3 Streams: The Sacramental
Have you ever seen someone riding an electric bike and thought to yourself, “Cheater”. If you have, then you might have raced bikes or, like me, been in a triathlon or two. I use to have the same ‘cheater’ feelings about someone who swims laps in a pool with hand or foot fins. They are just cruising along with half the effort, so somehow it felt like they were cheating.
Then one day I saw someone using fins while swimming laps in a pool and I knew he could swim faster than anyone in the pool without them. I started thinking that perhaps the assistance given by fins in swimming, or a battery when biking, could be something else. Eventually, by using them myself, I learned these helps can enhance the pleasure and enjoyment of the activity. They can assist you when you are exhausted and tired, but want to keep going. They can allow you to focus on other things besides the basic mechanics of what you are doing. They push you forward at a pace I could not achieve on my own.
Before I understood the liturgy of the Anglican tradition I thought of these written prayers as “cheating”. “Wouldn’t it be better to pray from your heart?”, I would think. I have come to see written prayers in my personal life and in church, similar to this phenomenon when exercising. These prayers written by church, both ancient and contemporary, are not “cheating” but can be used daily for many reasons. These prayers can enhance the pleasure and enjoyment of prayer. They can assist you when you are exhausted and tired, but want to keep praying. These prayers can allow you to focus on other things besides the basic mechanics of coming up with the words yourself.
Many times these liturgical prayers have stopped me in my tracks because of the unique way they convey the beauty of God. They push me forward in my relationship with Him at a pace I could not achieve on my own.
In last week’s “Words from the Rector” I introduced a metaphor the Anglican tradition has used to described itself over the years. This metaphor is often called “Three Streams, One River”. (Click here if you missed this introduction https://marinerschurchofdetroit.org/blog/three-streams-one-river/). Although Mariners’ is an independent church, we look to the Anglican tradition as a guide to our worship and beliefs, including following the Book of Common Prayer in our worship service.
The 3-streams metaphor supposes that there are three major components of the church universal- The Sacramental, The Spiritual, and The Scriptural. Churches tend to emphasis one or two of these aspects, sometimes at the exclusion of others. In the Anglican tradition, we embrace and try to balance all three of these in our beliefs and worship.
In this letter I would like for us to consider the stream of The Sacramental.
The waters of the Sacramental stream are deep with meaning and richness. One of the most obvious activities is the liturgy, or the written prayers, we pray throughout the worship service.
Even mentioning this stream I am filled with amazement at the beauty and wonder that is contained for us as individuals and as a church. Liturgy gives a window into the mystical presence of God and his love for us in new and fresh ways. For me, perhaps this amazement is due, in part, to the fact that is was so absent in my experience until joining the staff of an Anglican church in 2010. Quickly I grew to love the liturgy, especially celebrating Eucharist every Sunday.
Growing up and even serving on staff in churches that emphasized other streams, like Scripture (Baptist) and Spirit (Assemblies of God), I thought it was more mature to come up with your own prayers to God, often spontaneously. If I would hear the pre-written prayers from Catholics or Lutherans I would think: ‘cheater’. I didn’t have the full breath of a church experience until being part of the Anglican tradition.
As part of this liturgy, celebrating communion is central to the sacramental worship experience. In other traditions the sermon is often central. In the Anglican tradition we spend a large part of our service time preparing for and experiencing Eucharist together. These prayers, written in deep theological prose, can read like poetry once the words become familiar. In the Eucharistic service, we begin to see the mysterious presence of God and our union with Him in our taking of the bread and wine.
Another special part of The Sacramental stream is the high regard we give to baptism and other liturgical practices such as The Daily Office (morning, noon, evening, and compline prayers and the reading of scriptures). The Church Calendar, with all the seasons colors, remind us of the cycles of spiritual rhythm and growth each year. All of this creates the refreshing and rushing stream called The Sacramental.
When the early church was first formed, the Scriptures give a commentary about their activity in its infancy. You can see each of these streams in their practices.
Acts 2:42-43
And they [The early church] devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship [The Scriptural], to the breaking of bread and the prayers [The Sacramental]. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through
the apostles [The Spirit].
When the early Church, in Acts 2, took part of the ‘breaking of bread and of prayers’ this is a direct commentary on the regular practice of communion and liturgy.
The Sacramental has been part of the church since its inception, and we are blessed to be part of its continuation to the next generation of believers.
Blessings and peace,
Rev. Todd