Why Episcopal? Part IV – Word and Sacrament

In an Episcopal worship service the Word and the Sacrament are of equal importance.  This is acted out liturgically in numerous ways depending upon the parish.  At St. Paul’s the service of the Word ends with the Gospel text being processed to the middle of the sanctuary and held high for everyone to see, while it processes we all chant “Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”  The text is then announced by the reader of the gospel (either an ordained deacon or priest): “The Holy Gospel according to…”  As this is announced we in the congregation cross our forehead, our lips, and our hearts, so that we receive the words of Christ in our minds and in our hearts and we respond with our wills (mouth).  The congregation then responds in unison “Glory to you Lord Christ.”  The gospel text is then read by the ordained clergy with hands lifted high in blessing.  Following the reading, the deacon or priest says the “The Gospel of our Lord.”  The congregation responds with “Praise to you Lord Christ.”  Following the reading of the Gospel a homily is offered; typically lasting about 12 minutes.  

I won’t explain the whole Eucharist aspect of the service, but there is just as much to it as the service of the Word.  What this of course demonstrates is that the Word and Sacrament are of equal importance.  Each of them are God’s gift to us, each of them demonstrate the Gospel, in each of them we can experience the presence of Christ.  

In the tradition from which I came the Word had more importance than the Sacrament.  This of course is quite obvious to see; sermons happened every week and they usually took up 1/2 to 2/3 of the worship service.   Communion on the other hand happened once a month, and it was always done in the most efficient way possible: little personal cups and personal wafers passed down the rows for individual consumption.  

Now in reality what ends up happening in this system is not so much an elevated view of the Word, but the elevated view of one person’s (usually a man’s) understanding of scripture.  I know that sounds harsh but sadly I think its accurate.  

I preached my first sermon at Church of the Apostles last Saturday. Reflecting back upon that experience what struck me most was the experience of preaching in a worship service where Word and Sacrament are seen to have equal importance.  After my sermon, I sat down in my chair and I with my community moved into the Eucharist, where the Gospel is recounted through words, prayers, and the eating of bread and wine.  

I can’t tell you how good it felt that I didn’t have the final word of the service, but rather what I said was held in tension (and hopefully congruence) with what happened at the Table.  Furthermore, it was such a helpful reminder to me as a minister that I go forward to the table with everyone else to receive the blessing of God in bread and wine.  We all stand before Christ, and Christ cannot be contained simply in the words of preachers.