This time I am writing on pastoral care. My question is:
In what way might the worship of the church be said to be an appropriate and a key context for pastoral care? Illustrate with special reference to the Eucharist.
I feel excited about this question. It will give me an opportunity to explore in more depth what, God willing, I might get to celebrate (oops I do mean 'preside', I humbly stand corrected, subtle but important difference - thank you) one day: the Lord's Supper.
I am going to look at 'Mass Culture' and the postmodern response in a book edited by Pete Ward, whose 'Liquid Church' helped me present on 'Growing God's kingdom on the web' at BAP. I like his stuff.
Bits of several Grove booklets I have photocopied are proving useful.
I need to consider Lake's pastoral cycle and models proposed by Clebsch and; Jaekle, so I better get researching.
I also need to be able to talk about liminality.
Reflecting on personal experience, I will consider how profoundly moving it has been to offer the sacraments to the sick on hospital placement. It has changed the way I feel about this ritual.
I will consider privately how growing up with Catholic parents-in-law (I met my husband at 16) and my own evangelical Anglican faith have shaped my response to the eucharist over time.
Most importantly I need to consider how in itself this liturgical celebration can be a place of pastoral encounter and healing. What does it say about God's people individually and corporately and the Son he sent to save us?
Any thoughts or book recommendations would be appreciated. Thank you.
2 comments:
This is an interesting area - strangely it was while I was an ordinand at St John's that I got into this. Jane Sinclair recommended Robin Green's Only Connect and more recently I have been reading Elaine Ramshaw's Liturgy and Pastoral Care.
If you email me I will send you my reading list on liturgy and pastoral care if that would help.
By the way - why are you photocopying Grove Booklets when you should be buying them and so filling the coffers of those of us who write them? It's nearly time to book exotic holidays so all sales gratefully received....
Charles
Presiding, pastoring, and preaching IMO are intimately connected and defining around the presbyterate. I hesitate over your statement "I might get to celebrate one day" - all of us celebrate the Eucharist together. A bishop or priest presides/leads, but clergy (and training clergy) need to take care in language IMO that they do not disenfranchise laity at the Eucharist as if clergy somehow celebrate the Eucharist and laity present do not.
Blessings on your studies
Post a Comment