Dear St. Paul’s,
Last Sunday was our second opportunity to gather our younger ones into “Children’s Chapel” as an attempt to introduce what happens in the “Big” Church. It is a joy for me to spend this time with our young ones. You would be absolutely amazed at how attune they are to what goes on in church. One little one responded to my offering “The Body of Christ”, with the words The Bread of Heaven”.
They do know what is going on. We just may not be aware of it. Some suggest, as I have mentioned before, that children shouldn’t receive communion because they don’t understand what is going on. Well, I will suggest that a lot of adults don’t understand what is going on. If we understood all of it, then it most likely would not be of God. It is my experience that the younger ones do get it. The problem is it is difficult for them to sit still for long periods of time.
The eucharistic prayer the priest says for all the people (which is why my arms are raised the way they are.) This is known as the Orans position – “This is the appropriate placement of the celebrant’s hands when singing or saying a collect or prayer on behalf of the congregation, and the basic position of hands during the Eucharistic Prayer”. So says, A Priest’s Handbook The Ceremonies of the Church by Dennis G. Michno, a priest’s best friend and authority on how to do liturgy.
So, even though I am saying the prayer, I am saying it for you and me. Your participation in this action is not passive – as I say the prayer, you are participating with your eyes and ears. And our children are doing just that. Participating but only for a short period of time. Which means we have to be a bit more patient with our little ones.
Which leads me to wonder if it is time for me to offer a class on the Sacraments. How many are there? What are they? What do they mean? When do we do them? Are they really that important? To be an Episcopalian is to be a sacramentalist. And how do you know when a church is a sacramental one versus a church of the Word? Look at the size of the altar and the pulpit. Which one is more prominent? Let me know if we should have a class in the Fall.
…as to the rest of the world and its continued craziness … this morning I hear they arrested a man who was planning a mass shooting in New Orleans … the other day a man shot eight children, seven of which were his … the ceasefire between Iran and the USA is tentative at best…three folks have to resign from Congress for inappropriate behavior and the people of Ukraine cry out, how long O Lord, how long?
Boy, do we need to pray! Pray for yourselves, your family, St. Paul’s, the world-wide church, for peace and justice, and for folks to follow Jesus’ behavior in caring for others.
Blessings to you and yours,
Karen+