Atop the Scaffolding

Cathedral scaffolding

Today, our local newspaper (the online version) posted this video of the renovation at St. Patrick Cathedral in Norwich, CT (Climb to the Ceiling of St. Patrick's in Norwich), the church where my daughter sings in the Diocesan Choir.  The platform that the artists are using to walk around is atop the entire scaffolding, a portion of which is pictured here.  It amazes me how much the upper part of the scaffolding looks like a room (see photo gallery).  The cathedral will be absolutely beautiful when the work is finished.

Related web articles:
Symbolism at Heart of St. Patrick's Redo
A Photo Gallery:  Renovations at Cathedral of St. Patrick

Related articles on A Struggling Believer:
Scaffolding Everywhere, Rebuilding the Church

Gloria Laus: Christ the King

On Sunday, my daughter sang part of this as the call to worship at our LCMS Lutheran Church.  For more on the history of the chant and the lyrics in English, visit this post on Scarlet Letters.

A Liturgical Resource: Epiphany

Notes from Ordering Our Days in His Peace:  An Introduction to the Christian Church Year
by H. R. Curtis.
-------------------------
Once again:  the Church year has three major seasons:  Christmas, Easter and the Time of the Church (also known as Ordinary Time).  Each season of the year focuses on a single part of the salvation story.  Christmas shares with us the story of how God the Father sent Jesus the Son into the world to be born and to live our humanity (only perfectly, of course).  Christmas ends with the onset of Easter, the season that shares the story of what Jesus did for us by dying on the cross and rising again from the dead.  The Time of the Church shares the tale of the Holy Spirit and His work among us in and through Word and Sacrament.  The Church employs various liturgical tools to help in the telling of this story of God and His love for us.

THE TIME OF CHRISTMAS --- The Epiphany of Our Lord

Celebrated on January 6th, Epiphany is both a feast day and a season.  It is the revealing of Christ to the world.  This is the day when the Magi, wise men who were Gentiles, came to worship the Lord Jesus, showing that, now, everyone on earth had access to God through the new temple, Christ.  Gentiles (non-Israelites) who, during the time of the Old Testament, had no access to the temple to worship God because they were not considered His children, would now be blessed, fulfilling the promise made to Abraham:

...and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. --- Genesis 12:3 (ESV)

As a season, Epiphany is also that time of the Church year when Christ is revealed more and more as the Son of God:  at His Baptism, Jesus is identified as the Christ and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him;  He overcomes the temptations of Satan before the start of active ministry;  and He performs miracles that increasingly demonstrate His power over nature, demons, etc.  Whether feast day or season, Epiphany is a time of revealing.

Liturgical colors during Epiphany:  white and green

On the Feast of the Epiphany, the color of the altar vestments is white, again representing purity, light, divinity, eternity, and joy.  It is the color that points to Christ.  It is the color that is used for the Church feast days of Jesus.

The color for the season of Epiphany, the Sundays following January 6th, is green because they are actually a small step into Ordinary Time, that part of the Church year containing no special observances like we have during Advent and Christmas.  During the season of Epiphany, we focus on how Christ grew "in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man."  The Gospel readings teach about Jesus' miracles, especially those that involve healing to illustrate how Christ came to make all things new.  Green is a color that is associated with growth and newness of life.

Liturgical music during Epiphany:  nothing of note

Special observances during Epiphany:  Baptism of Our Lord and the Presentation of the Lord

On the first Sunday after Epiphany, we recall the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.  As Jesus was without sin, why in the world was this necessary?  It is part and parcel of the perfect Christ experiencing our humanity.  To quote from the book (page 18):

Jesus is baptized into our sins so that our Baptism might be into His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins.

Forty days after the Feast of the Nativity (Christmas Day), some Lutherans observe the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Our Lord.  These days are actually recognized together, and both are considered feast days of Jesus, therefore their liturgical color is white.  So, after recognizing the season of Epiphany as a small step into Ordinary Time with a change to the color green, this day is actually a small step back into the Time of Christmas whose liturgical color is white.  Kind of odd, I admit, but the liturgical calendar should be thought of as a guideline, not a set of hard-and-fast rules.

Note:  in my experience, Lutherans do not actively observe either the Purification of Mary or the Presentation of the Lord.

Worship events during Epiphany:  evening worship on the Feast of the Epiphany

Is Jesus a Hypocrite?

God has the most interesting timing, especially to have this show up during Holy Week.

Earlier this evening, while browsing around my Facebook page, I noticed this post:

Ever get tired being the strong, silent type?  Always going the extra mile for others but getting nothing in return, then acting like it's no big deal.  What bigger type of hypocrite is there?

Wow.  By this definition, Jesus would be the greatest hypocrite of all!  A silent lamb led to the slaughter, going the extra mile for sinners, getting nothing in return, and then "acting like it's no big deal" by forgiving those for whom he died, those whose sin nailed Him to the cross.

And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." --- Luke 23:34

Within five minutes of reading the aforementioned Facebook post, I read this status (see below).  The husband of a college friend shared it.  He is a two-time cancer survivor who lost part of his tongue, which makes eating and drinking more difficult for him than for most people.

This morning I thought maybe I could put that little piece of bread they give you at communion in my mouth.  Mistake.  Stayed up front and played the rest of the service [he is a musician] so no water and by the end of the service, I had a soggy lump in my mouth I just couldn't swallow.  Made me reflect a bit on that situation.  Do I get frustrated with how hard it is to eat?  You bet.  Do I get angry or discouraged?  Heck no.  I view it like most things in my life.  The parameters within which I operate are given to me and simply are.  They are neutral.  It's totally up to me how I deal with it.  I can be angry and bitter that it takes so much effort just to eat.  Or I can rejoice in the fact that I can eat and am able to get the sustenance I need, or anything between.  But it is my choice.  I CHOOSE to focus on how thankful I am that I am able to eat rather than CHOOSE to become bitter and angry that it is more difficult for me than most people.

Just as this gentleman reflected on his situation, I am trying to process that "hypocrite" statement.  When, in faith, we love and serve our neighbor (as we are commanded by God to do), when we go the extra mile for others, we are supposed to do it expecting nothing in return.  If then, after serving and expecting nothing, we truly act as if it is no big deal (and think the same thing), we aren't hypocrites.  We are, in faith, choosing an attitude of love toward others and an attitude of thankfulness toward God for the opportunity to serve Him by serving our neighbor.  We have, in faith, demonstrated the love of God in Christ to another human being.  How can that be hypocritical?

A Liturgical Resource: The Nativity of Our Lord

Notes from Ordering Our Days in His Peace:  An Introduction to the Christian Church Year
by H. R. Curtis.
--------------------
To review:  the Church year has three major seasons:  Christmas, Easter, and the Time of the Church (also known as Ordinary Time).  Each season of the year focuses on a single part of the salvation story.  Christmas shares with us the story of how God the Father sent Jesus the Son into the world to be born and to live our humanity (only perfectly, of course).  Christmas ends with the onset of Easter, the season that shares the story of what Jesus did for us by dying on the cross and rising again from the dead.  The Time of the Church shares the tale of the Holy Spirit and His work among us in and through Word and Sacrament.  The Church employs various liturgical tools to help in the telling of this story of God and His love for us.

THE TIME OF CHRISTMAS --- The Nativity of Our Lord

The season of hope, Advent, ends with the fulfillment of that hope, the birth of our Savior and King, Jesus Christ.  Note that God did not send a prophet or an angel on Christmas morning to redeem us from our sins.  No, He sent His only Son.  So, on this day, we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity.

Liturgical colors during The Nativity of Our Lord:  white

The color of purity, light, divinity, eternity, and joy.

Liturgical music during The Nativity of Our Lord:  the "Gloria in Excelsis" is reinstated

Now that Jesus has returned, so has our hymn of praise.  So, with the angels, we sing:

Glory be to God on high;  and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.
We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee,
   we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee, for thy great glory.
O Lord God, heavenly king, God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
   that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.
Thou that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer.
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.
For thou only art only;  thou only art the Lord.
Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost,
   art most high in the glory of God the Father.  Amen.

Special observances during The Nativity of Our Lord:  the Twelve Days of Christmas

Because the birth of Christ, Our Savior and King, is too great a celebration for just one day, the Church spreads it out over twelve days beginning on December 25 and ending on January 5.  Each day has a unique focus:*

December 25:  Feast of the Nativity
December 26:  St. Stephen Day
December 27:  St. John, the Apostle and Evangelist
December 28:  Holy Innocents and Martyrs Day
December 29:  St. Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury
December 30:  Feast of the Holy Family
December 31:  Feast of Saint Sylvester
January 1:  Circumcision and Naming of Jesus
January 2:  Octave Day of St. Stephen
January 3:  Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus
January 4:  Octave Day of Holy Innocents
January 5:  Twelfth Night

In my experience, Lutherans do not actively observe each day of the Twelve Days of Christmas.  They focus on the days pertaining to Christ and the Holy Family, as opposed to the days pertaining to martyrs of the faith (with the exception of Holy Innocents Day).

*Information pertaining to the specific emphases of each day of the Twelve Days of Christmas was taken from Wikipedia, not from Ordering Our Days in His Peace.

Worship events during The Nativity of Our Lord:  midnight and morning services

Since the announcement of the birth of Christ is recorded in Scripture as coming first to the shepherds as they watched their flocks by night, many Lutheran churches celebrate the arrival of Christ with a Divine Worship Service at midnight;  others hold service on Christmas morning.  Some churches do both.

A Liturgical Resource: Advent

Notes from Ordering Our Days in His Peace:  An Introduction to the Christian Church Year
by H. R. Curtis
---------------------------
It is universally accepted amongst Christians that God created the universe, and that the universe he created includes time.

Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and for years... --- Genesis 1:14

Time helps us make sense of our lives:  minutes and hours order our days, weeks and months order our years, and years mark the passage of a lifetime.  We are, in fact, born into a time-based existence, born one day and living until we die.

Time helps us make sense of God's story, too.  God created a home for humanity, set them on a course of history and broke into that history in the person of Jesus Christ, that part of the Godhead who will return one day to complete the story at the end of time.  Relating this story, the story of Christ and what He did for humanity, is the purpose of the Church.  Telling and re-telling the story of salvation in a time-based manner, helps it make better sense.  A liturgical calendar keeps the story on track for us chronologically.

The Church year has three major seasons:  Christmas, Easter, and the Time of the Church (also known as Ordinary Time).  Each section of the year focuses on a single part of the salvation story.  Christmas shares with us the story of how God the Father sent Jesus the Son into the world to be born and to live our humanity (perfectly, of course).  Christmas ends with the onset of Easter, the season that shares the story of what Jesus did for us by dying on the cross and rising again from the dead.  The Time of the Church shares the tale of the Holy Spirit and His work among us in and through Word and Sacrament.  The Church employs various liturgical tools to help in the telling of this story of God and His love for us.

THE TIME OF CHRISTMAS --- Advent

This season, the first of the liturgical year, begins with Advent, a Latin term that means "coming into."  Jesus, the hope of humanity, is coming into the world to save us from the power of sin and death.  During this part of the Church year, we prepare to receive our future Savior.  That preparation includes repentance for our sins, the sins that make the birth of Christ necessary.

Liturgical colors during Advent:  violet

The color of repentance and the color of royalty for our coming King.

Liturgical music during Advent:  omit the "Gloria in Excelsis"

Normally, during our worship service, we sing these words:

Glory be to God on high;  and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.
We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee,
   we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee, for thy great glory.
O Lord God, heavenly king, God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
   that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.
Thou that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer.
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.
For thou only are holy;  thou only art the Lord.
Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost,
   art most high in the glory of God the Father.  Amen.

Because this is the song that Scripture tells us the angels sang at Jesus' birth and because we are waiting for Christ to be born, we withhold this song of praise until Christmas morning.

Special observances or tools during Advent:  the Advent wreath

Advent wreaths have four candles, one for each week in the season leading up to Christmas.  Each Sunday, a candle is lighted, one being added each week, increasing the anticipation of the arrival of our King.  We also look forward to the day when Christ will come again.

Special events during Advent:  midweek worship services

A Liturgical Resource: Introduction

One of my favorite gifts this past Christmas was a book from Concordia Publishing House titled Ordering Our Days in His Peace:  An Introduction to the Christian Church Year by H. R. Curtis.  The dedication just inside just inside the front cover reads:

For the children God has given (and, in accordance with His wishes, will give) to my wife and me, that they may always cherish being a part of God's story.

Now I seriously doubt that, at age 51, my husband and I will be adding to our immediate family, but I do volunteer with a homeschool group, the children from which I sometimes think of as "my kids."  It was for them, and for my own enlightenment, that I put the aforementioned book on my wish list at all.  Being Lutheran, and living (as I do) with a church musician, I have experienced the ordering of my days, as Mr. Curtis puts it, since I was a small child.  Sadly, most of the "Bible church" and Reformed Christians I know don't seem to understand a lot about the liturgical calendar or about the enriched perspective it can bring to life in a hectic culture.  Generally speaking, these folks tend to associate the tradition of following the liturgical calendar with the Catholic Church and, therefore, eschew any involvement with it, oftentimes counting it as non-Biblical or idolatrous.  True on the first count, but many teaching tools that are used in the Church, such as a catechism, are extra-Biblical.  As for idolatrous...well, for me, that is a matter of individual faith and focus.  For one Christian, following the liturgical calendar may become a stumbling block;  for another, it may provide an ordering principle that will help deepen relationships with God and other believers.

So, for those who are interested, I will be posting my notes from Ordering Our Days in His Peace.  Watch for them over the next few days.