Book Notes: The Pastor, ch. 3

Whether he's writing about the spiritual practices associated with the Lord's Prayer or preaching, there's a reason Dr. Lathrop keeps returning to the Table as the central image of The Pastor; a Spirituality. He notes that the primary word for "ministry" in the Greek New Testament was the diakonia, or "table service" (p. 64).

"Pastors, thus, ought not to be primarily purveyors of ideas or techniques...Pastors, then, serve the table" (p. 59).

Using Justin Martyr's 2nd Century description of the assembly, Lathrop writes:

"The pastor's role: to preach a sermon from the texts, serving the food of the Word we might say; to give thanks as well as possible, serving the table; and to see to it that the collection is distributed to the poor and hungry. All three are table service" (p. 66).

He'll probably expand on the "distribution" in ch. 4, "The Pastor in Remembering the Poor; Diakonia," but it convicts: most of the time we emphasize how the giving of "tithes and offering" serves the needs--not of the poor and hungry--but of the church and congregation. Much of the collection is directed internally to facility, salaries, supplies, and programs. Of course, Justin Martyr predates the "professional clergy," staff, building and "programs." I don't immediately see a solution. At our congregation, after receiving the food of the Table, communicants are encouraged to leave an additional offering in plates set on each side of the Table. That collection is designated for either local or world-wide relief efforts. We need to emphasize the liturgical and missional connection of this collection.

Also in this chapter on table-service, Lathrop offers a number of practical suggestions including, "Set out a loaf of real bread and a cup of good wine."

Several weeks ago in our adult forum, Dr. Samuel Torvend spoke of the importance of "sincere" worship, not just in the preaching and attention of the worshipers, but in the things we use to enhance our worship and space. We use real flowers, because they--like us--are alive, not imitations of life. And because they--like us--are mortal; they will die. "The flower fades" (Isaiah 40:7). Dr. Torvend also encouraged the use of real wax candles, because they burn down; they need renewal. Sometimes, by investing in things that are going to remain beautiful, easy or clean, we lose the mortal side of the symbols. These parts of life also belong in our worship: mess, loss, pain, and death.

Dr. Torvend also talked about bringing local context into the art and elements of worship, including the bread and wine. The oldest tradition presented these as a part of the offering. Bread was brought to the assembly, not bought and shipped from a distant church "supplier." The wine was local and drinkable; here in the Northwest it should probably come from one of the nearby wineries using their own grapes.

Dr. Lathrop uses stronger language regarding the bread:

"There is still much wafer-host use or much precut bread in our churches. It is long past time that all of us should be done with these...American nineteenth century malformations. ...It is long past time that all of us might begin to recover the ancient and profound Christian practice of sharing an actual loaf of recognizable, local, real, beautiful bread" (p. 72).

The other important reasons for keeping things local concerns both stewardship and ecology. I recently heard that food bought at farmers' markets or the like has traveled an average of 25-50 miles. Most food purchase at the supermarket has traveled an average 1500 miles. With concerns over carbon waste and fuel costs, it makes sense for a congregation to be more conscious about these concerns in its purchases, especially for the elements of worship.