Chapter
8
Worship,
Christian Year
Worship
How we define the beginning of worship
often defines what we believe about our heritage and our faith. Some would
argue that worship begins with the early Christians as they gathered to share
the details of Jesus life, his teachings, his miracles and healings and his
death and resurrection. Some would go further and say that our worship derives
from its Hebrew roots. Most scholars would say that our worship follows
patterns that come from synagogue worship. We must always remember that the
earliest Apostles were all Jews first, even Paul, who began the path that led
the early church away from its Hebrew rules and requirements. Early Christian
leaders called our pattern of worship as “synagogue liturgy.” The word “liturgy”
comes from the Greek word meaning, “work of the people” or “service to the
people.”
Liturgy in the Eastern Church has
not changed much in two thousand years. The service follows preset patterns
established by early church leaders, it is primarily the work of the Clergy and
the Choir and/ or musicians with the congregation simply listening without
great participation. Liturgy in the Western Church has driven in different
directions. Some churches like the Ana-Baptist, Quakers and Puritans have no set
liturgical flow in worship, while most Protestant movements have some informal
order of worship. Most United Methodist churches follow an order of worship
that is recognizable from church to church, though the appearance of
contemporary and praise styles of worship is changing the face of worship
across America.
A traditional Christian worship
service consists of two elements, the Synaxis (the service of the Word) and the
Eucharist (Holy Communion). Synaxis comes from the same Greek word as synagogue
and means gathering together. This part of the service is centered on the Word
of God and involves scripture, message, and prayers. The Eucharist is the
service of Communion. At most Protestant religious services this is not present
every week but at preset times throughout the year. As United Methodist we
believe that worship is:
- Worship
is encounter – meaning that at every worship participants have
opportunities to encounter Jesus Christ. We believe that worship is an
opportunity to strengthen our relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Worship
is central – we believe that worship is central as a whole, to lead your
local congregation, and to your participation as a Christian in the church
and in the world. In worship we discover that we are the church.
- 5
principles of worship – We believe there are five principles of worship
that should be evident in every worship:
- God’s
word is primary
- Active
congregation participation is crucial
- Spontaneity
and order are both important
- Worship
must be relevant and inclusive
- Worship
is communal
- Our
pattern for worship follows a basic pattern but may be structurally
different in churches from location to location. The basic pattern for
worship is:
- Entrance
(Processional, Hymn, Praise liturgy, Response liturgy)
- Proclamation
and response (Hymn, Sermon, Scripture, Prayer)
- Thanksgiving
and communion (Prayer, Hymn, Communion)
- Sending
What you will see in the
church
Churches may vary in floor layouts,
in pulpit design and the display and location of the altar table so take this
lesson to be a model of a typical church. Within the sanctuary you will find at
least one pulpit. If there are two within the church one tends to be a little
higher than the other. The lower pulpit is where scripture is typically read,
announcements are made, and prayers are offered, in other words, all the
non-message related parts of the service. The message almost without exception
comes from the high pulpit. Some pastors may preach from outside the pulpit,
some may move around the stage or front of the church, but almost all start at
some semblance of a pulpit. If there are chairs in the pulpit area, these are
the places speakers will sit. If there are more than three, typically three
will be placed in the center or located adjacent to the Altar table. To the
right of the Altar sits the “Moses” or “Law” chair symbolizing God’s law sent
to the world through Moses. To the left of the Altar table sits the “Prophet”
or “Elijah” chair symbolizing the prophecy of God. If there is a third chair in
the middle that is often referred to as the “Jesus” chair. The Presider who is
bringing the message would typically sit in this chair as Jesus representative
bringing the Word of God through the message.
Churches that have more elaborate traditions
in the church may have an Acolyte, a young man or woman who lights the candles
on the Altar table. The symbolism here
is that they are bringing in Jesus through the lighted candle they carry. They
reach the Altar and then light the two candles at either end of the Altar
table, one representing “The Divinity of Christ” and the other representing
“The Humanity of Christ.” At the end of the service they will extinguish the
two candles into one light symbolizing Jesus leading the church out into the
world for mission. The candles themselves represent the three elements of
Christ in the church. The candle wax symbolizes his body, the candle wick his
soul and the candle flame his divinity. During Communion, the elements of
Communion are on the table. When we look at the table during a communion Sunday
we should reflect on what we see there. What we see reminds us of Jesus at the
burial place, the candles representing the angels on either end which also
creates a beautiful picture of the Ark of the Covenant.
The church year is divided up into
periods of time representing the birth, life and death and resurrection of
Jesus. Our Christian year begins the first Sunday of Advent, which is the first
Sunday following Thanksgiving. During this time we celebrate the prophecy of the
Messiah, anticipating the birth as the arrival of this promise of God to the
people of the World. On Christmas Day and for the next twelve days we celebrate
Christmas, the Birth of the Messiah, the Anointed One, and God in the World.
This season ends with Epiphany which in the Western Church is the traditional
time we believe the Magi or Wise Men arrived to see Jesus in person. During the
season of Epiphany we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus in the church,
transfiguration and it is during this time of the year that we typically focus
on Jesus ministry and his teachings. Following Epiphany we enter into the
season of Lent. It begins with a celebration in many cultures called by various
names like “Fat Tuesday” or “Shrove Tuesday”. Lent is a time of reflection,
fasting and prayer that lasts 46 days from Ash Wednesday till Easter Sunday.
The week prior to Easter Sunday is “Holy Week” in the United Methodist Church
and during that week we celebrate “Palm Sunday (Jesus entrance into Jerusalem)”,
“Maundy Thursday (the gathering of Jesus and the Disciples and the beginning of
Communion)”, “Good Friday (which is a misnomer meaning the day of Jesus
death)”, and then “Easter Sunday (the day of resurrection).” Following Easter
the church celebrates Ascension Sunday (the day Jesus Ascended to heaven),
Pentecost (the day the Holy Spirit indwelled in the Apostles and the Christian
church is born), and then a period called “Ordinary Time (that gives the church
time to focus on various aspects of our faith life.
The calendar is set by two events in
the year. In the Western world Thanksgiving establishes the season of Advent
with Christmas falling on December 25th. Why December 25th
was chosen is lost in the muck of time. Some suggest it is because the Hebrew
“Festival of Lights” is celebrated on this day while others base it on the
timing of Easter minus nine months. The why is not as important as what we are
celebrating. Easter is set as the Sunday following the Paschal Full Moon on or
after the Vernal Equinox. The Paschal moon on or after the Vernal Equinox sets
Passover and for those studied in the scriptures know, Jesus dies during the
season of Passover.
We celebrate these various times in
the Christian Calendar with colors.
Blue
or purple is the color of royalty and a color of hope. Blue or Purple are the
colors of Advent and sometimes used during the season of Lent.
White
or Gold are joyous colors representing purity. It is used during the Christmas
season up until Epiphany, the season of Easter and during Communion, Weddings,
Baptisms and special occasions of the church.
Red
is the color of fire and represents the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It is used
during Pentecost Sunday, some display red during Holy Week, Thanksgiving and at
certain services like the service of Ordination.
Green
is the color of Ordinary time and represents growth and earth.
During certain seasons symbolism is
often used to celebrate the meaning of that season. Advent wreaths, Christmas
trees, palm leaves and flowers are some of these.
Questions
1. What are the important elements of
worship that allow you to experience God’s presence?
2. How does the historical traditions
shape your focus on worship?
3. How do the symbols of worship enhance
or take away from worship as you understand it?
4. Some would say that our Christian
holidays are actually Pagan Holidays. How do you respond to this statement?
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