A Rite for Admission of Catechumens

a rite for admission of catechumens

This form is to be used for adults, or older children who are able to answer for themselves, at the beginning of a course of instruction in the teachings of the Church. It is to be used in preparation for Holy Baptism or, if those seeking admission were baptized as infants, for Confirmation.

greeting

On the day appointed, the persons to be received as Catechumens are brought by their sponsors to the church and remain by the principal door until the Gospel has been proclaimed. The Minister greets them at the door.

What is your hope?

New life in Christ.

What do you desire of God and of this congregation?

That I may grow in faith, hope, and love.

If you hope to enter into eternal life, you must, by his grace, follow in our Lord’s steps, for he said: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

examination

Will you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Lord and Savior?

I will, with God’s help.

As none can do this without God’s grace, found in Word and Sacrament, will you join with us in our common life of worship, teaching, service, and fellowship?

I will.

enrollment and exorcism

The Catechumens kneel, and the Minister prays over them, saying,

Let us pray. O Lord God of hosts, before the terrors of whose presence the armies of Hell are put to flight: Deliver these your servants from the powers of the world, the flesh, and the Devil; cast out from them every evil and unclean spirit that lurks in the heart, and any spirit of error or wickedness; and make them ready to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Celebrant then makes the sign of the Cross upon the forehead of each one (and may use the Oil of Catechumens to do so), saying to each,

Almighty God deliver you from the powers of darkness and evil and lead you into the light and obedience of the kingdom of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

the blessing

Almighty God, who in his love for you has called you to the knowledge of his grace, grant you an entrance into his kingdom; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

Sponsors accompany Catechumens to seats among the people. The service continues with the Sermon and Nicene Creed

freedom from the love of money

OK - so remember that we have quite a lot of resources looking at the question of our relationship with money on the MIE website. Check under ‘Resources’ and then ‘Previous Bible Studies and Articles’. Then scroll down till you get to ‘Money Possessions and Eternity’.

In the meantime, here are a couple of short videos to whet your appetite:

some practical considerations on fasting

There isn’t really anything here that is ‘rocket science’, but it might help to get you thinking about the practical side of fasting.

Like many things, it is best to start small and work up.  If you have never fasted before, start by simply fasting for one day until 6.00 pm (many of the Biblical fasts are for 24 hours, so e.g. Jdgs 20:26, They fasted that day until evening…).  Once you have experienced this and are beginning to know what to expect, you might feel it is appropriate to fast for longer periods.

Plan your diary carefully.  Bear in mind that if you are fasting for more than 24 hours, the first 2 or 3 days can be pretty tough, before your body begins to adjust.  You may need to rest more than usual (try to avoid intensive exercise, e.g. gym or sport), you may wear more clothes, and you may find it more difficult than usual to focus and concentrate over the first few days (even on prayer, and reading the Bible).  It’s not uncommon to feel a bit dizzy at times too…  

If you drink coffee, or take other stimulants, it is often best to wean yourself off them prior to beginning a fast – especially if that fast is going to be longer than 24 hours.   If you drink a lot of coffee, you might have to keep going with that over a 24 hr. fast.  

Begin to eat less progressively over a couple of days prior to beginning a longer fast.  A fast of 24 hours or less will require relatively little preparation of this kind, but it’s worth preparing properly if you are intending to fast for longer.  Likewise, don’t break a long fast suddenly.  Come out of a longer fast over a period of a couple of days, starting with small portions of gentler foods and soups.  

Don’t be legalistic, and please don’t feel pressured into doing more than you are comfortable with.  If you don’t fast, that’s fine.  If you meant to fast, but didn’t, that’s fine.   You might forget, and eat something out of habit.  OK.  Don’t beat yourself up – just carry on with your planned fast.   

If you are clearly ill or not coping, or if you feel there is good reason why you shouldn’t fast – if you are pregnant, or breastfeeding, or are on medication, or have health concerns, or a complicated history with food that you don’t want to revisit – don’t feel under any obligation.  If you have specific concerns, perhaps discuss it with your Doctor and follow their advice, or the advice of official support organisations (e.g. diabetes.org.uk has a number of articles addressing the question of fasting).

Think through ahead of time how you will negotiate situations that may arise: Are there times at work when it might be best to simply be out of the office?  How are you to going to respond if someone suggests meeting over lunch?  Or going out for a beer in the evening (it’s best not to drink alcohol if you are fasting!)?  So much of life revolves around food and drink, and you will need to plan carefully how you are going to avoid it for the duration of your fast.

Don’t publicize it.  You don’t even need to make an issue of it within the life of the Church - although like prayer, fasting can be a corporate discipline as well as a personal one.  Some of fast reguarly during MIE’s days of prayer and fasting.  Some don’t - again there is no pressure to go beyond what you feel is appropriate or helpful in your discipleship.   But if you do decide to fast, I wouldn’t write a blog about your experience, or draw undue attention to your fasting.  Jesus teaches us that we will face the temptation to turn this into an advertisement for my own self-righteousness (Matt.6:16-18).  Best to avoid that if possible.

 

Whether you decide to fast during this term of DTP or not, I hope you will gradually weave this exciting discipline into your Christian discipleship, and that through it you will find yourself growing in Christ.  

 

fasting is associated with...

·      the love of the Lord is better than life, and spiritual nourishment is more important than physical (Ps.63:3-5);

·      we do not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God (Matt.4:4);

·      hunger for God and His righteousness (Matt.5:6; Is.58);

·      humbling ourselves before the Lord (Ps.35:13; I Kings 21:27-29);

·      the means through which the Lord exposes what lies in our hearts, and through which He can discipline us so that we may learn to trust His providence (Deut.8:1-5);

·      practised with intercession / supplication / petition (Ezra 8:21-23; Neh.1:4; Dan.9:3);

·      averting disaster / seek help from the Lord (II Chron.20:3);

·      response to suffering brought about by the Lord in discipline or times of spiritual crisis (Joel 2; Acts 9:9; II Cor. 11:27) [should be the Church’s standard response to any crisis or concern]

·      seeking wisdom and discernment from the Lord (Jdgs 20:26; Acts 13:2-3);

·      linked to spiritual power and effectiveness in ministry (Mk.9:29 see NIV footnote);

·      it underpins times of worship and is the context in which the Church receives guidance for ministry (Acts 13:1-3; 14:23);

·      mourning (Neh.1:4; Ps.42:3) and repentance (I Sam.7:5-6; Jonah 3:5);

·      anticipation of the coming age (Lk.5:33-39). 

intensify the effectiveness of prayer and response to God, if done with integrity and in the context of wider life of righteousness (Is.58; Zech. 7:3-14 – note that when the prophets attack fasting, it is not the practise itself, but the hypocrisy they harangue; see also Matt.6:16f; Col.2:16-23).