I first learned to "loosen up" around children, albeit rather reluctantly, whenever my then two-year-old daughter, Sarah, would dance in the aisles during the hymns. To my embarrassment, she would approach the Lord’s Table and stare at Father Stan as he said the Eucharistic Prayer. On one of these occasions he picked her up gently and lovingly held her in his arms as he consecrated the bread and the wine. During the Communion anthem, Sarah sang louder than anyone: "Take and eat, take and eat, this is my body, given up for you.” In this way, Sarah taught me, hiding red-faced behind a prayer-book, how to worship. (.... and a little child will lead them....Isaiah 11: 6).
Jesus issued this warning to all, including the worshiping church: "See
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So, why should not children, including baptized infants, participate in the Eucharist? Does not God seal them with gift of the Holy Spirit also? Isn't the prescription for unity lying on the threshing floor (see Chapter 15)? Some will pick it up. Others will walk away. There are no guarantees that everyone will follow. Nonetheless, Christ invites everyone to the cross, into the Kidron Valley, and out from the empty tomb.
For many reasons, adults need children’s ministry as much as children need adult ministry. Sarah revealed the delight that is found in simple things such as food, water, stories, and community. Thus, Sarah's unconditional faith and pure trust edified the whole church. Indeed, children can do great things! Even so, stubborn, unaccommodating adults continue to complicate and clutter liturgy. But without children the church, quite simply, is not the Church.
“.... I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." The Lord said to me, however, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you...." (Jeremiah 1:
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Indeed, as a young child, Sarah could not learn by herself. To learn unity, she needed to ritualize unity within the greater community. Sometimes Sarah fidgeted. Sometimes she was too exuberant. Sometimes she was bored. Sometimes she sang too loudly or off-key. Sometimes she danced or ran up and down the aisles. Nonetheless, I tried not to worry about her extremes or her honesty in being extreme. I tried also not to make judgments about her abilities or shortcomings. I only had to love her into trusting God. Only then, as in trying to imitate my piano playing, could Sarah see in her Father's hands something to long
Wilson, Barbara S., Arlene Flancher, and Susan T. Erdey. The Episcopal Handbook. New York, NY: Morehouse Pub., 2008. Print.
J.R.R. Tolkien's use of waybread takes on the properties of the Catholic Eucharist in The Lord of the Rings. He creates lembas, a special kind of dried bread and made it the primary food source for the main characters. This special food is, in certain ways, a type of Eucharist, as defined by the Catholic church. Specifically, the parralells can be found in the outward similarities and the surrounding effects.
Churches have historically sought to minister to the special needs of widows, orphans and the aged. Today many churches are reexamining their efforts along these lines in light of the changing cultural and social situation. As concern for the plight of the aged has increased, so too have the resources available to the church. Health systems, social agencies and informational services all stand ready to provide support to churches taking on new projects or otherwise strengthening their ministry with the aging.
“Be assured, and doubt not, that not only men who have attained the use of their reason, but also little children who have begun to live in their mothers' womb and have there died, or who, having been just born, have passed away from the world without the sacrament of holy baptism,
As a Christian, there are many different rituals that many different denominations of Christianity follow. One common ritual among most denominations of Christianity is partaking in communion together as a church on Sundays. This ritual holds a special place in my heart. It is important to me because every time I take communion I am reminded of who put me here. I am also reminded of what Jesus did to save me for my sins and why I am here on this Earth.
Secondly, the Church can insist on its identity as an inter-generational community. It can do this structurally, by refusing to segment congregations by age, and temperamentally, by recovering a biblical respect for maturity and rejecting popular culture’s infantilism, thereby offering to children a goal of growing up. Popular culture exalts perpetual adolescence.
When the church first started growing the believers were few and shared everything. And there was not much need for deacons. But as time went on a need for deacons was identified. First th...
In an age when culture continues to lower standards of intellect, Marva Dawn makes compelling observations and suggestions for the Church to rethink its’ strategy on impacting society. How do we evangelize without weakening the message of what we are communicating? The majority of her text focuses on the worship environment generally, but later she focuses on music, preaching, and liturgy specifically. According to Dawn, a gathering of believers should emphasize God as the subject and object of worship, challenge each individual to grow in godly character, and accentuate the community of believers (not only in the room, but throughout history as well). Through this grid, she encourages leaders and participants to evaluate each worship element. If these primary goals are accomplished, then worship will not be empty and simpleminded. Instead the worship atmosphere would be held to a higher standard and, she believes, both pleasing to God and attractive to those who do not know God.
distinguish themselves from those who are not baptized; but is also a signal which points to the act of regeneration encompassing being born anew. In addition, the baptism of children is
Intro How would you feel if this was you? Embarrassed, disadvantaged and unable to get an education because you are disabled. Wouldn’t you appreciate all the help you can get? “blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy”. This is a beatitude found in the introduction to the Sermon on the Mount.
The homily opens up with a quotation from the Apostolic creed, (the shortest of the three Christian creeds), which reads “I believe in the holy catholic church; the communion of saints.” (qtd. Reese 163) This excerpt from the Apostolic creed, outlines ultimately what Christians believe about their church. That it is one holy catholic (universal) church, and that it is bound together by everyone who has been apart of the Christian Church, both living and dead. To better understand the church itself, we must look to the very book that is universally recognized, the bible. In Ephesians 4:4-6, it outlines the very foundation of what the church is. “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your vocation. There is one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism.One God and Father of all, which is above all, and through all, and in you all.” This excerpt truly does capture the unity that is found in the church through the communion of saints. That ultimately, the Spirit is in each and every one of us. This unites all of the members of the Christian Church on a spiritual level, and as such expresses unity.
Roman Catholics believe that through the sacrament of confession the Lord will forgive the sins that they have committed. The Priest acts as an intercessor for Christ; he hears the sins that the Catholic has committed then with the power he receives from Jesus is able to forgive the sins (catholic.org). This works when the Priest gives absolution to the repenting soul, the Catholic must truly be sorry for the sins he has committed otherwise Christ will not forgive them (jesuschristsavior.net). The Priest then makes the sign of the cross with the candidate saying, “I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (jesuschristsavior.net). The Priest will then give a penance to the candidate. The Penance is usually some type of prayer, fasting, or nice act to another person to truly show that you feel sorrow for the sins committed
Sonnenberg looks at the various different components that make up the bigger picture in the community aspect in a youth worship setting; these components are looked at systematically. In the article Sonnenberg and her fellow researchers addresses four aspects which are discussed theoretically which are the following: physical presence, empathetic and emotional equality, the opportunity to cross social and ecclesiological boundaries and sharing faith (Sonnenberg, Nel, Kock, & Barnard, 2015). In the quest to address the question the importance of these four aspects the researches firstly presented the importance of each of these aspects individually, by analysing previous research and looking at the background regarding these aspects (Sonnenberg, Nel, Kock, & Barnard, 2015). Additionally the researchers observed these four aspects in a practical manner by using various methods to collect data; the data was collected through pictures, videos, field notes, small group and individual interviews and conversations and through email correspondence (Sonnenberg, Nel, Kock, & Barnard, 2015). The leaders of the different organisations and youth groups were also interviewed (Sonnenberg, Nel, Kock, & Barnard, 2015). A study such as this is of great importance when it comes to a Church context but not only is relevant for the Church but for youth leaders and even how one goes about one’s daily
The first sacrament is Baptism. The ordinary minister of Baptism is a Priest, Bishop or Pope (not Deacon). In special cases anybody can baptize as long as they follow the proper form of the church. (De Ferrari 63) A pertinent symbol of Baptism would be Holy Water, which symbolizes what a priest uses to baptize someone. (De Ferrari 65) Baptism is when somebody officially becomes a part of the Catholic Church. (De Ferrari 64) One reason it is important would be because Jesus said, “Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, he can’t enter the kingdom of God.” (New Revised Standard Edition, John 3:5) Another reason this is important is because it is the door of spiritual life. Also with it we are made members of Christ and His body, the Church. (De Ferrari 62)
Numerous amounts of people would come to receive bags of food and select some clothing if they needed some. Particularly during Christmas time, the children that would come would receive some books, toys, and a stuffed animal. At these service events, I had made three very important observations. My first observation was the gratefulness of those who came. The adults, especially those who had to wait for a long time because of the sheer numbers of people that came, remained patient and orderly. Some of us can’t even be patient when the drive thru at a fast food restaurant becomes a stalemate. These people could worry less about time. They were grateful for simply being able to receive some goods that could help provide for them and their family. As for the children, the toys that they received weren’t necessarily desirable in the perspective of a privileged child. However, these kids knew how much their parents sacrificed for them. They were appreciative for any of the toys they received. For fortunate kids, they can expect that their parents will buy them a gift for Christmas. Yet, others can only hope that their parents can get them one small gift. Thus, they cherish anything they receive, something that all of us should do. The second observation I made was that we made sure to evangelize those who were there. In Matthew 4:3, in response to the