A Message from the Pastor
Recently Angie and I attended a production of Shakespeare’s, “A
Midsummer Night’s Dream.” It was a delightful production with a few
contemporary twists. The beauty of the play is the timelessness of the
art of comedy. Despite the Shakespearean language the script
continues to resonate with audiences across the centuries.
In many ways the Church also continues to proclaim a timeless message. Christ crucified and risen is the simple message of the Gospel we have proclaimed for two thousand years. However, the forms of communicating the message continue to change. For instance we no longer use the King James language of a former year. I grew up using the language of the Service Book and Hymnal (SBH or ‘Red Book’) with its ‘Thee’s’ and ‘Thou’s’ and the ‘eth’s’ at the end of words. Personally this old Pennsylvania Dutchman is glad that we moved away from that language. All of these forms are words, mere language, used to communicate a message. They have their time and place, but often with changing society new forms of communicating the message need to develop.
In similar ways the Church continues to seek out new forms of communicating its timeless message. Singing hymns is one means of communicating that the church has used for centuries. Does that mean that only hymns written four or five hundred years ago are appropriate for worship? Of course not. I have a deep appreciation for the great hymns and melodies of faith. I also have a deep appreciation for the new hymns and musical expressions that today’s composers offer. Music in its purest form is a means of communicating from the heart. And our faith is above all a matter of the heart.
There are wonderfully symbolic acts and movements in worship liturgy. But worship cannot be reduced to a correct exercise of actions and gestures. The very word ‘liturgy’ means ‘the work of the people.’ It implies more than just being a passive audience observing the actions of the pastor or worship presider. It requires all to become fully immersed in the experience of praise, prayer and proclamation.
Over the years I have enjoyed creating new forms of worship expression to match the proclamation of the day. Together in worship we communicate the timeless message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have begun most of our worship Sundays together with a prayer dedicating the day, with all its joys and sorrows, to the Lord. This truly is the heart of worship: to give all that we are and all that we have to the Lord. Our words may change to communicate the message. But the message is the same. When you come to worship, come with an open mind, an open heart, open ears and words of praise. Enjoy the experience of spending time with your Lord and in the company of your sisters and brothers in Christ.
