August 19, 2007

20^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Preparation for Worship

Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance run the race that is set before us.

Hebrews 12:1

“Tradition, Tradition. Tradition!”

Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof

“Science and technology revolutionize our lives, but memory, tradition and myth frame our response.”

Arthur Schlesinger

Today is the twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, the longest portion of the church year. There is nothing ordinary about Ordinary Time as the term comes from the word “ordinal” which means to tell the rank (First, Second, Third, etc.) During the summer season we have switched the sanctuary around with the pulpit in the middle of the chancel area and the Lord’s Table in front of the pulpit. This change allows us to realize the centrality of the Word read and proclaimed in our worship. The Baptismal font, Lord’s Table, Pulpit, and Cross in the sanctuary all align in the middle of our sanctuary.

     The central text for worship today is the inspiring words of Hebrews in which we are reminded of our connection to a “great cloud of witnesses” who have gone before us. The Call to Worship is taken from this passage calling us to run the race looking to “Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of our faith.” Our opening hymn affirms our connections to the past singing “The God of Abraham Praise”. The profession of faith is the Apostles’ Creed which has in one form or another been a central affirmation of the church. In the early church, this creed was spoken by those who were being baptized as part of their confession of faith in the traditions of the church. The hymn following the sermon once again lifts up those saints who “toiled and fought and lived and died For the Lord they loved and knew.”