October 7, 2007, over 135 people gathered at the Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, NC, for a four-day conference to explore “Creative Models of Sacramental Leadership in the Small Church.” Participants included small church leaders from the Methodist Church and ELCA, and Anglican representatives from the provinces of Canada and New Zealand. The Episcopal Church was represented by 8 provinces and 44 dioceses, including Northern Michigan, Wyoming, Western Kansas, Texas, Easton, Western New York and Northern California. Also represented were the Episcopal Divinity School and Virginia Seminary, as well as organizations that serve the small church such as Living Stones, Episcopal Appalachian Ministries, Rural Ministry Network, New Directions North East, and the Domestic Missionary Partnership.The gathering was marked by excitement and enthusiasm, as this diverse group came together to address fresh expressions of how small congregations live out their part in God’s greater mission.
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori addressed the group, inviting an expansive understanding of sacramental leadership to include the ministry of all baptized people and the ministry they exercise in their daily lives. Archbishop David Moxon of the New Zealand Dioceses further challenged assumptions by inviting participants to consider social action groups that gather to break bread as a way to live out the gospel. He also encouraged increased understanding of the scope of small church mission by inviting participants to view our gathered communities as “a mission with a church, and not a church with a mission.” The life and ministry of the late Rt. Rev. Jim Kelsey, who had planned to present at the event, was remembered with a time of silence as the podium was left vacant, followed by a co-presentation on local collaborative ministry by his brother, the Rev. Steve Kelsey, along with the Rt. Rev. Donald Phillips.
Because of the overwhelming interest in this sold-out event, a DVD will be produced and available as a free download in early 2008. An initial planning meeting was also held to discuss the feasibility of a Small Church Best Practices summit to be held in 2009.
The conference closed with a lively Eucharist where Archbishop Moxon presided and Presiding Bishop Jefferts Scori preached. Two Anglican Archbishops uniting in worship was symbolic of all that had occurred: as a (sm)all church, we can do great things when we come together to live out our part in God’s greater mission.
4 comments:
Please tell me . . .
What is "a lively Eucharist"? How does a lively
Eucharist alter what I've participated in for many
decades? It sounds like the focus is in the wrong
area. I've felt all these years fortunate to participate in a serious aspect of my belief. But
if the "lively" aspect is anything like it might be . . . an exercise in uplifting leadership for example, I don't believe it will be appropriate.
Hope to read thoughts as to this "lively" aspect.
Peter:
I would think that a "lively Eucharist" is one where all present are actively participating through their responses and singing.
As a lay person, I can tell you that I have sat through some pretty inactive Eucharists -- mumbled responses, uninspired singing, and a palpable "let's be done with it" attitude.
As a priest, I can tell you that I don't let my congregation get away with that. If the response to my "The Lord be with you," comes out as, "mumble also with mumble you," I will make them say it again.
"This is worship, people! Let's be lively."
So in my mind, THAT is a lively Eucharist.
Peter and Rev Ref:
A lively Eucharist...I had to think about my response.
When I think back on the Eucharist at Kanuga I think of the clapping and people dancing in their spots as we sang, "We are dancing in the light of God." I think about the passion and energy as we all joined hands and sang "Come Holy Spirit" before we heard a prayer of recommissioning. I think about the Presiding Bishop's words about being "church" in the world, and the Archbishop of New Zealand presiding from the New Zealand Prayer Book (he was one of the contributors.) It was really hard to find the right word. But joyous, lively, Spirit-filled, and with a sense of the whole gathered community coming to gether to worship God with gratitude, joy, and mind/body/soul is a good approximation.
While I wholeheartedly agree that every Eucharist is alive with the power of the Holy Spirit, and that when I am part of a Eucharistic gathering I sense I am more alive and empowered to go forth and serve, and have worshipped God with my whole being, sometimes the gathered community is not lively. And that is sometimes appropriate, but sometimes not.
I once heard a person say she went to church to "do the priest a favor" and also once heard a liturgics professor say liturgy should never be one "darn thing after another". What we do should have meaning and relevance and all should be engaged. It might be that the gathering is serious, but if it is reflective of the piety of those gathered then it is perfectly appropriate. What I am reacting against is the lack of engagement. And what we experienced at that closing Eucharist at Kanuga was total and complete engagement.
S.
First, thank you both for comments. Growth of thought is important.
Went to the O.E.D. for some clarification. Therein,
the first set of meanings were --
(1) 'Eucharist' is said to be "The sacrament of the Lord's Supper; the Communion.
(2) The consecrated elements, esp. the bread, Phrases.
(3) The box or closed vessel containing the consecrated: bread.
-- and the second meaning was "Thanksgiving".
Further, 'Eucharistic' is noted as:
(1) Of or pertaining to the Eucharist. A statement by Disraeli in 1842 cites "The ceremony - eternally invested with eucharistic grace.
Perhaps I'm a more reserved person for I think a
Thanksgiving is less of a liberating occasion as in what I would call a "lively action". My reaction is to be thankful for becoming whole again and gaining a new resolution to be better for the forthcoming period . . . to have and respect the new condition with intention of doing better for the future.
If others look upon the new condition with an eye to 'lively' public celebration, that is fine. It's just
not my view of what the communion is about.
For the average person, I agree that the service in
total should be one of active responses and actions. Nevertheless, one of cloth dictating the degree of the responses is foreign to me. Clergy who judge the worthwhileness of the laity make me wonder a bit. I trust that when saying "I will make them . . . again" the server might think of meeting with the person again, away from the rail rather than wheeling a bit too much authority.
Does he handle all of his flock that way -- the 85
year old widow; the Vestry member; the towering mechanic, farmer, miner, or mariner. I am guessing not!
I look forward with happiness to living after the communion, with a determination to live a better life, as much as I might. That's a pleasant thought, similar to my feeling when participating in a Baptism -- accepting a charge to work for the betterment of all.
BTW, I referred to the OED again for the word "Sacrament". The first definition reads thusly;
"Used as the common name for certain solemn ceremonies or religious acts belonging to the institutions of the Christian church." I trust that the lively celebration is accordingly practiced!
Thank you again. The topic was of interest to me and I believe I thought more about it than ever before. Hope exercises such as this extend into our future.
Have a nice day,
Peter Randrup
Post a Comment