From the Rector:

             Our Service of Holy Eucharist is composed of two basic parts, the Word of God and the Holy Communion.  Both parts are important to our worship.  The Book of Common Prayer intends to maintain a balance between Word and Table.

             In the Word of God certain parts are essential.  Collect, Gospel, Sermon, Prayers of the People, and in most instances a Confession are the essentials for the Word of God.

             The hinge pins between the Word of God and Holy Communion are the Peace and Offertory. The Peace reminds us that Jesus tells us if we have difficulties with our brother or sister, we are to leave our gift, go make peace, and then return. 

             The bread, wine, and money represent our lives and the things of our lives.  We begin the service of the table by offering them to God.  At many of our Eucharists representatives of the parish bring the bread and wine forward during the offertory.  Money offerings which have been collected are also brought forward and all are presented. 

             In the Eucharistic stories in the Bible there are normally four different parts which describe the actions of Jesus.  He took.  He blessed.  He broke.  He gave. These four action verbs describe the things that are done in the Holy Eucharist.  These same four actions resurface in the description of the Holy Eucharist by St. Paul in I Corinthians 11.  Like the Gospel stories, Paul starts with “he took.” 

             One of the Eucharistic miracle stories is the feeding of the 5,000.  This story begins with Jesus receiving bread and fish from either St. Andrew or a young boy.  This is the beginning of the Eucharistic life.  We offer or give back to God the things of our lives.  It is in this humble act of giving that the miracle of conversion and transformation happen.

             Look at the three new stained glass windows in the west end of the Great Hall.  The themes are transformation and water.  Three different stories are told: Moses in the bull rushes; Jesus first miracle at Cana, and the baptism of Jesus.  In each there is some type of offering or giving that starts the story. 

             Jesus offers himself in the baptism story.  The servant brings water in the wedding at Cana in Galilee according to our Lord’s instructions.  Moses is cast upon the water and into the hands of the daughter of Pharaoh.  In each there is a giving in trust and in faith.  In the offering in the Holy Eucharist, we give in trust and in faith that God will do the work of transformation. 

             Jesus receives power to do his ministry and even to withstand the power of the evil one.  The water is turned into the best wine that had been served during the wedding feast.  God redeems the life of Moses and he leads the people of God out of slavery into freedom.

             Our new windows have much to teach us about transformation and about the Holy Eucharist.  They will stand before us as examples of how God uses that which we give in trust and faith.

             The offertory is both a hinge between the Word of God and the Holy Communion and an essential action of the Holy Eucharist. 

             It is a response to the Word of God that comes to us in prayer, in scripture, in sermon, in creed, and in absolution.  

             On Easter Day in the evening, two people walked the road to Emaus.  They were joined by a stranger, but did not recognize him as Jesus.  They invited the stranger to share supper with them.  This stanger took the bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to them.  In the act of breaking of the bread, they recognized the one in their midst as Jesus.   Jim+

February 22, 2006