Jump to     PRACTICES Assessing Congregational Familiarity with Sacraments Sharing Invitation Congregational Preparation for the Sacraments

Sacraments in a Mission-focused
Congregation

by  John VanDerWalker

Generously share the invitation, ministries, and sacraments through which people can encounter the Living Christ who heals and reconciles through redemptive relationships in sacred community. The restoring of persons to healthy or righteous relationships with God, others, themselves, and the earth is at the heart of the purpose of your journey as a people of faith.

—Doctrine and Covenants 163:2b

Doctrine and Covenants 163 encourages the church to “generously share invitation, ministry, and sacraments.” Questions for pastors and congregations as they engage in Christ’s mission are, “What are ways to share more generously the sacraments of the church?” “When each sacrament is celebrated, what are ways to encourage and prepare ourselves as disciples to extend invitations and ministries to friends, family and others to participate in the sacraments?” All persons, especially those without the blessing of a sacred community, need the healing and restoring love of Christ. Pastors and leaders should take note, especially since Section 163 also says that wholeness, at least in part, comes through the sacramental ministries of the church.

Sacraments are opportunities for nourishment and union with God in Christ’s mission. Through the sacraments the church not only learns in deeper ways what Christ’s mission is, but is drawn deeper into becoming an inseparable part of the body of Christ. Careful attention to the sacraments can form the church as an agent of God’s grace to the world.

The sacraments shape the ongoing formation of the church through spiritual connection with God, the congregation, and the World Church. In addition, the mission-sensitive leader remembers that the sacraments are ministries of reconciliation and wholeness for all people who are seeking a relationship with God in community—not only members of the church.

Sacraments, when shared thoughtfully and prayerfully, bring both members and seekers into deeper relationship with the faith community and with God. The sacraments are not only a blessing to participants but also bear witness to what God is doing in the world through the church. For instance:

• Baptism is a witness of God’s saving work in the world. By stepping into the waters of baptism, people show that they are willing to be part of Christ’s mission as testified to in the scriptures (Luke 4:18–19). Baptism is performed only by Aaronic priests and members of the Melchisedec priesthood.
• Confirmation of membership is a witness of God’s ongoing binding together of the community of faith through the power of the Holy Spirit. The sacrament of confirmation of membership recognizes the work of the Holy Spirit in the disciple’s life. It witnesses of God’s desire for us to be in communion with God and one another. Confirmation is performed only by members of the Melchisedec priesthood.
• Communion (Lord’s Supper) is a witness of God’s generosity in giving God’s Son in order to bring people closer to God and one another. In Community of Christ, we welcome all who believe in Christ to share Communion with us, whether they are members of our denomination or not. In this sacrament, we remember Jesus. As we recall his suffering, death, and resurrection, we recommit ourselves to following him. Communion is served only by Aaronic priests or Melchisedec priesthood.
• Laying on of hands for the sick is a witness of God’s caring concern and desire to hold people close at all times of life, especially in times of special need. Any who are sick or face spiritual challenges may ask for this special ministry of prayer. This sacrament opens the door to the gift of healing. Only Melchisedec priesthood may perform this sacrament.
• Marriage is a witness of God’s desire to bless and be a part of our most intimate relationships. In Community of Christ, marriage is much more than a legal arrangement. In marriage, the couple pledges to live in mutual love that seeks to make real the love and compassion of Christ. Marriage is performed only by Aaronic priests or Melchisedec priesthood.
• Blessing of children is a witness of God’s desire to bless all of creation and that every person is precious to God. As parents bring their children to be blessed, this sacrament witnesses of God’s expectation that the community of faith must take responsibility for the growth and nurture of children and families. Blessing of children is performed only by members of the Melchisedec priesthood.
• Ordination is a witness of God’s embrace of the diversity and giftedness of people. God calls everyone to serve according to their gifts. Some however, are called and ordained to particular priesthood responsibilities and ministries for the sake of the community, the congregation, and the world. Aaronic priests may ordain deacons, teachers and priests. Only Melchisedec priesthood may ordain elders.
• Evangelist blessing is a witness of God’s concern for the whole of a person’s life: their work, recreation, family, friends, and faith. The evangelist blessing is a sacrament that provides a person sacred time and space for an evangelist to offer a special prayer of blessing on a person’s behalf. Only evangelists may perform evangelist blessings.

God formed the church for mission. God gathers the church in order to send us into the world. Viewed collectively the sacraments witness God’s intent for the world. Healing, blessing, covenant, valuing the worth of each person, and other elements within the sacraments testify of God’s desire for all people. The church itself becomes sacramental when we allow ourselves to be transformed by God’s Spirit through the sacraments.

With so much meaning and potential power resident in the sacraments, pastors and leaders should be very intentional when planning worship that includes a sacrament. None of the sacraments should ever be “added on” or “squeezed” into a service of worship. To the contrary, all other elements of the worship service should be oriented around the sacrament. A service’s music, prayers, scriptures, readings, and spoken word should all be woven together in a manner that enhances the sacrament which should be the central element of the entire service. All elements of course, should point participants to Christ.

When possible and appropriate, tell the congregation in advance when a sacrament is being planned as a part of an upcoming service, and invite the congregation to prayerfully prepare for it. Every sacrament is an opportunity to share the witness of God’s love as expressed in Jesus’ ministry and symbolized in the sacrament itself. Pastors and leaders should remind every person present that while they may not be the direct recipients of the sacrament being witnessed, the sacrament nevertheless witnesses of God’s abiding love for them.

When preparing to perform any of the sacraments, there is an additional matter that every pastor must stress with the priesthood and worship planners. That is, while the elements surrounding a sacrament may vary from time to time, the manner in which the sacraments are performed must remain constant. For instance, only ordained Melchisedec priesthood may bless children. The words in the official Communion prayers and baptismal statement are not to be altered. (See www.CofChrist.org/sacraments/communion/Communion-prayers.asp for the accepted wording.) When the sick are anointed, the priesthood may only place a drop of oil on the person’s head, and may not anoint other parts of the body. These are just a few examples, but the principle is applicable to all sacraments.

You have already been told to look to the sacraments to enrich the spiritual life of the body. It is not the form of the sacrament that dispenses grace but it is the divine presence that gives life. Be respectful of tradition and sensitive to one another, but do not be unduly bound by interpretations and procedures that no longer fit the needs of a worldwide church. In such matters direction will come from those called to lead. —Doctrine and Covenants 162:2d

This wise counsel reminds us that when we experience sacraments, we should not simply “go through the motions” of participating in an outward form, as though the form itself can transform us. Rather, we should open ourselves to the deeper witness and meaning of the sacraments. Doctrine and Covenants 162:2d does not imply that ministers may take liberties with how the sacraments are performed. There are many reasons for this. One has to do with consistency. In Community of Christ, we are a diverse people stretched around the globe. In congregational life, we have great freedoms to worship in diverse ways according to the gifts of our congregations and our cultural contexts. The sacraments however, are divinely given blessings that connect us to one another and to Christ’s life and purpose across continents, generations, cultures, and time. Consistency in how sacraments are performed makes this connection possible. In addition, people are often drawn to the sacraments in times of special need or transition in their lives. In the midst of such times, the reliability of sacramental practice can be a comfort and a blessing.

With so much meaning and potential power resident in the sacraments, pastors and leaders do well to ask themselves some basic questions.

1. How familiar is my congregation with the sacraments and what is the nature of their understanding of these sacred experiences?
   
   Is the answer to this question different across the generations? Are there some sacraments that are better understood than others? Is there a need for additional education on the sacraments in the congregation in general, or among particular age groups?
2. Are we generous in sharing the sacraments?
   
   When our members have friends who are ill, do they invite them to consider laying on of hands for the sick—even when those friends do not belong to Community of Christ? Are we inviting people to be baptized and confirmed, or do we just assume that they’ll ask for it when they’re ready? Are we helping young adults in the community with their questions about relationships and marriage?
3. Are we asking the congregation to spiritually prepare for the sacraments, or does the congregation simply “discover” that a sacrament is part of the worship service when they show up for church?
   
   Note: These are important questions. The practices that follow this article can be helpful.

		Assessing Congregational Familiarity with Sacraments
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OBJECTIVE
To help the pastor’s leadership team better understand the degree of awareness and experience in the congregation relative to the sacraments.

PROCESS
In a meeting with the pastor’s leadership team, post the following chart on a flip chart or whiteboard.

Sacrament	Adults	Young Adults	Youth	Children
Baptism
Confirmation of Membership
Communion (Lord’s Supper)
Laying on of Hands for the Sick
Marriage
Blessing of Children
Ordination
Evangelist Blessing

Under each age group, mark the approximate number of times that people in that age group have received or witnessed specific sacraments in the past three years. This will be an unscientific, approximate gathering of data, and the names of persons receiving the sacraments should not be shared. In the case of the evangelist blessing, no one will have “witnessed” the sacrament unless they were the recipient. In this case, an appropriate question would be how many people in the various age groups are aware of and understand what the evangelist blessing is.

Given what the chart reveals, is there a need for further education about the sacraments among some age groups or in the congregation in general? The church’s website (www.CofChrist.org/sacraments) is a good place to find helpful resources.

		Sharing Invitation
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OBJECTIVE
To heighten congregational awareness that the sacraments are to be generously shared.

PROCESS
During worship services that include a sacrament, remind the congregation that the sacraments witness to us of God’s love for all people. Encourage the congregation to tell others about the sacrament just experienced and (when appropriate) how it can be a blessing to them. For example, a service for blessing of a child could include an invitation to the congregation to tell their friends about what they experienced in the service. Encourage people to tell their friends and relatives with children that this beautiful sacrament is available to all families with little ones.

A service of baptism or confirmation should include an invitation for people to talk with the pastor or a member of the priesthood if they are interested in baptism/confirmation or if they have questions about these sacraments or church membership.

A service of ordination can include brief comments about the responsibilities of that particular priesthood office. The congregation can be reminded to seek out the ministries of that office, or to offer the ministry of that office to their friends, family, and others.

		Congregational Preparation for the Sacraments
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OBJECTIVE
To help the congregation enter more deeply into sacramental experience through personal preparation.

PROCESS
Sometimes simple things make a big difference. When you know that a service of worship is going to include a sacrament, ask the congregation in advance to be prayerful about it. You can even share a scripture pertinent to that sacrament and ask the congregation to ponder that scripture in the days leading up to that worship service.

This is one of the behaviors of a sacred community and can better prepare individuals and the congregation for Christ’s mission.