Litugical Innovations

In what seemed like a minor change in the usual Sunday service, the rector announced that for the next several weeks we will be part of a little liturgical experiment. Some bishop from some other part of T.E.c. (I think he said Oklahoma) has written new Offertory Sentences and new Proper Prefaces (for the Eucharistic Prayer) that purportedly tie in with the Revised Common Lectionary readings for the day. Bishop Waldo of Upper South Carolina has given permission to use these with the caveat that discussion of the changes be held at some future date.

If you missed it, today's readings included Jeremiah 4:11-12,22-28, Psalm 14, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, and Luke 15:1-10.

The new Offertory Sentence was,

"This saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."

The new Proper Preface was,

"It is right and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.  For through your Son Jesus Christ your grace and love overflow to us. Through him, we who were lost have been found and welcomed into the presence of your heavenly feast. Therefore we rejoice with the angels and with all those in heaven, as we sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your name."

Since new material will be added each week, and memories are short, it seems like a good thing for me to compile these things here. Comments can be developed and saved for the end of the experiment "discussion." Given the history of Episcopal innovations, it is unlikely that comments will change the outcome of this particular "experiment."

Despite knowing that resistance is futile, I want to voice a few concerns.

1. The Preface for 09/12/2010 is a bit soft and mushy, Pablum, when compared to the powerful call for sinners to repent that we heard in Luke 15.

Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’

 So he told them this parable: ‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
 ‘Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’

The Preface, like our rector's nineteen minute sermon today, ignores the importance of repentance of sin. When Jesus dined with sinners, it was for their sake, that they might repent and sin no more. When we come to the Lord's Supper, we come as repentant sinners. Unless we are reminded that this meal comes with a price, we run the risk of serving Pablum in place of the Body and Blood of our Lord and Saviour.

2. I am not sure about the part of the Preface that says,

"For through your Son Jesus Christ your grace and love overflow to us."

I get a mental picture of an overheated pot of grace and love bubbling over onto the stove-top.

3. Little innovations have a way of opening the door to bigger ones.

4. As the people in the pews always do, we will nod and take it as long as it sounds nice.