Antidoron as a Principled Ministry of Hospitality

One of the issues raised in the 2012 Episcopal Church General Convention was Open Communion:  may bishops authorize distribution of the elements to persons who have not been properly baptized (i.e. in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) as a matter of generous pastoral provision? 

There were valid points raised by proponents and opponents: Jesus fed the five thousand without an admission ticket; only a few of Jesus disciples - the apostles - were willing to suspend their shock at being asked to eat his flesh and drink his blood and remain with Our Lord because He offered the true words of life.  Offering the elements to all encourages non-believers to join the community; offering the elements to those who are unbaptized is to adulterate the meaning and value of the sacrifice once made for all.  There were even some online mutterings about "pearls before swine"....

In the end, the House of Bishops said "no."   I believe they made the correct decision.  But that still leaves us with a question: is there no way to include those present at the Eucharist who, for any one of a number of reasons, cannot be given, or accept, the elements in either kind?  Or shall we continue to make it plain on Sundays who are the sheep and who are the goats, recognizing that it is personally painful and off-putting to some non-recipients and their Christian friends and relatives, if not all?

And here we have one of those grace-filled options that come from being part of a very old Tradition in dynamic times: Ἀντίδωρον - antidoron - "instead of gifts".  As that ever indispensable resource, Wikipedia, notes

The earliest historical reference to this custom are in fact found in the Western Church. It is mentioned in the 118th letter of St. Augustine to Januarius (now known as the 54th letter in the new order), and in the canons of a local council in Gaul in the seventh century. Originally it was a substitute, or solatium for such of the faithful as were not properly prepared to receive Holy Communion or were unable to get to the Eucharistic Sacrifice. If they could not partake of the real Body of Jesus Christ, for instance because of not having fulfilled the obligatory fast or for being in a state of mortal sin, they had the consolation of partaking of the non-consecrated, liturgical bread which had been blessed and from which the portions for the real sacred consecration had been taken.

Currently common in Orthodox Christian communities, this instead of gift is sometimes reserved: for Orthodox Christians, or Orthodox and non-Orthodox Christians, or all present including guests (which may include non-Christians) after the conclusion of the formal liturgy - it is and  distributed by the priest with a blessing for each recipient. 

So how might this venerable tradition be used in the Episcopal Church which generally uses azymes (wafers) for communion, and loaves of bread - consecrated or otherwise - are seldom if ever seen in the sanctuary or nave?  Here is one thought....

After the Post-Communion prayer  and before the Dismissal, loaves of fresh bread prepared by members of the parish are placed on the altar.  The Presider and the entire congregation then pray

Heavenly Father, may these gifts of our hands and hearts be acceptable to You and a reminder to us in the coming week of how You constantly and graciously feed and sustain all Creation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The loaves would then be presented to the ushers before the Dismissal, taken into another room (sacristy?) cut into cubes, placed in baskets to be held by Ushers and Vestry members, and be offered to all as they leave the church as a "favor" with the words "A blessed week!"

We leave no one without hospitality; we keep the sacrament reserved to those who are baptized; and we encourage all present to go into the new week considering the many ways Christ feeds and sustains the whole world....

We Shall Overcome...Again

So the Voting Rights Act enforcement provisions have been overturned and the pre-implementation vetting by the DOJ is no longer in force in the Old South...

I suspect that this is going to be one of those instances of unintended consequences which supporters of the decision will come to rue in the election cycles ahead. 

I imagine we'll see....

• More race-baiting in electioneering
• More gerrymandering in state houses to guarantee white aka "conservative" majority districts
• More attempts to disqualify folks of color from participating in elections
• More challenges by "conservative" poll judges of folks' voting credentials
• More efforts to improve voting "efficiency" by reducing availability of polling places and their operating hours
• More efforts to ban or minimize oversight of polling places by citizen monitors

And in response I expect we'll also see...

• Efforts to apply the VRA provisions throughout the USA - increasing budgets for the DOJ to perform the increased scrutiny
• Increased scrutiny of state house gerrymandering by media AND political activists
• More litigation to overturn redistricting maps
• More public investigations into who owns the legislators
• More counterstrike challenges of conservative voters credentials at polls
• More demand for online and mail-in ballot voting only
• Increasing legions of citizen polling place monitors and increased reports of voting infractions
• More accusations of racism, classism, and general nastiness in the public sphere

God have mercy on the USA...we're gonna need it (even more than we have so far)...

Sigh

I've never quite understood the hysteria which surrounds the idea of same gender marriage in America...

If it were purely a religious matter...I honestly don't know of anyone who would disagree with the proposition that a religious community has the right to define marriage or solemnize a covenanted relationship between two informed and consenting adult members within their own community according to their rules...if so, let me know, I'd like to hear your thoughts!

For myself, the problem arises when the government uses marriage as a qualifier for special taxpayer supported privileges and benefits to participants in one sort of partnership (marriage - over 1000 privileges and benefits at last count) and not others solely because of the gender of those involved...again presuming both parties are informed and consenting adults. 

Now, one reasonable approach would be to get government out of the marriage business: no more special benefits or privileges for partnerships of any sorts - everyone treated equal under the law irrespective of marital or partnership status.  Think of the reduced documentation, need for lawyers, unclogging of courts...I'd think many folks who support smaller government and libertarian principles would be all for this....leave it to one's faith or relational community.

Or, if we hold that marriage is important for raising responsible members of society - a bit of a weak argument given the realities of more than a few Americans' lives today - and thereby justifies government involvement (and support), then restrict "legal" marriage only to those couples who are having, or have had, or adopted, or care for others' children so the society can help provide for our future citizenry.  No kids, no "legal" marriage.  Gender preference being of no relevance in determining who could or could not marry in such a situation....

Or, make common law partnerships de facto marriage under the civil law of each state and apply the existing state and federal laws, privileges and benefits accordingly irrespective of partner genders....call them domestic partnerships not marriages but apply the rules universally - no more  licenses for some and not all couples demonstrating at least 6 months of continuous cohabitation of two informed, consenting, adults...the clerk registers the domestic partnership (same gender OR hetero) and that's it....

Or, simply allow any two informed and consenting adults to marry civilly and/or religio-civilly and receive all of the privileges and benefits currently accorded to hetero marriages - which seems to be the option which freaks many folks out. 

I appreciate that there are folks who have legitimate problems with my point of view, and I do not expect or want anyone to think I believe I have the answer...but I do believe that one way blessed by a religious and culturally informed tradition may not be the only or best way to address this matter within a secular society.  Again, one's freely chosen faith community should have a voice, possibly a vote, or even (if you choose) a veto on your covenanted relationships, but not the government....thoughts?

The Gifts of God for the People of God

During  Eucharist, after the Bread is broken and the fraction anthem, Christ Our Passover is sung, the elements are raised and the priest declares, "The gifts of God for the people of God."

This has been noodging me recently:  "The gifts of God for the people of God." The gifts of God for the people of God?  Christ?  Bread and wine? Life and joy? Each of us for other?  We are become sacramental living into the Word of the Kingdom of God....

Laughing...how very, very obvious....

A Different Sort of Sunny Sunday Morning

I sometimes like to imagine how things might be some sunny Sunday morning  ....

Entering the Banquet Hall I find a mid-room U-shaped banquette with seating for no more than two dozen....at the door is a box into which guests may place gifts...the host walking around the gathered, greeting, seating, and blessing each guest ("Blessed is one who comes in the name of the Lord!") and pouring herb scented water over their hands, while a co-host  catches the water in a basin, and another co-host dries the guests' hands with a warm towel...finally, a co-host washes the host's hands standing before  the center of the banquette and the host washes the co-hosts hands and seats them, seating himself last....the host asks a guest to lead the gathering in the Lord's Prayer and after the amen the guest asks those present for a few minutes of silent reflection on the week past - thanking God for the good and seeking comfort from God for the bad...finally a co-host says, "May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. And let us all say, Amen."

A wordless tune begins at the banquette and the co-hosts bring the tables and linens and utensils and dress the tables before the banquette while the song continues....salt, round bread, honey, wine, olive oil, vinegar, and water are placed before the host, and after a call for quiet, the host offers a blessing to the One by whose will all things exist through Jesus Christ our Lord... the host cuts a cross into the loaf of round bread which is then broken into smaller pieces -  and the broken bread, the appetizer, is distributed and consumed around the banquette while co-hosts distribute additional salt, round bread, honey, wine, olive oil, vinegar, and water and then bring food to the tables on platters - simple, seasonal, local fruits, vegetables, more breads, hard boiled eggs, fish, cottage cheese or home-made yogurt - servings are family style. 

The guests eat quietly and slowly while the host tells them stories from the Scriptures Old and New - with pauses for riddles, a puzzle, a tune and jokes to keep the guests entertained.  He might even offer a few brief words on how the stories speak to his own life and concerns.  When all are finished with their meal a co-host gives thanks to the One who sustains all through Jesus Christ Our Lord and the  co-hosts clear the tables of their utensils. 

Now it is time for the host to retell the Passion story from one of the Gospels and remind all present Christ has died, Christ has risen, and Christ will come again.  A hymn of praise to God for grace, love and blessings is sung by all.  A guest chants a psalm with an antiphonal response while the co-hosts undress the tables and remove them.  Finally, the coming week's host or a co-host stands and asks a continuing blessing on all present and their family, friends, and neighbors, all whom they will meet in the week to come, all absent, and all who have left or are leaving the community.  And a (different) co-host then says, "Let us go forth and live into the Kingdom of God for the glory of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit!" And all respond, "Thanks be to the Living God!"  A wordless tune begins and for some it might be a time for a circle dance of praise and thanks - men with men and women with women.  Guests and hosts trade gifts of words, or tools, or pass on gifts which they themselves have received or made to honor or remember another....and the gathering winds down.

The co-hosts then gather on either side of  the door and as guests pass through and take their leave  each is given a sealed envelope which is the guest's take away - all contain a thank you for attending and a small physical reminder of the day's story(-ies) as well as a reminder of the coming week's daily Scripture readings, notes on upcoming key community events, a query  and advices gathered from the universal Body of Christ over the centuries on a moral or ethical issue - this is for personal reflection...but some may also contain a pastoral note, an invitation to meet at another time for a talk or a visit, or include some assistance, or a reminder or...these were made up prayerfully in advance by the week's host and co-hosts together for their usual guests with additional envelopes for any visitors.  This weeks hosts will be among next weeks guests...

Finally comes the clean up by the whole group of the week's hosts....one is sometimes guest, sometimes host....

Brother Story, Sister Song

When one is travelling through this world, it is good to have companions for the journey.  I travel with two: Brother Story and Sister Song. 

Brother Story makes travel easier - he reminds me I'm walking in well worn paths even if the scenery and steps aren't familiar: he is compass and map and guide.  I may be scared.  Or fearful.  But I am not lost. Or alone.  And because Brother Story has been in all places at all times among all people I am never a stranger, nor a stranger met, where ever I go.

Sister Song makes living easier - she is encourager and lightener and bearer of sorrow and joy. She is the sound of Creation echoing and continuing and Thanksgiving responding to gift given gracefully.  She is the aceite y sal y pimiento (oil, salt, and pepper) on the table which makes life's bread taste its best. 

Care to join the little band?

What A Long Strange Trip It's Been

Sometimes I find myself wondering about God's sense of humor.  In the last two weeks I've found (or been found by) dozens of childhood friends who (I thought) had disappeared from my life forever.  It's been great hearing from these folks again...and sad to find some folks have gone to their rest. 

For all those folks who're here and those gone on I post this link to the Grateful Dead in concert at the Aarhus University (Denmark), 4/16/72, playing Truckin' (cut #5), which includes the line "lately I've been thinking what a long, strange trip it's been...."

Amen.