Abstract
The sacraments of baptism and holy communion are not only means of grace; they are social rites. Christians have practiced them using available cultural materials. The sacraments, in turn, have formed the community of the church. This essay reviews cultural ways at different times in social history that have informed sacramental practice. Not surprisingly, postmodern preferences for diversity of style and concerns for inclusivity in community have been expressed in contemporary sacramental practice. Larger uses of water and oil and better quality bread and wine reflect a postmodern concern for the natural world. A diversified menu reflects a sense of community forged by attending to individual needs. New eucharistic prayers use expanded images, diverse forms of prayer within one prayer, and acclamations of the people within a presidential prayer.
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