110407 Sacraments- Holy Communion

8/6/2019 110407 Sacraments- Holy Communion

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STORY

Never Too

Little toLove

Jeanne Willis

&

Jan Fearnley


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Welcometo Western Vic Presbyterys

Introduction to theSacraments

led byRev Jen Pretty

Presbytery Minister: Mission and Education


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PrayerLeader :

God of refreshment

We thank you for the nights sleep and our safe

journey here.Thank you for new learnings, and this

opportunity to be together.

Be present in our explorations today.Deepen our insights and help us to respect and

treasure the life and gifts of each person inwhom we see your love mirrored.


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ALL :

We commit the coming day and ourconversations to you, Lord God.

We commit to working together in the

love of Jesus Christ that binds andliberates, in the full expectation of

being inspired by your Holy Spirit.

We open our hearts and minds to youand to each other.

Amen.


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Lay PresidencyLay Presidencyat theat the

SacramentsSacraments


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Why Lay Presidency?Why Lay Presidency?

Normally only Ministers preside linkbetween Word and Sacrament need for

those who preach to be properly trained

not matter of privilege

Lay Presidency for pastoral reasons, where

people would be deprived of sacraments if

they had to wait for a minister to be available

Sacraments given to people of God as

community of faith absence of minister

does not mean Christ is not present!


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Link with the community

Ignatius of Antioch, 110CE bishop or one

appointed by him presides

Essential link between leader and

community because the Eucharist is acelebration of the community

But by mediaeval times, this link was

overshadowed by the awesome power ofthe priest


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Fears about lay presidencyFears about lay presidency

That things might get out of hand

That things might not be done in accord with

UCA polity: sacraments of the whole universal

church, so UCA is careful not to celebrate them ina highly individualistic or different way need to

bear witness to the continuity with the apostles and

unity with world-wide church

That there might be unorthodox theology

Each of these can be addressed by careful

selection of gifted people and appropriate

training and oversight


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In what

situationsmight you

expect a

lay personto preside?

To whom is a lay presider

responsible ?


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What is a Sacrament ?After a few moments to reflect, share with

your neighbour what your understandingof a sacrament is.

TRAD

ITIONA

L UNDE

RSTA

ND

ING :Augustine of Hippo defined a Christian

sacrament as "a visible sign of an

invisible reality."

A RECENT INTERPRETATION : ASacrament is the encounter with God

when something of the material world

becomes a conduit, a door to the sacred.


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What is a sacrament in the UCA?What is a sacrament in the UCA? a visible act

that proclaimsthe Gospel

as commandedby Christ

in obedience toChrist

through whichChrist acts

by the gift of theSpirit

in accordancewith the promise

therein


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a visible act

Sacraments are visible words -

Words alone do not exhaust all the

ways we experience the Gospel

Symbols do what words cannot do -

They bring us into touch with realities

that are at once familiar and mysterious

We touch a mystery something more

than abstract ideas


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How important are thesacraments to you?

In what ways do the sacraments

help you in your life of faith?

What signs were used in a

sacrament in which you were

involved recently?

How did the signs speak to you?

Keeping in mind both Baptism & Eucharist


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that proclaims the Gospel

The Uniting Church has two sacramentswhich are based on Scripture

BAPTISMsee Mark 1:9-11;Mat.28:16-20

EUCHARIST:see 1 Corinthians 11and accounts of the Last Supper& stories of Jesus feeding the crowds


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through which Christ acts

efficacious they have an effect on thelives of those who participate

Note: because Christ has already acted in our baptism,

we do not re-baptise

We cannot create faith, but we can pay

attention to the way we communicate the

significance of the signs we use . . . we

can let the central things stand forth ingreater clarity i.e. it is important how we preside

talk together about this statement


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according to the promises

Sacraments are witness to Gods

faithfulness God acts before werespond hence infant baptism

we love because God first loves us.

Sacrament means an oath

Gods promise


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The sacraments are celebrated

in Christ andre-present Christ.

God comes to human beingspersonally by the

power of the Holy Spirit

in the concrete, worldly mediaofspoken wordand

enacted sacrament.


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Four functions of sacraments

Conveying of grace

Strengthening of faith

Enhancement of unity

Reassurance of Gods promises

What does this mean for you?


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THE EUCHARIST

the names we use:

Lords supperEucharist

Holy Communion

from your reading, what are the

different emphases of these names


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Whatever name it is called,the Lords Supper is adeeply Trinitariancelebration.

In the whole action,thanksgiving is given

to God through Christin the Spirit.


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It is am

eal ofthanksgivingto God forthe gifts of creation and

redemption;

a meal of communion

with the crucified andliving Christ who is

Gods gift to the world;


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and a meal of joy and hope in thepower of the Spirit who gives usnew life

and provides a foretasteof the greatmessianicbanquetof the end time,

when Gods liberating andreconciling activity will becompleted.

Daniel L. Migliore Faith Seeking Understanding


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Meaning of the Eucharist: (Basis of Union)

Sign of Christs continuing presence

Christ feeding us on the way

Communion with Christ

Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving Proclaiming Christs death and

resurrection

Growing together in Christ Strengthened for participation in

Christs mission

Rejoice in foretaste of Gods kingdom


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In groups of three, talk about two orthree of these understandings of

Eucharist which are particularlymeaningful to you.

Think of a service of Holy Communion

in which you participated recently :what made it significant for you ?who was included ?what message did your own inclusion

give to you ?

Are there things which hinder youwhen you participate in the Lords

Supper ?


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Video Clip

a short slideshowabout the Eucharist,

intended for catholic groups


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What makes a meal a Eucharist?

i. A gift from God

ii. Thanksgiving to God

iii. Memorial to Christ (anamnesis)

iv. Invocation of the Holy Spirit (epiclesis)

v. Communion of the faithful

vi. The meal of Gods reign


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How would you explain each of

these points to a child ?


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Limitations

It is vital that we understand two thingsabout the authorisation process.

The firstis that an individual may notseek authorisation on their own behalf.

A request for authorisation must derivefrom the Church Council (or other relevantleadership group) for the congregation orfaith community in which the person isto undertake sacramental ministry.

Secondly, authorisation is at thediscretion of the Pastoral RelationsCommittee of the Presbytery.


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Limitations

Completion of this course does notguarantee that a participant will beauthorised as a Lay Presider.

While Presbytery sees completion of

this course as appropriate preparationfor a prospective Lay Presider,Presbytery will also take intoconsideration the pastoral gifts and

calling of the person, as well as thecontext in which the person would beministering.


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EUCH

ARISTIC SYMBOLS

BREAD

nourishment

WINEcelebration

life-blood = self


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How would you set the table ?What else would you have on the table?

Gestures?

How willpeople be

served?

What about food allergies?

Voice?

Practicalities:


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Practicalities: How will

people receive the elements?Coming forward to the Table

We are a pilgrim people, on the way to

our promised inheritance; Christ feeds usalong the way

Faithful discipleship involves a

willingness to stand up and be counted

Ifcomingforward, consider how you will

serve those who are disabled


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Practicalities: How will

people receive the elements?Remaining seated in the pews

Serving one another is a symbolic

expression of our corporate sharing in thepriesthood of Christ

We are offering Christ to our neighbour

when we serve them Serving neighbour before self - as the

servant Lord attends to needs of others

Windows on Worship gives details ofdifferent ways to serve


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Practicalities: gestures, voice

and movementAll of these must add rather than distract

from the sacrament itself

Handling the symbols: with respect, using

big gestures in large space

Be clear who you are speaking with

- prayer to God or story re-membered

Posture & simple movement may

add to the sense of sacred


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Practicalities: bread & wine

If loaf, soft crust, and may be forked inbottom of loaf to assist breaking

Allergies? Bread may need to be gluten free

If using small squares, large enough to begenerous! Keep whole slice for breaking

Common cup, small glasses or intincture?

If common cup, need cloth to wipebetween each

Wine or grape juice(what is Church Councils policy?)


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Also regarding Eucharist . . .

Who can receive Eucharist?

UCA invites all who love the Lord.

Children welcome parents decide if

they should receive; parents or church

should explain as much as possible.

Dress:may wear alb & blue scarf why ?


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Uniting in Worship

Service for Holy Communion Lay presiders must use one of the

Holy Communion orders of service

from Uniting in Worship.

Service of the Lords Day 1 or

Service of the Lords Day 2

Why do you think this is required?


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Uniting in Worship 2 The Peace

Hymn

Setting the Table Invitation

Prayer ofApproach

Great prayer of Thanksgiving Narrative of the Institution of the Lords Supper

The Lords Prayer

The breaking of bread

Lamb of God The Communion (eating and drinking)

Prayer of thanks after communion these elements are non-optional


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Theologies of Real Presence

Transubstantiation: (Roman Catholic)

By the power of God, the bread and wine are

transformed into the actual body and blood of Christ

[more recent RC theology Transignification]

Consubstantiation: (Lutheran)Elements dont actually change, but Christ is present in,with and under the elements as fire permeates and

envelopes glowing embers

Reformed view: (Calvin etc)

Christ really present, but received through faith throughthe power of the Holy Spirit

Memorialist: (NOT regarded as real presence)lively or vivid memory replaces the idea of real presence

a reminder of what Christ did


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When we affirm thereal presence of Jesus

in the bread and wine,

what do we mean by

presence

andreal

?


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Presence

Local Presence

Presence in a particular place

Temporal Presence

Presence at a particular time or moment

Personal Presence

A presence in which a communicationtakes place between two persons

Does not necessarily require a meeting intime and space


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Presence

The multiple presence of Christ in theEucharist: There is a gospel reading, so Christ is present in

the Word

Eucharistic community is made one body withChrist, so Christ is present in the community

After the words of institution, Christ is present inthe bread and wine

Christs presence in the Eucharist is apersonal presence which may be focusedinthe bread and wine but is notlocalized to thebread and wine


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Real

Physical Reality

A thing is what it is because of its atomic

and molecular structure No one claims that the molecular structure

of bread and wine are changed to the

molecular structure of flesh and blood

Jesus is not really present in the sense ofphysically really present


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Real

Non-physical Reality

= Metaphysical Reality

The World of Ideas

Love

Good and Evil

Mathematics Meaning, Purpose


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Code of ethics:was not written for Lay Presiders - but recognize

that when you preside, others may see youdifferently.

You may not feel at all powerful! In fact, you

might feel quite inadequate! But being in thisposition gives you power / authority, because

the church has authorised you.

Others may even feel jealous; or feel you are

better than them. You may even be tempted tothink you are better than others!

DONT BEAFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP!


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learning by doing

110407 Sacraments- Holy Communion

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