Dear Friends,
Once upon a time two seminarians were debating the merits of Morning Prayer or the Eucharist as the principle act of Sunday worship. The first explained that Morning Prayer, being a straightforward service that is focused on the Word and a homily, is not unlike what Jesus himself would have experienced in his hometown synagogue. Therefore, declared the first seminarian, “I prefer the service that Jesus attended.”
The second countered that on the night before he died, Jesus broke the bread, passed the cup, and said, “This is my Body. This is my Blood. Do this in remembrance of me.” The student pressed on, explaining how the Eucharist conveys to us the real presence of Jesus, however you want to define “real presence.” Therefore, declared the second seminarian, “I prefer the service that Jesus attends.”
I remembered that story as I was proofing the bulletin for this Sunday’s 11 am service, our principle act of worship. We are known as a “Morning Prayer” parish, yet for the fifth time in six weeks the service will be the Eucharist, also known as Holy Communion. Why? The simple answer is where Easter landed on the calendar this year.
Our schedule is this: on the first and fifth Sundays of the month, and high feast days that fall on Sundays, we celebrate the Eucharist. On the second, third, and fourth Sundays of the month during the choir season, we have Morning Prayer. This year March 30 was a fifth Sunday and April 6 a first. April 13 was Palm Sunday, and April 20 was Easter Day. All of these were Eucharist at 11 am. Last week, April 27 was a fourth Sunday and not a feast day, so we had Morning Prayer. This week, May 4 (let me be the first to say, “May the fourth be with you”) is a first Sunday again, making it five Eucharists in the past six weeks.
For those of you who prefer the service Jesus attends, it’s been a good run. For those who prefer the service Jesus attended, the times have been lean. But cheer up: it will be Morning Prayer on May 11, 18, and 25. I know it can be confusing, especially for newcomers. Last week after the service I was asked several times at the door why we didn’t have Communion. When I said, “Well, it’s because today is a fourth Sunday of the month and not a feast day,” I did not see the light of understanding come across the inquirers’ faces. Rather, it was the furrowed brow of perplexity.
Morning Prayer used to be a much more common offering across the Episcopal Church, but not so much anymore. Why do we continue it? One reason is – and I don’t mean to be glib – is that we’ve always done it this way. Another reason has to do with our close affiliation with Grace Church School. Many of the choristers who sing at the 11 am service, and their families who bring them, are not baptized Christians, and thus unable to receive. Morning Prayer can be an ecumenical, pastoral service that invites everyone into the same level of participation.
It’s a big topic, one that I suspect I will write more about in the weeks to come. In the meantime, let’s enjoy all fifty days of this Easter season. The Lord is risen, indeed, and attends our worship whenever two or three of us gather in his name.
See you in Church,
Don