Comments

• Amanda B Reckondwyth Shipmate

  June 2024

  Sonny Barger died in 2022 at the age of 83. Passing of an era.
• Amanda B Reckondwyth Shipmate

  January 4

  I have since made friends with some people who are members of this church. I am going to attend the communion service today -- they have communion on the first Sunday of each month. There is some confusion in my mind as to whether Laestadian Lutherans practice open or closed communion -- from what I can gather, communion is open to baptized Christians who believe in the Real Presence and have repented of their sins. But I'm not sure whether this means all baptized Christians or only baptized Laestadian Lutherans. My friends assure me that I will be welcome at communion, but we'll see.
• Bishops Finger Shipmate

  January 4

  I look forward to your Report with interest!
  
• Amanda B Reckondwyth Shipmate

  January 4

  No report . . . I received communion and without question. The communion service was somewhat similar to what we are accustomed to: preface, Sanctus, Agnus Dei (but not in that order), words of institution, Lord's Prayer. Communion was ministered by the church elders. We received a wafer -- smaller and more dense than what we're used to -- and a wee cuppie. Honestly, I didn't notice if it was wine or grape juice. We received "table style" -- the entire row of communicants waited until everyone in the row had received, whereupon the elders dismissed the entire row. As they were dismissed, men bowed and women curtsied.
• Bishops Finger Shipmate

  January 4

  Thank you Miss Amanda. Interesting, and somewhat different, as you say.
• Amanda B Reckondwyth Shipmate

  January 4

  Forgot to mention -- the wafer was placed in the palm with the words "The Body of Christ, given for you." As we helped ourself to a wee cuppie, the elder said, "The Blood of Christ, shed for you." The wee cuppie may have held grape juice -- Laestadian Lutherans believe that alcohol is something akin to the devil's enema.
• Nick Tamen Shipmate

  January 4

  Amanda B Reckondwyth wrote: »

  The wee cuppie may have held grape juice -- Laestadian Lutherans believe that alcohol is something akin to the devil's enema.

  I know next to nothing about Laestadian Lutheranism, but
  the Wikipedia article on Laestadianism says: “‘Worldliness’ is discouraged, and Laestadians frown on pre-marital sex, and on alcohol consumption except in the sacrament of holy communion.” (My emphasis.)
  
  
  
• Amanda B Reckondwyth Shipmate

  January 5

  Ah, then, it may have been wine after all. I honestly didn't notice. I was preoccupied with "getting it right" vis-a-vis what the proper communion behavior was, lest I stand out as not one of them.