Meditations for Lay Eucharistic Ministers (Faithful Servant Series) [Paperback]

Beth Maynard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1999 | Series: Faithful Servant

Prayers and meditations for Lay Eucharistic Ministers.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Meditations for Lay Eucharistic Ministers, one of the Faithful Servant Series, explores the joys and challenges of this particular mininstry. Topics explored include: gleaning insights from Scripture, serving at the altar, issues around community and collegiality, visiting others in their homes or hospitals, and integrating the ministry into the rest of a LEM's life.

The Faithful Servant Series was created to meet the needs of pastors and church staff seeking gifts to give to church members such as LEMs, Lay Ministers, choir and vestry members and others. Each volume in this series offers support, guidance and education geared specifically to one particular group or ministry within the church. The individual meditations are based on quotations from the Bible, the Book of Common Prayer, or hymns from the 1982 Hymnal, and prayers specific to the needs of each audience close each book. Designed with the church budget in mind, these affordable books acknowledge important passages and ministries in the life of the people of God.

Beth Maynard is an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Massachusetts. Before entering the ordained ministry, she served as a Lay Eucharistic Minister for her parish. She lives with her husband in Fairhaven, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Morehouse Publishing (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0819217700
• ISBN-13: 978-0819217707
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 4.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,430,734 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Meditations are good; an instructive, helpful little book..., June 20, 2005

By 

Peter Menkin (Mill Valley, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Meditations for Lay Eucharistic Ministers (Faithful Servant Series) (Paperback)

It is a significant thing in ones life to be a Lay Eucharist Minister. This little book, looking so slight by Beth Maynard, is a guide to the ministry of the Lay Eucharist Minister. There are many sections worth meditation. Here is one that is a little lengthy as a quote, but worthwhile. It has to do with offering or in other words serving eucharist:

"...the offering that had been taken, blessed, and broken--you, your ministry--is distributed to the people

"What might happen if you were to make that action more explicit in your prayer life? You could ask God to take you and put you to use, to bless more profoundly and break more generously whatever you offer."

You can see this is a taughtly written book, and one of a series called "Faithful Servant Series." I think that the first words, in the introduction of this book, says something about the kind of reader who will find this an interesting and valuable guide. They say, "Were you chosen to read this book?" By that they mean, was it given to you. As a book for giving to others, it is a good one. But no harm, and a lot of good to get it for yourself if no one has given you one yet.

This is a book about the ministry performed by lay people for God. "God acts first--the Bible is very clear about that and God acts to choose us because God loves us." I think you will find this a useful book, its meditations food for thought and reflection. It is worth coming back to again, and helpful in ministry.

One can read this book at short sittings, and it is a recommended thing to do, so says the author. Here are some chapters: "At the Altar," "Looking at the Background," "Insights from Scripture," Community and Collegiality" and others. Let's turn to Community and Collegiality for a moment. Most likely, the short book tells us, you know the people you serve at eucharist. This is a moving thing, to both know those who one serves and to serve those one may not know.

Don't let the fact of the book's remarking "...In the case of entering into a new ministry..." for though it is directed to those who are new, it is not an emphasis, per se, of the book. For example, there is a note about dealing with people. "...What do you when the awe gives way to annoyance?" Ministry relies on a request of God. "...Tell God that I would like a little taste of the awe again, please, just to help me remember why I'm here."

There is a section on Home Communions, and though there may be a simplistic tone to the explanations and what one could call gentle exhortations to serve, there is a lot of meaning here put in a simple, direct fashion. "By visiting an elderly member of the parish, we trace back into our own communal past."

Sections have quotations for thought, relevant ones to Lay Eucharist Ministry. It is true, this one: "He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8.)

The end of the book contains prayers for Lay Eucharistic Ministers. One said before serving reads in part: "Here I am, Lord. There are many reasons I am here, but this is the real one: I have come because you called me. I offer myself and my time and my gifts to serve that call..." In a way, the reader has a starting off point for prayers of his or her own.

Christopher L. Webber is the series editor, and writes in the introduction, "Who is this God who seeks us in so many ways..." "We come to know God better by serving as church members and in church ministries." Again, an example of simple words, clearly put, but necessary and telling. I think the genre of this book, "Spirituality/Gift" is a good one. To end, just a note here about the author. She is an Episocpal priest in the Diocese of Massachusetts, and before being ordained was a Lay Eucharist Minister. The book is published by Morehouse Publishers, an Episcopal publishing house.

A small book, one who is a Lay Eucharist Minister will find it beneficial, for though the book holds a light tone the subject has its serious overtones and the ministry itself is a good one. In its light touch there are many thoughts and readings good for meditation.

--Peter Menkin, Mill Valley, CA USA

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Should be required reading for all new LEMS, March 16, 2004

By 

Barbara Alexander (Wimberley, Tx United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Meditations for Lay Eucharistic Ministers (Faithful Servant Series) (Paperback)

I can't say enough about this delightful and insightful little book. I laughed when I read about the authors experiences during her service as a LEM, those things we hope will NEVER happen to us. I was deeply touched by her sensitivity and love for this awesome ministry, mirroring my feelings exactly. I plan to order this for all my friends who do this as well.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not What I thought, January 2, 2008

By 

P. J. Olson "morningdove" (usa) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Meditations for Lay Eucharistic Ministers (Faithful Servant Series) (Paperback)

This was not at all what I expected. I had hoped for more practical information and it was just about the author's experiences. More for home visits than for mass distributors.