The nature of ordained ministry - "The liturgical functions of a priest" (From the heard, the seen, the smelled, the shared, the experienced, the acted)

From the heard, the seen, the smelled, the shared, and discussed and the acted. This is our formation or ongoing formation in liturgy and ordained ministry. Formation starts at different points for different people, but there is no end. Formation is ongoing – it breaks and makes, learns and unlearns, equips and reequips, and reinvents you. With adequate formation a presbyter is equipped to celebrate the liturgy as the Presider. If not interested in formation, then the presbyter become a meagre reader of the liturgy

F#1    Formation

For the purpose of this theme our focus will be on the liturgy of the Eucharist.

 

Liturgy

• The work of people
• Liturgy is a communal activity.
• A celebration
• An expression of faith
• A response of God’s people to live a holy life.

 What is common to all these responses is "people".

 They are the "people of God".

 

Who are the people of God?

The laity includes children - youth, adults. Men and women, the differently abled, the educated and uneducated, the rich and the poor. 

They are all a priestly people. They are members through Baptism. Baptism makes the people of God inclusive.

 

Who are the laity?

• The most valuable resource of the church
• The bible speaks about diverse gifts – It is these people who posses the diverse gifts.
• They are all gifted and talented, all in god’s image, all created to worship, all are gods workmanship, for gods good works, all come from different experiences and backgrounds
• The laity are a treasure trove

 

What are the roles that laity play in liturgy?

• It starts with those who get the church ready for worship.
• Then those at the door-ushers, acolytes, readers, choristers, lay assistants, organists,
• Those who can write, the tech savvy, those who arrange flowers
• All such people are talented, they give their time, sometimes they may be better than the 4 year trained priest.
• Eg- Churches in the upcountry, we go from one church to the other and the church is ready.
• Never see a lay person as a threat. (There is the exception, where they try to  boss around and obstruct the priest from doing their responsibility.)
• They co-exist with the presbyter / priest
• Liturgy is a team working together.

F#02 – Identify resources and use them in the liturgical life of the church

Who are priests or presbyters?

• He or she is called out from within the laity for a specific purpose and trained and formed for this ministry. Which means a priest has to be humble.

F#3 Respect the laity and understand the laity well.

• Respect for the congregation is important. They come from different backgrounds, and different experiences. Each ones faith is different. Give them their space.

• A persons who’s hands are anointed to carry every member in their parish every day. 
• Carry them into the liturgy
• Intercessions
• Sentences
• Prayers
• send them out 
• and carry them everyday of their life.

F#4 Carry the people with you

• "Priest serve a priestly people"- Stephen Cotterel, Archbishop of York.

 

F#5 Love your liturgy. 

Let it become part of your system.  So that liturgy is being thought of 24 × 7 x 365.

·         Breadth

·         Energy

·         Food

·         Blood

Liturgy is life. Absorb it. 

 

F#5 Know your liturgy

The what, why?  How? When?

What should be ensured in the liturgy

Flowers, candles, liturgical colours, liturgical gesture (appropriate), choir, organist, servers, the liturgy book, hymn books,

Eg:- 

• Priest at wedding, preacher, chasuble
• When do you wear an alb
• Who goes where in a procession
• Where do you sit when you go to another church
• Funerals - Some still use purple.

 F#6 Prepare and plan liturgy

A well planned liturgy can form the thinking, speaking and acting of the gathered community and shape the week that is ahead. This is not just for the laity but for the clergy as well. Poeple find strength in the liturgy. Make people feel welcomed and included. Presiding at the liturgy is a humbling experience. It can keep you humble throughout the week.

Ending

When you look at the above functions and function accordingly, you are truly the president at the Celebration of the Eucharist. If not you preside at the meaningless reading of the book.

Liturgy is always evolving. It changes with time and is unique to context.

Always, listen, see, smell, share, discuss and act

Liturgy is the capstone of Ordain ministry. Liturgy holds the entire of irdained ministry together

• Teaching
• Pastoral care
• Administration.
• Social responsibility
• Evangelism
• Prophetic

(Shared at the Clergy Synod 2021)