April 15, 2011

A traditional annual Chrism Mass, in which clergy renew their ordination vows and anointing oils are blessed, took on a historic note April 14 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem Bishop Paul Marshall invited the Rev. Samuel R. Zeiser, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod, and the Rev. David E. Bennett, president of the Eastern District of the Moravian Church in North America, to join him in celebrating the Mass at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

"This is history being made," Marshall wrote in his invitation to diocesan members to participate in the gathering.

According to Marshall and others, this was the first time that Episcopal, Lutheran and Moravian clergy concelebrated a Eucharist since the Episcopal Church and the Moravian Church in North America inaugurated their full-communion agreement on Feb. 10. The Episcopal Church and the ELCA are celebrating 10 years of full communion this year. Moravians and Lutherans marked a similar anniversary in 2010.

Marshall presided at the service and Bennett and Zeiser assisted in distributing the bread and wine.

With Marshall seated, the clergy crowded around him in the chancel and on the chancel steps to renew their ordination vows. Then Marshall, who has been Bethlehem's bishop for almost 15 years said: "I, too, before God and you, rededicate myself and reaffirm the premises that I made when I was ordained. I ask your prayers."

Marshall had said in his invitation that a Chrism Mass is often a private gathering of clergy and bishops, but that the Bethlehem service would be open to the public. About 100 active and retired clergy attended, along with lay people from throughout the diocese.

"Besides the fact that it is a stunning and uplifting liturgy, it is your chance to be with other members of the diocese as we support and pray for our clergy as they re-commit themselves to their service to us," Marshall wrote. "It is also the time when together we pray over the oils that are used with the sick and at baptism and confirmation – each time those oils are applied, they represent the prayers of the entire diocese."

Churches in full communion formally recognize that they share essential doctrines, including baptism and Eucharist; agree to accept the service of each other's clergy; and pledge to work together in evangelism and mission. The churches become interdependent while remaining autonomous.

Episcopal News Service
The Rev. Mary Frances Schjonberg, Episcopal News Service national correspondent, and Jerry Hames, Episcopal Journal editor, contributed to this story.