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Post by No Screen Name on Aug 23, 2009 20:55:16 GMT -5
AME doesn't do this. But I was talking to a pastor of another denomination, and she said she didn't understand how we did communion WITHOUT doing foot washing--that the two go together.
Does your church do it? How often? How does it work? (I assume you don't pull out a Dr. Scholl's massaging foot bath and a brush and go to work).
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Post by nsync on Aug 24, 2009 5:55:48 GMT -5
None of the churches I've attended washed feet, but I've heard of it.
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Post by Cambist on Aug 25, 2009 8:27:16 GMT -5
<<== not a fan
Some traditions....well, I just choose not to keep. Foot washing was necessary because they wore sandals....I have on oxfords...no need.
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Post by Highly Favored on Aug 25, 2009 12:30:12 GMT -5
Yes, I have heard of it. No, my church does not do it. I don't believe that it is necessary as part of the communion service. Communion is just an commemoration of the Lord's death and our acknowlegement that we are expecting His return. A lot of the specifics (i.e. timing, foot-washing, wearing white, etc.) are tradition rather than things that are required by scripture.
Some of the churches that have tried to keep the foot-washing tradition ran into logistical problems and discontinued it for that reason. After all, how can this be orchestrated for groups that may consist of 100s of people. That's a lot of long lines, waters, and towels!
I agree with Cam. This is a tradition that I don't believe it necessary for us to keep. We are not walking great distances, across dirt roads/paths, in sandals. It was customary for a host to wash his guest's feet as a show of hospitality in Bible times, not just for communion.
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Post by peppermint on Aug 25, 2009 13:31:31 GMT -5
AME doesn't do this. But I was talking to a pastor of another denomination, and she said she didn't understand how we did communion WITHOUT doing foot washing--that the two go together. Does your church do it? My current church does not but I have attended churches where this is considered an ordinance. *SN: some churches that hold on to this ritual will only do communion in the evening* How often? When I was in college, that church did the foot washing service around Resurrection Sunday... usually the Friday before. How does it work? (I assume you don't pull out a Dr. Scholl's massaging foot bath and a brush and go to work). The church where I participated in this had about 600 members so there were two mothers/deaconnesses assigned to a particular basin for the women and two deacons/elders assigned to the basin for men. There were lines... you don't actually dip your foot in the water (well we didn't). You would "wash" the foot of the person before or after you in line by dipping your hand in the water and pouring the water over the foot. You then dried it with a towel. Your partner would then do the same for you. |
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Post by Highly Favored on Aug 25, 2009 14:03:58 GMT -5
^^^^That's interesting. Thanks for shedding some light on this. I wondered how it worked.
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Post by Noble Work on Aug 25, 2009 15:11:11 GMT -5
I attend an AME Church and yes we've done foot washing in the past. It wasn't done on Communion Sundays. It was an special event set aside to all who wanted to attend.
I went to a Sabbath Day Adventist church with a relative, they held or done Foot Washing that particular day.
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Post by Highly Favored on Aug 25, 2009 15:30:53 GMT -5
I attend an AME Church and yes we've done foot washing in the past. It wasn't done on Communion Sundays. It was an special event set aside to all who wanted to attend. I went to a Sabbath Day Adventist church with a relative, they held or done Foot Washing that particular day. I can appreciate it as a separate event. I do understand the sentiment behind it (humility, our willingness to serve each other) and it is not a bad thing, but I just don't view it as a requirement for a Biblical standpoint. A lot of people are doing things, just because they have always done them, but really don't understand. I have certainly been guilty of that. I just wanted to make my position clear. |
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Post by kingdelta on Aug 28, 2009 11:24:31 GMT -5
Foot washing was not only done for cleanliness but as an act of humility.
My college roommate is Primitive Baptist and they still wash feet.
My church doesn't practice it but one Sunday we had a guest minister who wash my pastor's feet. It wasn't during communion or anything. Again, an act of humility.
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Post by Cambist on Sept 16, 2009 7:22:55 GMT -5
I agree that it was an act of humility. Not a fan....but I understand.
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Post by Chal™ on Sept 16, 2009 7:25:51 GMT -5
doesn't happen at my church, but i've seen it at one of my grandparents' church a while back
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