| Meditations are good; an instructive, helpful little book | | | | eucharist. This is a moving thing, to both know those |
| It is a significant thing in ones life to be a Lay | | | | who one serves and to serve those one may not |
| Eucharist Minister. This little book, looking so slight by | | | | know. |
| Beth Maynard, is a guide to the ministry of the Lay | | | | Don't let the fact of the book's remarking "...In the |
| Eucharist Minister. There are many sections worth | | | | case of entering into a new ministry..." for though it is |
| meditation. Here is one that is a little lengthy as a | | | | directed to those who are new, it is not an emphasis, |
| quote, but worthwhile. It has to do with offering or in | | | | per se, of the book. For example, there is a note |
| other words serving eucharist: | | | | about dealing with people. "...What do you when the |
| "...the offering that had been taken, blessed, and | | | | awe gives way to annoyance?" Ministry relies on a |
| broken--you, your ministry--is distributed to the | | | | request of God. "...Tell God that I would like a little |
| people | | | | taste of the awe again, please, just to help me |
| "What might happen if you were to make that action | | | | remember why I'm here." |
| more explicit in your prayer life? You could ask God | | | | There is a section on Home Communions, and though |
| to take you and put you to use, to bless more | | | | there may be a simplistic tone to the explanations |
| profoundly and break more generously whatever you | | | | and what one could call gentle exhortations to serve, |
| offer." | | | | there is a lot of meaning here put in a simple, direct |
| You can see this is a taughtly written book, and one | | | | fashion. "By visiting an elderly member of the parish, |
| of a series called "Faithful Servant Series." I think that | | | | we trace back into our own communal past." |
| the first words, in the introduction of this book, says | | | | Sections have quotations for thought, relevant ones |
| something about the kind of reader who will find this | | | | to Lay Eucharist Ministry. It is true, this one: "He has |
| an interesting and valuable guide. They say, "Were | | | | told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the |
| you chosen to read this book?" By that they mean, | | | | Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love |
| was it given to you. As a book for giving to others, | | | | kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah |
| it is a good one. But no harm, and a lot of good to | | | | 6:8.) |
| get it for yourself if no one has given you one yet. | | | | The end of the book contains prayers for Lay |
| This is a book about the ministry performed by lay | | | | Eucharistic Ministers. One said before serving reads in |
| people for God. "God acts first--the Bible is very clear | | | | part: "Here I am, Lord. There are many reasons I am |
| about that and God acts to choose us because God | | | | here, but this is the real one: I have come because |
| loves us." I think you will find this a useful book, its | | | | you called me. I offer myself and my time and my |
| meditations food for thought and reflection. It is | | | | gifts to serve that call..." In a way, the reader has a |
| worth coming back to again, and helpful in ministry. | | | | starting off point for prayers of his or her own. |
| One can read this book at short sittings, and it is a | | | | Christopher L. Webber is the series editor, and writes |
| recommended thing to do, so says the author. Here | | | | in the introduction, "Who is this God who seeks us in |
| are some chapters: "At the Altar," "Looking at the | | | | so many ways..." "We come to know God better by |
| Background," "Insights from Scripture," Community | | | | serving as church members and in church ministries." |
| and Collegiality" and others. Let's turn to Community | | | | Again, an example of simple words, clearly put, but |
| and Collegiality for a moment. Most likely, the short | | | | necessary and telling. I think the genre of this book, |
| book tells us, you know the people you serve at | | | | "Spirituality/Gift" is a good one. |