Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Oct. 19
Our worship at Friedens Church is sometimes described as “traditional”. I prefer to think of it as ancient and tried and true. Our order of worship finds its origin several hundred years before the time of Jesus. In the sixth chapter of Isaiah, the prophet recalls a vision while worshiping in the Temple in Jerusalem. Isaiah suggests the greatness and majesty of the Divine by imagining that just the hem of God’s robe fills the Temple. Angelic creatures called seraphs serve God in heaven, ever singing Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of God’s glory. And so, we too begin our worship with humble praise for a majestic and awesome God.
The Divine presence is further revealed in the shaking of the foundation of the Temple and the mingling of light and smoke. The prophet cries out in fear before God, saying: Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a mortal of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips. This confession is met with purification, symbolized by a seraph touching the mouth of the prophet with a live coal and the announcement that your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out. So too our worship includes confession, an assurance of pardon, a song and prayer of thanksgiving, an announcement of the peace that emanates from the gift of forgiveness, and a grateful and generous offering to God and for God’s work in the world.
Isaiah’s vision concludes with a message from God and an invitation to go and live the message. Isaiah responds, saying, Here I am, send me! Our order of worship follows this same pattern. We conclude our time together in the sanctuary by receiving a reading from Scripture and a sermonic reflection on the passage, before a final song of praise and a commissioning and benediction that moves us into the world as Christ’s disciples.
Yes, our way of worship is an ancient as well as tried and true means of encountering the Divine presence. Make it part of your sabbath rest and renewal and invite others to join you.
Yours in Christ,
Marc
