Comments on: On the manner of Eucharistic sharing http://doingpublicwork.org/2009/09/17/on-the-manner-of-eucharistic-sharing/ renewing liturgy, building community Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:57:44 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Phil http://doingpublicwork.org/2009/09/17/on-the-manner-of-eucharistic-sharing/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Phil Sat, 19 Sep 2009 04:10:14 +0000 http://doingpublicwork.org/?p=112#comment-51 If this is to work, it sounds to me like there are two related problems: 1) the existing protocol does not work well for distributed distribution, because there are too many fussy details--things to be remembered and said, actions performed, sequences to try and remember. These things can be trained into a handful of LEMs fairly easily, and they quickly get it with a little practice. But when everybody is doing it, no one gets much practice, there's no feedback mechanism, and there's no net. 2) There needs to be better instruction in what to do. But given the challenge, this will only really work when the action has been reduced to the barest essentials. Ideally, that probably means to just an action, a or a short series of simple actions (take, break, give, eat/take-drink-give). Nothing to say. Just the action itself. Maybe words of administration would have to be done collectively, although that's also problematic. There's something good, I think, in the individual offer and acceptance. If this is to work, it sounds to me like there are two related problems:

1) the existing protocol does not work well for distributed distribution, because there are too many fussy details–things to be remembered and said, actions performed, sequences to try and remember. These things can be trained into a handful of LEMs fairly easily, and they quickly get it with a little practice. But when everybody is doing it, no one gets much practice, there’s no feedback mechanism, and there’s no net.

2) There needs to be better instruction in what to do. But given the challenge, this will only really work when the action has been reduced to the barest essentials. Ideally, that probably means to just an action, a or a short series of simple actions (take, break, give, eat/take-drink-give). Nothing to say. Just the action itself.

Maybe words of administration would have to be done collectively, although that’s also problematic. There’s something good, I think, in the individual offer and acceptance.

]]> By: Mary S. http://doingpublicwork.org/2009/09/17/on-the-manner-of-eucharistic-sharing/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Mary S. Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:42:24 +0000 http://doingpublicwork.org/?p=112#comment-50 I believe we're talking holiness. The bread and wine become holy stuff only touched by appropriately holy people and to be revered as such. I desire it yet at the same time repeled by it. For such things the intricate cult of Leviticus was established. Then comes Deuteronomy and you are a holy people. My observation is that the church has reinforced that ordered access to the holy. To me, anything that can work towards making hard lines like altar rails open lines even if it's a simple as leaving an opening in the rail or bringing stations out to the people symbolically makes the holy more approachable. We are a holy people. What's driving conversation here around the distribution of communion is the real fear around the perceived risk of infection of H1N1. Science set aside, perception in 9/10th of reality and people are becoming afraid. What is our responsibility as a church? Who are the marginalized for whom we should set aside privilege? I believe we’re talking holiness. The bread and wine become holy stuff only touched by appropriately holy people and to be revered as such. I desire it yet at the same time repeled by it. For such things the intricate cult of Leviticus was established. Then comes Deuteronomy and you are a holy people. My observation is that the church has reinforced that ordered access to the holy. To me, anything that can work towards making hard lines like altar rails open lines even if it’s a simple as leaving an opening in the rail or bringing stations out to the people symbolically makes the holy more approachable. We are a holy people.

What’s driving conversation here around the distribution of communion is the real fear around the perceived risk of infection of H1N1. Science set aside, perception in 9/10th of reality and people are becoming afraid. What is our responsibility as a church? Who are the marginalized for whom we should set aside privilege?

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