Learning and Confronting our Ignorance and Fears
by The Rev. Mawethu Ncaca, Associate Rector
I’m pretty sure if you flip to page 411 in your physical copy of The Book of Common Prayer, the pages of the Pastoral Office would probably be pretty clean. This makes sense as other pages, like the Holy Eucharist and Holy Baptism, are used frequently, even weekly. Likewise, those sacraments are universally celebrated, and embraced by both the Eastern and Western churches. Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour participated and instituted them. There is no dispute about their centrality to the salvific and redemptive effect of the ministry of Jesus Christ. Hence, they are widely and often celebrated.
However, those other clean pages of the Pastoral Office cover some less frequent, yet significant services, including the sacraments of initiation, healing, and service. Not mandatory for everyone, people can be fully Christian without ever receiving the sacraments of anointing of oil or matrimony.
As we enter the season of Eastertide and reflect on what it means to be people of God in Wake Forest North Carolina, we will take a deep dive into understanding these less familiar, yet important practices of the church. In our adult formation offerings, we’re getting into those clean pages to understand them. We are going to tackle our ignorance. Likewise, we invite you to have conversations about what you might fear.
For those who have not been confirmed in the Episcopal Church, there may be times you’re puzzled with references to things in which you have no clue we are talking about. To be fair, there are cradle Episcopalians who are wondering, too! Episcopalians don’t require confirmation to participate fully in our worship; we say that baptism is sufficient. It is a full initiation into the body of Christ, even for infants (BCP 298). It leaves no deficit of the Holy Spirit that must be filled up by some later action or profession. And yet we still encourage newcomers, as well as youth raised in the church, to prepare for and participate in the rite of Confirmation. Confirmation is “a mature public affirmation of faith” (BCP 412) — and preparation for it is a way of deepening faith, especially by learning or reviewing the basic tenets of the faith we have received. Mature faith, confirmed by the bishop, does not mean that what God gives us is now better or different — but it does mean one is better able to discern and savor these gifts.
So, we are going to explore this brand of the Jesus Movement called the Episcopal Church! Below are two opportunities to do just that!
INQUIRER’S CLASS
For long time Episcopalians, and those exploring our tradition for the first time.
If you wish to join St. John’s from another denomination, if you are a young person of 14 years+, or if you are new to Christian faith, this class prepares you to be “confirmed” or “received” by our visiting bishop on Sun, June 23.
Please grab a copy of the book called WALK IN LOVE: Episcopal Beliefs & Practices by Scott Gunn & Melody Wilson Shobe.
Class sessions:
April 17
7-8 pm, Ch. 1-6 on Zoom
May 15
7-8 pm, Ch. 7-14 on Zoom
June 19
7 pm, Ch 15-21 in person (as we prepare for the Bishop’s visitation Jun 23)
Strengthen, O Lord, your servant…with your Holy Spirit; empower them for your service; and sustain them all days of their life. Amen. BCP, p. 418.
BURIAL RITES & FUNERAL PLANNING
The other pastoral office (on the ‘clean pages’ of the BCP) that we will focus on during Eastertide is burial rites and funerals. I know some may be reluctant, as there may be many emotions around death. Nonetheless, the formation of our Christian identity lies in embracing each other in difficult times and welcoming truth to comfort us. Christianity is marked by hope. We are siblings with Jesus, who has conquered death. He has given us the vocabulary and language to talk about death, not allowing the fear instilled by our enemy (the evil one) to rob us of joy amid grief and loss.
Jesus helps us to be BRAVE by DEFEATING DEATH through the resurrection. I invite you to take the BOLD AND BRAVE step to make an appointment with one of your priests to discuss your plans. I think Eastertide is the season when we are gently reminded that JESUS has conquered death. Death is not a final destination but rather the birth canal of a new life for us all.
I will offer open office hours to talk to parishioners about funeral planning and burial rites. It is an important conversation to have and a pastoral opportunity in a non-stressful moment to contemplate our feelings on death, our relationships, and our lives as we have lived them. It is also a very practical gift to your family. Often time and space that is meant to be used for remembrance, prayer, and comfort, gets filled with logistics like choosing hymns, scripture readings, and readers. Planning gives adequate time for your family to grieve properly and allows our service to your family to be one of presence and comfort, not logistics. They are also kept from second-guessing favorite scriptures or hymns. Let us not allow death to rob us of the essence of grieving.
If you are interested in having a conversation, please email me. During Eastertide, I am available on Mondays in April (8th,15th, and 22nd) for anyone who wants to talk about this matter.
Deliver your servant, O Sovereign Lord Christ, from all evil, and set them free from every bond; that they may rest with all your saints in the eternal habitations; where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, forever and ever. Amen. Page 464, Book of Common Prayer.