July 6,, 2012 - Vol 3, Issue 27

Thank you to Don Johnson for the many photographs and Dan Salzgeber for the video of the celebration last Sunday. The one hour presentation of the two celebrations last Sunday will be shown on Wolfeboro Public TV on Friday 7/6/12 at 3:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The church service was also video'd by Dan and will be shown Sunday 7/8/12 at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and Monday 7/9/12 at 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. The service will be condensed into one hour.

Question: Why does our interim rector receive Communion last, instead of first, like most, or all, of the other clergy we have known?

 

First, let's explore why most clergy receive Communion first.  From ancient times, priests have been seen as the intermediary between God and the people.  Certainly Moses was seen this way as, it appeared, that the people were apprehensive of any more direct encounter or relationship with God.  Jesus invited all people into a much more immediate and intimate, personal relationship with God, but worship practices did not fully integrate this new understanding.  The Protestant Reformation of the 15^th and 16^th Centuries certainly challenged the need to have a priest as the intermediary between God and the people, but again liturgical practices, especially on the catholic and Anglican side of these discussions, did not change very much. 

 

After Vatican II and the liturgical reformations of the 1960's and 1970's, many altars were moved away from the east wall of churches and we began to talk about "God being in the midst of us" as we worshiped.  This physical and visual change began to affect many of our psyches, whether we realized it or not, as our perception told us "the priest no longer stands between God and the people as we worship". 

 

With the 1979 Prayerbook, baptism was raised to a level of prominence not know since the early Church and, correspondingly, there came a greater and greater recognition of the Baptismal ministry, the priesthood, of all Christians.  Never the less, our liturgical practices were slow to change and what continued to happen implied that God gives Communion to the priest and they share it with the rest of the people.  But some of us began to wonder if we should not begin to change our practice to more closely represent our understanding of what was taking place.  Indeed, very few people live their spiritual lives believing they need a priest between themselves and God.

 

As the "re-imaging" process mentioned above was underway, the AIDS crisis hit.  This led many to wonder if it was safe to take Communion from a common cup.  Would drinking from the common cup spread disease?  The Episcopal Church took initiative by asking certain leaders to make a careful review of the scientific research regarding the passage of disease and asked the Bishop of San Francisco to coordinate our response given the prevalence of AIDS in that region  of the country.  We learned that the AIDS virus, and many others, are destroyed when they are exposed to light and air and that the fortified wine, and a well wiped chalice, do a very good job of eliminating the threat of passing disease.  But to express his conviction that it was safe to receive from the common cup, the Bishop of San Francisco started receiving Communion last rather than first and many other clergy, including Father Rice, Ted, followed suit.

 

Simultaneously, the discussions regarding our current understanding of priesthood became more widespread.  If asked, Ted would say there are a number of images that help him understand his priesthood.  He would say it is a leadership position but that he is also a member of the community learning from and under the direction of many-the canons of the Church, the Bishop, and committees and vestries in some matters.  But his prime image, particularly in worship, is "the one who presides at the weekly family gathering and meal".  The role here, among other things, is to make sure there is a place at the table for everyone, to make sure that there is sufficient food and that the food-Word and Sacrament-really nourish.  As "host" at the table, receiving first does not seem "right and proper", so he receives last and hopes you will understand and not be too disrupted by the change.

 

And, of course, please be part of this conversation.