I recently shared my journey to Anglicanism, or, more accurately, as I am still on my journey to Anglicanism, my journey to St. John's Anglican Church. Our family is not looking for another church body, but we are still relatively new to this particular Christian tradition, so we are still exploring its history, theology, and practice. Anyone who has ever made such a significant change in their religious life knows that this is, or at least ought to be, an exciting and sometimes confusing process. As I explained in my previous post, I shared this journey primarily for personal catharsis and journaling. Blogging is a way that I organize my thoughts and develop the ideas that are bouncing around in my head. Today I am going to begin a series called Things I Like about Anglicanism. As I explore this rich tradition, I am finding much that is similar to the tradition in which I was raised (Presbyterianism), but I am also finding much that is different. I am learning that different is not necessarily better or worse; sometimes it's just different. You're welcome to go on this journey with me.
Today I am going to begin this series with the difference that I have appreciate the most: the Anglican focus on the Eucharist. In the Anglican tradition the Table is not simply observed weekly, but is, in a sense, the reason for gathering weekly. I was raised in a Church that celebrated the Eucharist (we called it the Lord's Table or the Lord's Supper, as I'm sure I shall do sporadically through this post) weekly, so I am used to celebrating it weekly. When I worship with the Church, I expect the Eucharist. My wife was raised in the Church of Christ/Christian Churches tradition, so weekly communion was normal for her, as well. As we were looking for a new church, and as we evaluated what was really important to us, we realized that we both prioritized weekly communion. I have always polemical in my support of weekly communion, but I don't think I ever really appreciated what it means to our family. Furthermore, I came to see that the interval at which one observes the Table is a symptom a deeper conviction, or mindset, that many Presbyterians don't have.
As I began to study the Anglican conception of the Eucharist (and I'm still just beginning to unwrap it), I realized that I had not been raised as liturgically as I thought I had, and I began to appreciate just the difference between a liturgy and a worship service. Growing up in a conservative Reformed church, we described our worship as liturgical, but we mostly just meant that our worship service was organized and had some sort of cohesion. The concept of Covenant Renewal dominated our worship service, but it was still just a worship service. We had a series of songs and Scripture readings, a sermon and the Lord's Supper, but it was still not a liturgy in the traditional, time-honored sense of that word. There was more meaning and purpose underlying our service than most that I had encountered, but it was still not a liturgy. Anglicanism has introduced me to the concept of gathering for a Eucharistic Liturgy, where everything that is done, said, and sung revolves around partaking of the spiritual food provided in the Eucharist.
Gathering for the Eucharist, also known as the Holy Sacrament or simply Holy Communion (the term Eucharist is sometimes used to describe the liturgy as a whole, but sometimes it is used specifically for the climactic, sacramental part of that liturgy), is vital for Anglicans because they take seriously the presence of Christ in the Sacrament. They do not view the Sacrament as Roman Catholics do (well, some do, but more on that in a future post), but they also don't view it as Evangelicals do. Most Evangelical churches hold to a Memorialist view of the Table, many refusing even to call it a sacrament (means of grace). They believe that it is simply a remembrance of what Christ has done for us, and, for some strange reason, that means that we don't need to do it very often. Conversely, Presbyterianism has traditionally held to the literal, spiritual presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper (though Presbyterian language is not quite as strong as Anglican language), but I have found that many Presbyterians today really hold to a modified Memorialist view, as demonstrated by their deemphasis of the Table. They emphasize the preaching of the Word over the Table because they don't really believe that the Table is a means of grace; they don't really believe that the Sacrament is the Word eaten.
Anglicanism, in all the various forms that I have discovered, emphasizes the literal, spiritual presence of Christ in the Eucharist. It is mystical, but it is not magical. The priest is not saying superstitiously reciting an incantation to change the elements into the physical body and blood. The grace received in the Eucharist is not automatic, but it is truly offered through these physical means. The truth that our Savior is present with us when partake, that we spiritually eat his body and blood, is the cause for reverie and reverence. Partaking of the physical elements of the Eucharist is never neutral. Participating in the covenant meal will either be a blessing or a curse, which means that it is a constant call to faithfulness to the Savior who meets us there.
This is one of the many reasons that I feel God has led our family to Anglicanism at this specific time in our lives. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only allowed us to see the beauty of a church united despite physical distance, but also the appropriate hungering and thirsting for the Table by those who are unable to gather around it. It has been interesting to see many Evangelical Christians, who commune only monthly or quarterly (if that), longing to celebrate the Supper. Many of them are even finding ways to observe it virtually! Anglicans, along with members of other traditions that observe communion weekly and understand it sacramentally, are yearning for the Eucharist infinitely more so.
Today I am going to begin this series with the difference that I have appreciate the most: the Anglican focus on the Eucharist. In the Anglican tradition the Table is not simply observed weekly, but is, in a sense, the reason for gathering weekly. I was raised in a Church that celebrated the Eucharist (we called it the Lord's Table or the Lord's Supper, as I'm sure I shall do sporadically through this post) weekly, so I am used to celebrating it weekly. When I worship with the Church, I expect the Eucharist. My wife was raised in the Church of Christ/Christian Churches tradition, so weekly communion was normal for her, as well. As we were looking for a new church, and as we evaluated what was really important to us, we realized that we both prioritized weekly communion. I have always polemical in my support of weekly communion, but I don't think I ever really appreciated what it means to our family. Furthermore, I came to see that the interval at which one observes the Table is a symptom a deeper conviction, or mindset, that many Presbyterians don't have.
As I began to study the Anglican conception of the Eucharist (and I'm still just beginning to unwrap it), I realized that I had not been raised as liturgically as I thought I had, and I began to appreciate just the difference between a liturgy and a worship service. Growing up in a conservative Reformed church, we described our worship as liturgical, but we mostly just meant that our worship service was organized and had some sort of cohesion. The concept of Covenant Renewal dominated our worship service, but it was still just a worship service. We had a series of songs and Scripture readings, a sermon and the Lord's Supper, but it was still not a liturgy in the traditional, time-honored sense of that word. There was more meaning and purpose underlying our service than most that I had encountered, but it was still not a liturgy. Anglicanism has introduced me to the concept of gathering for a Eucharistic Liturgy, where everything that is done, said, and sung revolves around partaking of the spiritual food provided in the Eucharist.
Gathering for the Eucharist, also known as the Holy Sacrament or simply Holy Communion (the term Eucharist is sometimes used to describe the liturgy as a whole, but sometimes it is used specifically for the climactic, sacramental part of that liturgy), is vital for Anglicans because they take seriously the presence of Christ in the Sacrament. They do not view the Sacrament as Roman Catholics do (well, some do, but more on that in a future post), but they also don't view it as Evangelicals do. Most Evangelical churches hold to a Memorialist view of the Table, many refusing even to call it a sacrament (means of grace). They believe that it is simply a remembrance of what Christ has done for us, and, for some strange reason, that means that we don't need to do it very often. Conversely, Presbyterianism has traditionally held to the literal, spiritual presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper (though Presbyterian language is not quite as strong as Anglican language), but I have found that many Presbyterians today really hold to a modified Memorialist view, as demonstrated by their deemphasis of the Table. They emphasize the preaching of the Word over the Table because they don't really believe that the Table is a means of grace; they don't really believe that the Sacrament is the Word eaten.
Anglicanism, in all the various forms that I have discovered, emphasizes the literal, spiritual presence of Christ in the Eucharist. It is mystical, but it is not magical. The priest is not saying superstitiously reciting an incantation to change the elements into the physical body and blood. The grace received in the Eucharist is not automatic, but it is truly offered through these physical means. The truth that our Savior is present with us when partake, that we spiritually eat his body and blood, is the cause for reverie and reverence. Partaking of the physical elements of the Eucharist is never neutral. Participating in the covenant meal will either be a blessing or a curse, which means that it is a constant call to faithfulness to the Savior who meets us there.
This is one of the many reasons that I feel God has led our family to Anglicanism at this specific time in our lives. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only allowed us to see the beauty of a church united despite physical distance, but also the appropriate hungering and thirsting for the Table by those who are unable to gather around it. It has been interesting to see many Evangelical Christians, who commune only monthly or quarterly (if that), longing to celebrate the Supper. Many of them are even finding ways to observe it virtually! Anglicans, along with members of other traditions that observe communion weekly and understand it sacramentally, are yearning for the Eucharist infinitely more so.
I too grew up Presbyterian and just joined an ACNA church last fall. Looking forward to following this series!
ReplyDeleteCool! There definitely seems to be a movement back to more traditional, liturgical denominations.
Delete