tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post5365854532317780149..comments2023-11-03T04:50:42.128-05:00Comments on Confessional Gadfly: "Doing" the ServiceRev. Eric J Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747919365522145094noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-65382722826127170202008-11-22T18:28:00.000-06:002008-11-22T18:28:00.000-06:00That's all well and good -- but people still need ...That's all well and good -- but people still need to know why the red is done and what it means.Rev. Eric J Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17747919365522145094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-49193184380181972072008-11-22T06:30:00.000-06:002008-11-22T06:30:00.000-06:00Say the black. Do the red.Satis est.Say the black. Do the red.<BR/>Satis est.Rev. Paul T. McCainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04846468267196335350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-6300062104142539122008-11-21T12:32:00.000-06:002008-11-21T12:32:00.000-06:00Well then, Eric, I would suggest you teach :-). A...Well then, Eric, I would suggest you teach :-). And encourage others to do the same. Yet, there is a sense in which the rubric done intentionally and yes, well, teaches. I'm thinking of a young man (evangelical) who wandered into a service one Sunday morning and has never left. He "experienced" (his words) something he'd never seen before. He didn't understand much, but he wanted more.... He later learned the why. I know him by name and share a fine coney with him now and then...and am teaching him the fine art of beer appreciation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-44076745185278962932008-11-21T07:56:00.000-06:002008-11-21T07:56:00.000-06:00I would appreciate that!And to clarify - I'm not a...I would appreciate that!<BR/><BR/>And to clarify - I'm not arguing for a watered down service or ritual or even a simplified liturgy, but rather that we also teach the liturgy. If one understands what is happening, one is drawn. Otherwise, someone just sees that something strange is happening. . . probably something that may or may not feel neat, but I don't think that is the focus.<BR/><BR/>I think we ought learn from the Jewish Seder. Dad, why do we eat these herbs? Dad, why are we wearing our sandals? Ritual must be taught -- it can't simply be the pastor who understands the esoteric wonders of the service - it must be taught (at least to those who have ears).Rev. Eric J Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17747919365522145094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-45417182293374505102008-11-20T22:54:00.000-06:002008-11-20T22:54:00.000-06:00Eric,I have been reading and writing on liturgical...Eric,<BR/>I have been reading and writing on liturgical ritual. I'll email you a presentation I did for our circuit. Issues of simplicity, intelligibility, transparency, etc. do not make for good ritual. The 'why' can only go so far. Ritual appropriate to our confession of faith actually draws the person into a reality beyond rationality. Rubricism is certainly not the answer, but sometimes opacity in ritual is most beneficial. <BR/>+MasonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-8568500089244681922008-11-20T07:02:00.000-06:002008-11-20T07:02:00.000-06:00On this I agree - and some of the rubrics convey a...On this I agree - and some of the rubrics convey an obvious idea. . . while I end up not genuflecting here, I will elevate during the Pax Domini. Oh, look. . . that must be where God's Peace is. . . that makes sense.<BR/><BR/>But Confessing also depends upon understanding. If I walk up to a group of people here in the US and read off the Augustana in Latin. . . if it is beyond understanding, what have I confessed to these people. Confessing before men is part of the phrase there.<BR/><BR/>And even in regards to the specific rubrics. . . there is not a single way that shows, and alone shows, the idea being confessed. <BR/><BR/>Again, I think this hits to one of the traps that pastors can fall into. We are used to dealing with things theological - and we don't always remember that not everyone thinks in terms of ceremony or theology.<BR/><BR/>Some rubrics are fairly obvious. I kneel during confession, even though the Congregation stands as there are no kneelers. That had an impact - but even then I had to explain to quite a few people why.<BR/><BR/>Speaking or confessing in Rubrics, sadly enough, is almost like speaking in Latin. It's a good thing, worth-while - but we need to remember that we have to not only do, but speak -- and that in this case, perhaps our actions don't speak louder than words.Rev. Eric J Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17747919365522145094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847211149012008703.post-65981145295665770552008-11-19T20:38:00.000-06:002008-11-19T20:38:00.000-06:00Depending on the context, they also CONFESS. When...Depending on the context, they also CONFESS. When the pastor genuflects during the Verba, he is clearly confessing that what is upon the altar is the body and blood of the Savior (contra receptionism). Bodo Nishan had a couple of stellar works on the Reformation in Brandenburg and how the liturgical conservatism (including rubrics) came to be bigger than life in marking out Lutherans from those leaning toward the Reformed.William Weedonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com