www.wellsprings.org.uk/rublevs_icon/trinity.htm; http://www.murderasacalltolove.com/news--events.html

Sacrament as ritual

▪ A RITUAL: a practice that is performed in the same manner on a regular basis, often as part of a communal identity

▪ Liturgy – from the Greek, liturgia (lit., the work of the people) = Christian worship

▪ Liturgical sacraments are the Christian rituals that initiate and bind its members into a cohesive community of shared meaning and practice

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Sacrament as tradition▪ ROMAN CATHOLIC

▪ 7 liturgical sacraments▪ Peter Lombard (12th c.)

Book of Sentences▪ Vatican II terminology:

▪ Eucharist▪ Baptism▪ Confirmation▪ Penance & Reconciliation▪ Matrimony▪ Holy Orders▪ Anointing of the Sick

▪ PROTESTANT▪ 2 liturgical sacraments▪ Reformers (16th c.)

▪ Eucharist (communion, the Lord’s Supper)

▪ Baptism▪ Only two groups have no sacraments

▪ The Quakers▪ The Salvation Army

▪ EASTERN ORTHODOX▪ Called “Mysteries”▪ No numerical limit on what can be

identified as a “Mystery”Image Source: http://www.planetgast.net/symbols/furnishings/furnishings.html

Resources for Further Study and Reflection

▪ "Living into the Mystery" (video): a compilation of the stories of the experience and meaning of Holy Communion from United Methodist laity, seminarians, and clergy from diverse settings across the United States, online @ http://www.gbod.org/site/apps/nlnet/ content3.aspx?c=nhLRJ2PMKsG&b=5703111&ct=12154627&notoc=1

▪ “Examining Worship, Deepening Discipleship,” by Taylor Burton-Edwards @ http://www.gbod.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=nhLRJ2PMKsG&b=5819089&ct=3838407&notoc=1&printmode=1

▪ United Methodist General Board of Discipleship, Resources for Worship @ http://www.gbod.org/site/c.nhLRJ2PMKsG/b.3784805/k.D1A1/Worship.htm

▪ The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts @ http://www.umfellowship.org/