by Leanne Shawler
"The gifts of God for the people of God" is said right before we receive communion in at Good Sam. It's an Episcopal Church tradition that I'm sure is not unique to my church.
Communion, or Eucharist.
It's not a big leap to eucharisteo, especially when the liturgy leading to the actual distribution of communion is called "the Great Thanksgiving." Jesus's Last Supper is one of the key images that Ann Voskamp uses in her book to illustrate eucharisteo.
The whole service is a thanksgiving: preparing ourselves to be present with God ("cleanse the thoughts of our hearts..."), remembering how God has always been a part of our story (the readings from the Old and New Testaments) and giving thanks, giving thanks.
Giving thanks for a God who became incarnate, a God who took our sufferings, our wrong-doings onto Himself, out of all time and in all times, and died to give us salvation.
How could we not give thanks?
Thinking back, I'm astonished that I ever thought my church's liturgy was dull. That's the hazard of growing up in the church, I guess. You never think through to the power of what's happening -- and are surprised when you feel the uplifting Holy Spirit.
It should be like that from beginning to end, not just when I'm transported by singing a hymn, or by an isolated moment...
Every word. Is thanks.
How do you see our liturgy, our Sunday service?
(reprinted, slightly edited, from Leanne's personal blog, Provoking Beauty, with permission.)
I've actually been pondering this question recently and needed to read this reflection. Thanks, Leanne!
ReplyDelete