Table of Thanksgiving: How Eucharist Forms Us

Eucharistic traditions of the East have the capacity to address the brokenness of the world by drawing from the repository of asceticism and creating a worship environment of identity formation that calls all participants to be servants of God. This workshop examines the euchology and ritual practice of the Eucharist in the East to show how regular participation in the Eucharist encourages faithful to adopt a Christ-like identity of utter humility in preparing to receive the gift of Christ in Communion. The regular process of liturgical participation emphasizes a liturgical identity of servant of God given to all, from the highest ranking bishop to the youngest infant. The assembly’s adoption of this liturgical identity of servanthood has the capacity to address the brokenness of the world while also proclaiming the glory of God. The workshop includes criticism of the fissures between liturgical theology and practice in the Churches of the East, and concludes with suggestions on how to restore a symbiosis of theology and practice that enhances the capacity of the liturgy to initiate all participants in an identity of servanthood.