Monday, August 30, 2010
Eucharistic Ministers
Reflection for Eucharistic Ministers
(From Austin Fleming's book "Preparing for Liturgy, a Theology and Spirituality")
Yours is a share
In the work of the Lord's Spirit
Who makes of us
one bread, one body,
the cup of blessing which we bless.
Yours is the work
of ministering Christ's body and blood
to the body of Christ, the church.
Yours is service at the Lord's reconciling table.
You name for each of us
the gifts we have offered
and the gifts we receive:
"The Body of Christ, the Blood of Christ."
You minister holy food to holy people
in the holiest of all communions.
Yours is the ministry of the One
who was broken and poured out for our sake:
the ministry of Christ
who is our Passover
and our lasting peace.
Come to your work from your personal prayer,
praying that the Lord will heal your brokenness
as your break and pour out yourselves for others.
Remember the purity of the gifts you minister
and how great is your need for the Lord's mercy.
Learn to love the eucharist you minister:
Let it heal the hurt your heart is slow to acknowledge;
let it make you one with all that is living;
let it help you revere all those whom you serve.
Ministers of the eucharist are many;
Truly eucharistic ministers
are what you must become.
Let your service at the Lord's table
make your life
a table of mercy and welcome
for all you know and meet.
In and outside the worship space,
reverence those you serve
as you would reverence the sacrament you minister.
When you minister to friends and family,
remember that the greatest bond you share is in the Lord.
When you minister to visitors and strangers,
reverence them as you would your closest friend.
When you minister to those with whom you are at odds,
reverence them as the Lord does you in your sin.
Some will esteem you as "holy"
because of the work you do:
Remember that your holiness
is the Lord's work within you.
When you are asked to serve at inconvenient times,
let the needs of God's people
be your first consideration.
When you begin to think that your ministry
makes you an important person in the community,
remember that what the Lord did at table
became a sign of the cross.
When your brothers and sisters
praise and thank you for your work,
take delight in the communion
you share with them in Christ
and rejoice in the work
the Lord has accomplished through you.
Be faithful in the work you do,
For through it the Lord saves his people.
(From Austin Fleming's book "Preparing for Liturgy, a Theology and Spirituality")
Yours is a share
In the work of the Lord's Spirit
Who makes of us
one bread, one body,
the cup of blessing which we bless.
Yours is the work
of ministering Christ's body and blood
to the body of Christ, the church.
Yours is service at the Lord's reconciling table.
You name for each of us
the gifts we have offered
and the gifts we receive:
"The Body of Christ, the Blood of Christ."
You minister holy food to holy people
in the holiest of all communions.
Yours is the ministry of the One
who was broken and poured out for our sake:
the ministry of Christ
who is our Passover
and our lasting peace.
Come to your work from your personal prayer,
praying that the Lord will heal your brokenness
as your break and pour out yourselves for others.
Remember the purity of the gifts you minister
and how great is your need for the Lord's mercy.
Learn to love the eucharist you minister:
Let it heal the hurt your heart is slow to acknowledge;
let it make you one with all that is living;
let it help you revere all those whom you serve.
Ministers of the eucharist are many;
Truly eucharistic ministers
are what you must become.
Let your service at the Lord's table
make your life
a table of mercy and welcome
for all you know and meet.
In and outside the worship space,
reverence those you serve
as you would reverence the sacrament you minister.
When you minister to friends and family,
remember that the greatest bond you share is in the Lord.
When you minister to visitors and strangers,
reverence them as you would your closest friend.
When you minister to those with whom you are at odds,
reverence them as the Lord does you in your sin.
Some will esteem you as "holy"
because of the work you do:
Remember that your holiness
is the Lord's work within you.
When you are asked to serve at inconvenient times,
let the needs of God's people
be your first consideration.
When you begin to think that your ministry
makes you an important person in the community,
remember that what the Lord did at table
became a sign of the cross.
When your brothers and sisters
praise and thank you for your work,
take delight in the communion
you share with them in Christ
and rejoice in the work
the Lord has accomplished through you.
Be faithful in the work you do,
For through it the Lord saves his people.