Class 1: Praying Shapes Believing: Baptism and Eucharist

Praying Shapes Believing

Video 1: Lex Orandi Lex Credendi (Praying Shapes Believing) 
(Yes, it sounds at first like they want to sell you a T-shirt - and they do! - but this a short, clear introduction to the concept.)

Questions for discussion

1. How have you experienced the way you pray shaping the way you live, intentionally or unintentionally?  Is there any part of the liturgy or our common life together as a church that touches you in your everyday life?  How?
2. The guys in the video mentioned two terms - orthodoxy and orthopraxy.  Orthodoxy means "right belief," and it is sometimes associated with dogma (in the Catholic tradition) or a specific confession of faith (in the Lutheran tradition) that all people who claim to be part of the faith tradition must believe.  Orthopraxy means "right behavior or action," and it has usually, in the history of the church, received a lot less attention than orthodoxy.  Which one do you think best describes the Episcopal Church?  Which one describes your faith?  Why?
3. The guys in the video suggested that how you practice shapes how you believe, but how you believe also shapes what you practice.  It's kind of a virtuous circle.  Have you ever noticed that interplay between living out your faith and the things you believe (or hold dear) about your faith?  How?

Baptism

Baptism is central to our life together.  The Book of Common Prayer says: "Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ's Body the Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble." Through baptism, we receive our mandate to be ministers of the church.  In our Baptismal Covenant, we say:

(You can make the image bigger by clicking on it.)

In the next video, you'll hear Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, talk about baptism:

Video 2: Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby on Baptism

Questions for discussion

1. What resonates with you about what the Archbishop said or about the images you saw?
2. Do you remember your baptism?  Your children's baptism?  Your (great)grandchildren's?  What stands out in your memory?
3. Do you think it's important for people to be baptized?  Why?

Eucharist
Eucharist means "Great Thanksgiving."  The Book of Common Prayer says that it is "the principle act of worship on the Lord's Day (Sunday)." Many people describe it as the center of our life as a church. In the next video, Bishop Michael Curry of North Carolina discusses the meaning of the Eucharist in his life and theology:

Video 3: Bishop Curry on the Eucharist

Questions for discussion

1. What does it mean to Bishop Curry that the Eucharist is a "sacred meal"?  What does it mean to you?  
2. What does it mean that the Eucharist points toward the deep mystery of God?  Have you ever felt something beyond words during the Eucharist?  How would you describe that feeling?
3. How can the Eucharist be a "foretaste" of the realm of God?  Think about and discuss Bishop Curry's story at the beginning of the video and any experiences you have that might show how the Eucharist can offer us a glimpse of the world as God wants it to be.