Christian Resources
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Sunday Worship :
Gathering
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Sunday Worship
Gathering
Last month - as the first part of an occasional series - we explored the
overall pattern of our normal morning worship. We were reminded that the
pattern follows that of the service of Holy Communion, even when Communion is
not to be celebrated. There is a three-fold pattern of 'Approach to God', 'The
Word of God' and 'Response to the Word of God'.
However, the outline of that pattern did not include any mention of that
which precedes the formal beginning of our worship - our gathering
together.
It is notable and encouraging that in St Cuthbert's, many choose to arrive a
little earlier and gather in conversation and fellowship in the Lammermuir
Hall. This forms a very real and important part of our Sunday life together.
In the sanctuary itself the Ministers may informally greet you, or else you
may find one or more of the Ministers along with the duty elders in the
vestibule welcoming you to worship. We gather as the people of God, and we are
one with each other as we come to worship.
And it is worship of God that we have come to offer. Therefore, many find
value in the moments of silence and prayerfulness before the service begins and
as the organist plays the voluntary. Our musicians will have chosen this piece
with care, mindful of the theme for the day's service. It is not simply 'mood
music' to cover up the arrival of worshippers! It is time for prayerful
meditation.
As we gather and as we rightly and naturally greet one another, we should
also respect that many worshippers value this time of prayer and reflection and
wish to be still and silent, that the organist is playing thoughtfully as part
of the preparation for worship, and that just as our greeting of one another is
a proper part of our gathering, so is our prayerful reflection during the
playing of the voluntaries which our organist has specifically chosen for the
day.
This time of gathering - which is so important - comes to its conclusion
when one of the Ministers greets the congregation, offers some brief words of
welcome and explanation (especially for visitors), gives some congregational
notices and invites the congregation to prepare for the worship of Almighty
God.
And then the service proper begins.
| by Rev David Denniston,
2011 |
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For all Church or calendar related issues, please contact :
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St Cuthbert's Parish Church. 5 Lothian Road.
Edinburgh. UK. EH1 2EP
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