Hi Everyone,
I know that I had disappeared for quite a while from the blogosphere because I have been really caught up with too much. Even now I blog because I have to for my assignment, how terrible……
But I guarantee you that things will resume to normal after Easter. It has been a mad house here in my life too much happening and all.
Here is an article I am to review‚Ķ.but I do find that my thoughts have been rather provoked by it. I will attempt to summarize it fairly then give my thoughts on the issue he brought up in Christian Worship. But even more, I hope to really get your thoughts about this issue as much as possible. You see, I really like discussions. I like my thoughts to be challenged. I must say I don’t have all the answers but certainly I do hope I can find out the answers together as well. So kindly pen your comments down and let us really see where this lead‚Ķ..oooooo so exciting
This article is written by J. Frederick Holper who is currently a professor of preaching and worship at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. Before coming to McCormick in 1998, Holper taught for six years as professor of liturgics and homiletics at Union Seminary in Virginia where he wrote this article. Before Union Seminary, he served on the faculty of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary as assistant and associate professor of homiletics and liturgics. While completing his doctoral graduate work at the University of Notre Dame he served two interim pastorates in South Bend, Indiana, and for three years as pastor at The Presbyterian Church in Orland Park, Illinois. Early in his career, he held positions as a newspaper reporter for The Milwaukee Journal and the Chicago Tribune.
In addition to his professional positions, Fred has done extensive work with the Presbyterian Church (USA) in the areas of liturgy, ministry, and ordination
Holper has produced numerous published articles, lecture series and workshops in such subjects as ministry and ordination, the sacraments, worship and Christian education, new directions in Presbyterian worship, and daily prayer.
Holper’s continuous effort in the area of education of church worship is the driving point for this article. In this article, he attempts to deal with the issue of the Eucharist (Communion) in the churches today. Holper believes that in our recovery of worship and the importance of the place of Communion together with the preaching of the Word within worship itself, we have yet to come to a point where what we understand in theory has come to practice in a fashion that is right.
Holper’s view is that the current focus on preaching and other areas that actually deter the possibility of a more frequent celebration of the Communion in churches. He suggests that in fact a weekly celebration of Communion would be good.
He suggests that the problem lies within the congregation’s resistance to change from the way things are. Therefore there needs to be a systems approach in resolving this issue. To summarize it, we often focus on a specific problem but we do not realize that the issue is part of a larger system of which this problem is part of. Therefore to make a change in this area for example, the church needs to see the larger congregational system which includes education, evangelism and etc. He clearly identifies these subsystems and reveals the issues involved and how these have an effect on worship as a whole.
After the diagnosis of the problem, he then offers how we can intervene in solving these resistances. He gives fives interventions which he believes will enhance the possibility for a change like the frequent celebration on the Communion.
He believes that this issue is one that may not even change in his lifetime because the changes to implement this within the churches systems will not come by easy. Holper believes that for many centuries now either the Word or Communion has been neglected.
Reading this article I must say, he did not make it easy for people to understand. Firstly I would agree that in terms of communion, over the years I have heard less preaching and teaching on it compared to other areas of worship such as singing, offering, the preaching of the Word and prayer. Now given that thought I believe his assumption that people would believe that the practice of Communion should be done frequently is something noble. I agree also to make such changes within the worship system is tough.
My issue would be this. Is the practice of the symbolic action of communion necessary to be that frequent? Does the breaking of bread in the early church symbolize a formal Communion ceremony every time they met? Was the purpose of the Communion to be something we do or to focus on a deeper meaning like the end of the title which is missing suggest; Remember Me?
As much as he suggest that frequent celebrations of the Communion will revive church health. I believe in the essence of it all is not the frequent celebration that is necessary but better teaching, understanding, and meaningful practice of the communion is however more important. His systems approach will also help us achieve a change in this area.
On the other hand Holper does not seem to give reason enough on why a weekly celebration is needed or why it has to go hand in hand with the Word. It would seem to me that he would suggest that it is vital for the church to celebrate it frequently but does not help us understand why. From what I see, Communion was purposeful and to have it frequently has to be purposeful. Therefore I do not see the symbol of Communion being frequent being something needed for the church rather the act of worship through our lives that lives out the Communion frequently that is vital.
So in your opinion, should it be a weekly celebration in church? What do you think is the benefit of having is more often than not? Do you agree with him? How do you suggest we solve this? Or just share any thoughts at all
. Enjoy
