Eucharist every Sunday

18Sep
Eternal God, heavenly Father, 
You have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed use with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

On September 18th, the Episcopal Church remembers Edward Bouverie Pusey. A quick confession - I am not a theologian or Anglican historian. I had never heard of Edward Bouverie Pusey until I looked him up four days ago. So if I misrepresent his teachings or speak in ignorance of his historical context, forgive me. That said, from what I read, we owe him a lot. He was a member of the Tractarian or Oxford Movement in the 1830s which promoted what came to be known as “Anglo-Catholicism.” That term seems rife with controversy so I’ll leave it alone. What this group of Oxford lecturers did do, that I embrace, is to stridently encourage the churches of England to offer Liturgy with Eucharist every Sunday and that the Lord’s table should be open to believer and non-believer alike. 

“What would a Sunday service be like without the Eucharist?” you may ask in bewilderment?  I can tell you! 

I grew up Methodist and we only celebrated communion on the 1st Sunday of the Month. This made it incredibly special to my young mind. Once a month they trotted out the beautiful silver trays and serving dishes, laying the altar like a Reed and Barton showroom. Methodists don’t drink in church so instead of chalices, the ministers would pass around a tray with indentations holding dozens of tiny plastic servings of grape juice. You would take your tiny wafer (think a Pez candy sized cracker), take your cup of grape juice, and have your communion. The kneeling railing they put up once a month just for this occasion had a cut out on top for you to conveniently leave your used plastic cup. To an 8-year-old, the whole thing was momentous. Christ died for you! This is his body and blood! Special silver trays! Tiniest glass of grape juice ever!

When I was older and seeking my own church, I suppose I left my childish ways of thinking behind. Meaning, I understood the significance of the Eucharist. It was not just fancy silver and juice cups - it was a solemn but also celebratory remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice. And I realized as I visited churches that the Episcopal Church, the church that celebrated this each and every Sunday, and with an open table, was the only church for me. I need this weekly reminder, this communion with Christ and my fellow worshipers. It is centering and powerful and I can’t imagine starting my week without it. 

I thank Edward Bouverie Pusey and the other members of the Oxford Movement for their reforms that brought Eucharist back into the Anglican church. Their legacy is what brought me to the Episcopal church and what feeds and sustains me weekly. 

Musical Reflection - Now the Silence - Jaroslav J. Vajda

God our Father, whose Son our Lord Jesus Christ in a wonderful Sacrament has left us a memorial of his passion: Grant us so to venerate the sacred mysteries of his Body and Blood, that we may ever perceive within ourselves the fruit of his redemption; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 
Eucharist
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#methodist #episcopal #eucharist

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