Day Twenty Two- 1/22/11 Celebrating Common Commnion Through Prayer

Day Twenty Two: 1/22/11
New Thing: Celebrating Common Communion Through Prayer
Inspiration: The Episcopal Church, The ELCA, The Moravian Church, and John 17:21
Cost: $0
Time: About half an hour
Bottom Line: Really enriching prayer time dedicated to the Unity of Christ's Church.

Reflection:  NOTE: Since this is a little "churchy" I have added a ton of links to this reflection if you are interested in some of these larger topics.

The Episcopal Shield (It Welcomes You)

For today's new prayer meditation, I focused on the joy of the Episcopal Church's Ecumenical Full Communion partners--specifically the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Northern and Southern Proviencs of the Moravian Church. Here is a nice little paragraph from the Episcopal Church's website (link above) describing what theology and philosophy of Full Communion is:

We understand full communion to be a relation between distinct churches in which each recognizes the other as a catholic and apostolic church holding the essentials of the Christian faith.  Within this new relation, churches become interdependent while remaining autonomous...Diversity is preserved, but this diversity is not static.  Neither church seeks to remake the other in its own image, but each is open t the gifts of the other as it seeks to be faithful to Christ and his mission.  They are together committed to a visible unity in the church's mission to proclaim the Word and administer the Sacraments.

In other words, when two churches enter into a Full Communion with each other, we are saying that we agree on the most important matters of theology and we express these beliefs in such a way as to consider each other family. Like brothers and sisters rather than just distant cousins who use that incense you don't really care for, or that uncle you never talk to because you are pretty sure he is a heretic, or 4th cousins twice removed who caused that schism years ago but swear you did, or frienemies who just never seem to be able to talk to each other with out making things worse and who wear those weird hats. In practice, it means that our clergy can celebrate communion almost interchangeably (as long as permission from superiors has been granted) and there are greater partnerships which are formed between them. This is a very big deal because in John 17:21 Jesus prays that his followers "may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me." He is calling for a unity of spirit and love that will witness to the world the same unity and love that is found in the Trinity. Full Communion relationships are a step closer to the fullness that Jesus longed for his Church and which makes the kingdom of God a reality in the here and now.

The Moravian Seal

The Episcopal Church is in the Full Communion relationship with several Churches, but the two which are the closet to my heart are the Moravians and the Lutherans. As many of you know, I attend Moravian College right here in the heart of Moravian territory, Bethlehem, PA. The Christmas City was founded as a Moravian settlement on Christmas Eve 1741. Moravian College (which likes to say it is the 6th oldest college in the Nation) has a really cool history as well, including being one of the first founded on the principles of the "Father of Modern Education," John Amos Comenius, the 17th century Moravian bishop. In addition to the alma mater tie, I was also lucky enough to be vote "yes" to this relationship at our General Convention in 2003 & 2006 and was with the Presiding Bishop last year she celebrated at a Moravian service at the Moravian Seminary here in Bethlehem. Finally, I am also blessed to part of the planning committee for the up coming historical Celebration of the Full Communion service in February (more on that later).

Pretend it is a pretty piece of stained glass like the other two.

But what got me thinking about this as a prayer intention was actually the Lutherans. We entered into this relationship with them 10 years ago this month and this week, both National Offices have asked us to say special prayers of thanksgiving in honor of this. It is an especially appropriate time to do so since this is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Thus, I was more then happy to oblige.

I decided to chant the Night Prayer from the Lutheran Book of Worship, using Martin Luther's prayer as well as a Pray for Christian Unity (below). I watched to a video of my favorite Moravian Christmas Vesper Hymn (which is always lead by children and sang by candle light), "Morning Star" as a meditation during it and I lit a little beeswax candle (another Moravian tradition) that my friend Ellyn and her children made for us as an Epiphany gift. At the end I had a cup of coco like a Bethlehem Moravian Love Feast. It was really beautiful to remember the joy of being in this Christan family, and I felt warmed at the thought of the relationships that have been made in the name of the unity that Jesus prayed for.  Also, I love coco. And I am betting Jesus does to.

A Prayer for Christian Unity

God our Father, your Son Jesus prayed that his followers might be one. Make all Christians one with him as ht is one with you, so that in peace and concord we may carry to the world the message of your love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. 

-From the ELCA Book of Worship