We continue with pieces from “Holy People” by Gordon Lathrop.
For the Christians…the ekklesia (church) met to gather around the same thing the ancient biblical assemblies had at their heart: the presence of the Word of God. The biblical Word gave their assemblies a name. It gave them a chain of images with which to interpret their own meetings, to give a history and a future to what was being done with them. It also gave them an actual practice – Scriptures to be read and interpreted, psalms and hymns to be sung, prayer to be prayed, the biblical meal to be held, a pattern of consecration to be followed by those who came to join them, a faith to be taught.
What we do in worship is nothing new…nor is it a “mere” tradition. It is the vehicle in which we reach back in time to hear again the voice of our God and simultaneously we are pulled into the vision of what will be. The pattern of worship is designed to do that. There is no hocus-pocus…no magic. It is an orderly way of making the transition between yesterday, today and tomorrow. That is why the music we use can be quite varied. There is no musical style that is liturgical music for worship. When we sing we sing with the voices and styles of music of every age but with a story line that is common and eternal. Yes, we are a part of an ancient bunch of folks but they are also a part of our modern day assembly.
Connection: When someone says they have a ‘contemporary’ worship at their congregation, ask how it connects to the ancient church…is there the meal…the singing….the lessons…the peace!?! Or is it all made to fit into another style that is only as old as the members alive in the congregation?
Lord God, you gather us in to take part in the grand parade of saints who come to follow our Lord, Jesus, into a world that is often hostile or even indifferent to your grace. Help us to learn from the day gone by so that the days to come may be full of your loving and gracious Word. Amen.
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