Thanksgiving Divine Liturgy
Katherine and I just returned from the Divine Liturgy at St. Paul's. What a blessing it is to be able to participate in the glorious Liturgy, where 98% of the service is in prayer to God. So much time to meditate on God's grace; so much time to beseech God for forgiveness of sins; so much, yet so little: everytime the Liturgy ends and I'm walking out, I'm fighting a deep desire to sit in a pew for another hour or two just contemplating my state before God.
The Orthodox worship environment is so beautiful, so awe inspiring, that one's thoughts are directed to those matters pertaining to the spiritual life: sin, grace, love, charity, faithfullness, history, future judgement, and so forth. Scripture is written all over the church, whether it's the numerous verses in the dome, or the verses on the iconostasis, or the icons themselves that portray scriptural truths...it's difficult to avoid realizing you're in a house of worship. There's a tangible "holiness" about the entire structure and components of an Orthodox church...it's something that you can't really describe, and it's not intellectual: you have to experience it to understand.
"You have to experience it to understand." I know my Protestant friends are probably rolling their eyes right now. But it's okay. I was there, and I would have rolled my eyes right along with them, then.
Fr. Timothy read the following verse to close out the sermon tonight. I thought it was more than appropriate for the eve of Thanksgiving.
therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude [thanksgiving], by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire. ~~Hebrews 12:28-29And this my friends is the Divine Liturgy. The Liturgy that culminates in the Lord's Supper: the "Eucharist" which can be translated "thank you," is both our thank you to God, and God's gift to us. "By which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe..." Our participation in the Eucharist....in a service that is brimming with reverence and awe. Standing in reverence. Facing the Gospels as they're brought into the room. Facing the Gifts as they are presented. Crossing yourself at all such junctures. Bowing the head in humility. Censing the entire sanctuary prior to bringing in the Gifts. Lighting candles in reverence. Awe of the mystery. All to show reverence because of our awe.
Praise God for his blessings.
Posted by jeremy stock at November 27, 2002 11:13 PMKate and I weren't alone:
Karl, over at St. Stephen's Musings, reflected on the Thanksgiving service with much appreciation. That's one of the great things about the Orthodox church: what's going on in one Orthodox church on one night is going on in another Orthodox church, around the world.
What a joy and blessing to be able to share the same experiences with Christian brothers and sisters not just around the country, but around the world.
One of the Hymns sung during the Thanksgiving service:
"No one can put together what has crumbled into dust, but Thou canst restore a conscience turned to ashes. Thou canst restore to its former beauty a soul lost and without hope. With Thee, there is nothing that cannot be redeemed. Thou art love; Thou art Creator and Redeemer. We praise Thee, singing: Alleluia!"Amen.
Beautiful words, Jer. You describe what my own words fail to do, and for that I thank you.
Peace out...
Posted by: Toshikazu at November 28, 2002 04:14 PMWayne,
YOU are too kind. But thank you.
Posted by: jeremy at November 28, 2002 10:35 PMI'm glad God was so glorified! Sounds like a fantastic Thanksgiving.
Posted by: Tim at November 30, 2002 09:27 AMChristianity is experiential. Some people just give it a bad rap.
Posted by: Blake at December 2, 2002 11:09 AMYou're right Blake. Much of Christianity is experiential.
You won't find many in Orthodoxy who give "experience" a bad rap, but I do think there are a lot of Protestant groups who do. What do you think?
Curious: how do you think Presbyterians fare on the issue of Christian "experience"? (I know it's a very VERY broad question...I apologize)
Posted by: jeremy at December 2, 2002 10:21 PM