Serving the Table of the Lord
One of the best things that the church has done in the past quarter century is to regain an appreciation for the ancient Eucharistic liturgy. Many of the elements of the new (ancient) liturgy have worked themselves into my subconscious. I’ll find myself silently singing the “ Sanctus ” or the “ Gloria in Excelsis .” Phrases from the creed or the Eucharistic prayer pop into my mind at the strangest times. The Eucharist – the sacrament of word and table – is the central means of grace for those who are already united to Christ in baptism. The work that God does through word and table for those who abide in him is transformation I can believe in. In worshiping with my "high church" brothers and sisters, however, I've started to think about the things that I think are important to preserve in becoming a more liturgically-focused Christian. Keep The Main Thing the Main Thing First, too many signs crowd out the one central sign. Vestments, smells, bells, parading, kne...