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Ship of Fools: The Church at Cactus, Peoria, Arizona, USA

The Mystery WorshipperThe Mystery Worshipper Shipmate
edited December 15 in The Mystery Worshipper

imageShip of Fools: The Church at Cactus, Peoria, Arizona, USA

A warm welcome (with coffee and cake), followed by a dignified and light-hearted hymn sandwich

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Comments

  • Richard HershbergerRichard Hershberger Shipmate Posts: 2
    I suspect they would not characterize the bread as the Body of Christ, but rather consider Communion to be merely commemorative.

  • SpikeSpike Ecclesiantics & MW Host, Admin Emeritus
    That was my thought too
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    Same here!
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    Indeed. I strongly suspect they would not refer to the bread as “the Body of Christ,” except maybe when actually giving the bread to communicants; they might even take exception to it. Though not considering the bread to actually be the Body of Christ doesn’t automatically mean memorialist. There are other what might be called “in-between” views along that spectrum.

    But given they are (US) Baptists, assuming a memorialist approach is a reasonable bet. While I agree it might have been best to pick the bread up and put it back on the table, I can imagine an ingrained aversion to treating the bread in any way that might be seen as giving it any particular reverence.

  • Alan29Alan29 Shipmate
    "In the sanctuary, several people working the room stopped by my seat to say hello, welcome." This Brit wonders what is meant by sanctuary here. Our RC usage means the area around the altar where the ministers etc do their stuff. I assume thats not what you mean.
  • Amanda B ReckondwythAmanda B Reckondwyth Shipmate
    Yes, I'm accustomed to having "sanctuary" mean "space around the altar." But the custom I've seen in most Protestant churches is to use "sanctuary" as a synonym for "nave'.

    As for communion, the ministers did indeed speak the words "The Body of Christ" as they placed a morsel in the palm. But memorial or not, Baptist or not, it's still rather crude simply to kick the crumbs out of the way. Would they do that in their own homes if a guest dropped a morsel on the floor?
  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    We do the same with our Advent candles - the candle(s) from the previous week is/are alight as people come into building. A light is then taken to the new candle, with appropriate words said, following the opening hymn and prayers.
  • Alan29Alan29 Shipmate
    Amanda B Reckondwyth wrote: »
    Yes, I'm accustomed to having "sanctuary" mean "space around the altar." But the custom I've seen in most Protestant churches is to use "sanctuary" as a synonym for "nave'.

    As for communion, the ministers did indeed speak the words "The Body of Christ" as they placed a morsel in the palm. But memorial or not, Baptist or not, it's still rather crude simply to kick the crumbs out of the way. Would they do that in their own homes if a guest dropped a morsel on the floor?

    Thank you. It's not a usage I have come across in the UK, but that might just be me.
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    Amanda B Reckondwyth wrote: »
    Yes, I'm accustomed to having "sanctuary" mean "space around the altar." But the custom I've seen in most Protestant churches is to use "sanctuary" as a synonym for "nave'.
    Not just the nave, but the entire space. As the Episcopal Church’s Glossary of Terms puts it:
    Sanctuary may mean the area around the altar, especially in liturgical churches. It may be separated from the rest of the church by an altar rail. It may refer to the entire chancel area, including the choir and/or the space reserved for the clergy. It may also refer to the entire interior of the church where worship takes place.
    My impression is that using sanctuary to mean the entire space is primarily an American usage.


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