A REVERENT SILENCE
Please read this one carefully and take it to heart!
We've got something of a problem. Many times over the past several months, I have been rather shocked by the noise level prior to the beginning of our worship as well as during the administration of communion. It is the buzz, chatter, and laughter of casual conversation. I'll be the very first to say that one of the most attractive traits of our congregation is our friendliness and our easy-going nature when we get together. Visitors and newcomers have often taken note of this quite positively. Even more often, however, people also appreciate the atmosphere of holiness in our worship—a reverence [that is the word they always use] that is captivating and meaningful. So we have a good mix of the formality of our liturgy and the informality of our personal demeanor. Let's not allow either one of these dynamics to bleed into and distort the other!
The time before a service begins and the administration of communion are very much part of your worship. These are times for personal prayer and meditation. The music being played or sung (the organ prelude and the hymns or anthems during communion) is intended to assist in devotion and to provide spiritual focus. I think we've gotten to the point where we're missing out on that. Since this is a matter both of our common worship and of your personal spirituality, as your priest I'm asking that we be very intentional about keeping a prayerful, focused reverence prior to a service and throughout communion.
Lately, I've spoken a lot about "sacred space." We have done much with the church's interior to emphasize that sense so that we can feel and know that here we are brought into our Lord's presence in a special way. The reredos cross and the tabernacle are the primary points of focus, rich in beauty and meaning; learn what they have to say to you. Other invitations to reverence and prayer abound as well. The shield-emblems in the windows have stories to tell. The sanctuary candle glows to remind us of the Real Presence of Christ in the bread and wine of communion. For these last couple of weeks of Easter, the Paschal Candle—our primary symbol of new life in Christ—stands out. All of these things, and so many others, can bring focus to our meditations. God speaks to us through them. People, too, can be that source of spiritual focus for us. During communion, look upon others in your church family (deliberately one at a time)—give thanks for them, pray for their peace, for strength in their burdens, and for their healing in any sorrow or pain. And, of course, don't forget you-and-yours.
Remember, reverence during worship is something that we want our children and youth to be taught and to know as well. Your reverence, whether in silence or through your fulsome participation in the liturgy, shows them the way. Our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program precisely teaches young children about sacred space and the behavior that is appropriate when we are in the presence of holy things and when we are at worship together. Please help them to know that what they are being taught is true! To close this message, I offer you two of my favorite gems from Scripture that speak to what I hope I've said: "Be still, and know that I am God" (Ps.46: 10)/and "Worship the
Lord in the beauty of holiness" (Ps.96: 9).
In Christ,
Shannon+
