Unit Six The Telephone

Period 3-4: Background information

1. Theauthor

The United States is known tobe a country of immigrants. Wave upon wave, people come to this land frompractically all parts of the world in the course of history, to escapereligious or political persecution or to seek better living conditions. This isthe reason for the popular appeal of immigrantliterature in the United States. lt satisfies people’s nostalgia abouttheir past and their descendants’ desire to seek their roots. It also interestspeople of other ethnic origins in the country to find out how their countrycame to be such a "melting pot."

This is quite likely anautobiographical story. The old country involved is Lebanon, a small but importantcountry in the Arab world. Although its capital has been known to the outsideworld as the "Paris of the Arab World," at the time when the authorlived in the nation’s mountain village as a child the nation was stillbasically a traditional economically backward agricultural country, which servedas a glaring contrast to the United States where many Lebanese people longed togo to realize their "American Dream." The author does not make thiscontrast explicitly, but he brings it out vividly simply by describing hischildhood experience in that Lebanese village. Notice that the narrative isgiven from a child’s point of view and the humorous stories are told with achild’s charming innocence. But the child’s descriptions of his homelandreflect the characteristics of that traditional society just as effectively asthe serious analysis of a scholar. The author seizes upon two key words tobring out the main differences in the two societies一一the one he leaves bebind, and the one he emigrates to: the first word is "time,"and the second "change." In that small mountain villagepeople do not have a timepiece because it is not necessary, unlike in the newcountry where time is money and everybody is either busy making money or busybreeding money-makers. The other thing is that, in the old society, nothingmuch happens. Days and years pass by, and generations come and go, all in thesame old way, unlike in the new world where people are feverishly producing newthings 一 "making progress."

The interesting thing, however,is that the author seems to cherish his childhood memories fondly and isuncertain that he has really realized his "American Dream" or reallyunderstands what it means. So it sets us thinking. Perhaps there’s a lot to besaid that is precious and worth rediscovering about that kind of life.

 The text is entitled "TheTelephone." Today it seems to be quickly becoming a museum piece. Youngpeople probably do not remember what an important and wonderful invention it oncewas. It is well chosen as the title of the text because it is true that in away, many of the following changes of far-reaching consequences come from theinstallation of this little gadget. This is one of the important subjects forscholars’ studies, namely, the correlation between technological advances andeconomic, social, political, and cultural changes.

2. The estimated population of Lebanon in 1998 was 3,506,000, of whom95 percent were Arabs. There are small minorities of Armenians (亚美尼亚人) and Kurds (库尔德人) It is estimated thatthe m句ority of Lebanon 's population are Muslimwhile the rest are Christian. Maronite (流行于黎巴嫩的马龙教派) Chr川ians comprise the largest Christian sect. Other Christian sects includeGreek Orthodox, Armenian Catholic, Roman Catholic and Protestant, etc.

3. Communion

1) What is a Sacrament in the United Church ofChrist?

Sacraments are ritualactions in worship which, according to Scripture, were instituted by Jesus. Inthe sacraments of baptism and communion we ask the Holy Spirit to use water,bread, and wine to make visible the grace, forgiveness, and presence of God inChrist.

The communion mealrecalls the table fellowship Jesus shared with his disciples, and in particularthe Last Supper on the night before his death as well as his appearances to thedisciples during meals following his resurrection. Throughout its history,these Biblical accounts of Last Supper have been central to the Church’sworship life.

In the sacrament of HolyCommunion, also called the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist, meaning"thanksgiving", Christians hear, taste, touch and receive the graceof God revealed through Jesus Christ in a unique way.

Communion is a joyous act of thanksgiving for allGod has done, is doing, and will do for the redeeming of creation.

2) Elements

    the broken bread and poured wine → the crucifiedand risen Christ

    the wheat (to bake one loaf) and the grapes(pressed to make wine) → they are one body in Christ

    the breaking and pouring →  the costliness of Christ’s sacrifice for theforgiveness of sin

    Some churches provide non-alcoholic and gluten-freeelements.

3) How is Communion served?

The pastor presides atthe Table, normally assisted by elders or deacons the sharing of a common loafor bread and the sharing of a common cup or of individual cups either at theTable or in the pews (Intinction) Dipping the bread in the wine is also anacceptable practice.

4) How often is Communion served?

In the early churchCommunion was served weekly. Gradually the frequency of Communion decreased inmany Protestant churches. Many congregations are moving toward monthly orweekly Communion.

5) Who may receive Communion?

In most United Church ofChrist churches, the Communion Table is "open to all Christians who wishto know the presence of Christ and to share in the community of God’speople" (Book of Worship), even including Christian baptized children andeven infants.

A PRAYER

      Father in heaven, you call us into communionwith you and with one another: Bless and strengthen the ties that bind us inthe Anglican Communion, that we may be one as you and your Son Jesus are one,through the same Jesus Christ, who with you is the author and unifier of allcreation, and who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, oneGod, now and forever. Amen.