Susan J. Rheinhardt wrote:
I've been researching the Amish Communion Service. As part of the preparation, do they go to each other and mend broken relationships? I found references to reading the Ordnung and going over the rules, but nothing about making things right with each other. Is the footwashing part of this?
Susan, very good questions. The Amish look at Communion Service differently than one might imagine. The fact that a given congregation is actually having Communion, means that there are no unresolved "church matters." In other words, a Communion Service does not happen, UNTIL all is right. If there is "church trouble," which usually comes of church members disagreeing with the bishop about a church matter, then Communion is "held up" until the matter is resolved. I don't know whether this would include a dispute between two church members. Perhaps there is the threat of withholding communion, which would be enough to make two people mend their fences -- no two people would want to deter Communion, for that is considered a grave thing. Having said that, most resentments in my home community stayed under the surface. The Amish are stoic about many things, and to allow differences to surface would be considered unkind and too temperamental. Because of this stoicism, "church troubles" are usually about the only reason for withholding Communion.
I've described what happened in my home district some years after I left the Amish here.
Even though the Amish may not seek one another out to mend their fences in preparation of Communion, they consider their Communion a symbolic cleansing of the soul. And yes, the ritual of footwashing is a way for Amish church members of being humble with one another, signifying that there is harmony among them. This usually takes place at the very end of the Communion Service.
So, in a way, the act of forgiveness among the Amish is as stoic as the resentments. Without speaking a word and through the act of washing one another's feet, they humble themselves before one another and before God. Isn't this what forgiveness and reconciliation are really all about?
I am often surprised that more Christian churches don't practice footwashing. I actually miss taking part in this ritual.
I've been hearing about a conference that took place in Switzerland in 2003, in which Reformed Church leaders met with Anabaptists to reconcile 500 years after the Anabaptists were being persecuted by the state churches in Switzerland. I understand 800 people gathered at the conference. As part of the process of forgiveness, the Reformed church leaders washed the feet of the Anabaptists who were present. I understand this was a powerful experience for everyone and is described here. I wish I could have been there.
Susan, very good questions. The Amish look at Communion Service differently than one might imagine. The fact that a given congregation is actually having Communion, means that there are no unresolved "church matters." In other words, a Communion Service does not happen, UNTIL all is right. If there is "church trouble," which usually comes of church members disagreeing with the bishop about a church matter, then Communion is "held up" until the matter is resolved. I don't know whether this would include a dispute between two church members. Perhaps there is the threat of withholding communion, which would be enough to make two people mend their fences -- no two people would want to deter Communion, for that is considered a grave thing. Having said that, most resentments in my home community stayed under the surface. The Amish are stoic about many things, and to allow differences to surface would be considered unkind and too temperamental. Because of this stoicism, "church troubles" are usually about the only reason for withholding Communion.
I've described what happened in my home district some years after I left the Amish here.
Even though the Amish may not seek one another out to mend their fences in preparation of Communion, they consider their Communion a symbolic cleansing of the soul. And yes, the ritual of footwashing is a way for Amish church members of being humble with one another, signifying that there is harmony among them. This usually takes place at the very end of the Communion Service.
So, in a way, the act of forgiveness among the Amish is as stoic as the resentments. Without speaking a word and through the act of washing one another's feet, they humble themselves before one another and before God. Isn't this what forgiveness and reconciliation are really all about?
I am often surprised that more Christian churches don't practice footwashing. I actually miss taking part in this ritual.
I've been hearing about a conference that took place in Switzerland in 2003, in which Reformed Church leaders met with Anabaptists to reconcile 500 years after the Anabaptists were being persecuted by the state churches in Switzerland. I understand 800 people gathered at the conference. As part of the process of forgiveness, the Reformed church leaders washed the feet of the Anabaptists who were present. I understand this was a powerful experience for everyone and is described here. I wish I could have been there.
Photo Courtesy of Christianity.com
In my childhood church they would have the cleansing of the feet I think it may have been around Easter week. The priest would wash the feet of some of the congregation.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Joanne
I really respect Amish people, who really believe in this what they believe and live in this way. I don't know whether I could live like them. But it shows for me that happiness is something more than new clothes, new computer, money and carieer.
ReplyDeleteBut for me they live too much under the Law, forgotting about Grace - do I think well?
Hi Saloma -
ReplyDeleteThank you for answering my questions. I'm glad this information is now available to all those who need it.
I do have a couple of follow-up questions:
1) From your answer, I gather the Amish Communion Service centers more around the community than Jesus' command to do this in remembrance of Him. I guess what I'm asking is how does He fit into this equation?
2) I notice from the picture in your post only one foot is being washed. I found that interesting. Is that customary?
Thanks again. I like to dig a little deeper and know why people perform these rituals.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Saloma,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this information. It is interesting; I had never given much thought to this aspect of the Amish church services.
Have a wonderful week,
Karen
Wow, Saloma, I got tears in my eyes from reading about that conference in Switzerland. I just got back from a research trip in Amish country and learned a lot about the history of persecution. What a powerful way to reconcile!
ReplyDeleteJoanne, that is interesting. What denomination was your childhood church?
ReplyDeleteZim, I don't know that I'd judge it quite that way... the Amish do believe in God's Grace and Forgiveness, though not in a born-again Christian kind of way. It's rather hard to explain, as are many aspects of growing up Amish. It's the kind of thing that "you have to be there" to understand their thinking.
Susan, it sounds like you are asking much the same kind of question as Zim. The Amish do emphasize the"in remembrance of me" aspect of communion, and they also stress the community aspect of it. I wrote about a communion service in detail here:
http://aboutamish.blogspot.com/2011/04/amish-communion-service-part-3.html.
The reason you see only one foot being washed, is because only one foot gets washed at a time.
I think the Amish use Jesus' example of washing people's feet as a sign of humbling oneself to others. At least this is my understanding of where their ritual came from.
Karen, thank you for your comment. A wonderful weekend to you too.
Sarah, I too, was moved when I found out about the reconciliation. I learned, my whole life long, about how our ancestors suffered for their faith. These sufferings were the reason the Amish have a martyr faith. So, this is a powerful thing to have acknowledgment of the suffering our ancestors endured so many generations ago.
Thank you, all, for your comments and questions.
I best get off the computer before the worst part of the storm hits our area. I pray that everyone is in a safe place during the storm.
Many Blessings,
Saloma
Saloma