Festival Worship

How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the Living God… (Psalm 84)

In the weekly rhythm of life, I find myself renewed by our Sunday morning worship of God. Throughout the week It feels like the stresses and strains, the tugs and pulls, the twists and turns of life have their way with us and our world. But when we gather together to sing and pray and listen and fellowship, it’s as though life gets centered again, that faith, hope and love are renewed, and all is well as another week of life begins.

I am anticipating two wonderful worship gatherings ahead!

First, this Sunday, October 29 is Reformation Sunday, when we remember the birth of the protestant Church now 500 years ago, and ponder how the church is always reforming itself into the image and likeness of Christ Jesus. The hearty brass will help us sing with all our might Martin Luther’s great hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; our helper he amidst the flood of mortal ills prevailing”… God through the prophet Jeremiah will announce “days surely coming” that are found to be among many others our days. Jesus will say, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed”, and we will ponder that elusive and desired freedom. And we will hear again St. Paul’s word to the early church, that same words that caused Martin Luther to protest the ways the church had wandered away from Jesus: “But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed…the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” Don’t miss this wonderful hour!

Second, next Sunday, November 5 is The Feast of All Saints, when we speak the names of those who have died over the last year, and we add also names of many more who we’ve loved and lost through the years. We contemplate St. John’s dream of those gathered in God’s glory who wait for us, as we sing “For All The saints, who from their labors rest, who thee by faith before the world confessed…” And coming to the Lord’s table, we remember their communion still with us! Beginning in the sanctuary, our worship ends in the memorial garden where we remember too all laid to rest there. Again, don’t miss this special, holy moment!

In these gatherings we gain strength and renew our hope, that even though our days are filled with trouble and challenge, by God’s grace and with faith we will find our way home to God too. Psalm 84 goes on: “Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion…they go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion.”

Looking forward with you!

Peter Hawkinson