Ritual And Celebrations
Worship
THE WINGS OF WORSHIP
Opening Activities
1. Prayer
2. Sing "O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee"
3. Is ritual important? Is it important in celebration? Should it be? Could it be?
Information
Ritual refers to the prescribed words in an act of worship while a ceremonial refers to the actions (for example, the exchange of marriage vows is part of the ritual while the woman and man facing each other and holding hands is part of the ceremonial).
If words are not important, it does not matter what we say. If actions are not important, it does not matter what we do. Scripture tells us that words are important (Matthew 12:36) and what we do is important (James 2:26; 2:20).
A much admired expression throughout western culture in both sacred and secular circles has been that of "self-giving." That is certainly heightened by the fact that God loved us so much that God sent Jesus (John 3:16). Jesus himself and his words proclaimed the self-giving of God (words and actions).
We are not usually called to give our lives for others, but we give or refuse to give of ourselves in various ways throughout the day. Acts of kindness are forms of self-giving - forms of love. The refusal to do such things is evidence of the lack of love.
Words and actions are ways that we give ourselves. It has been said that actions speak louder than words. Indeed, our actions and words go hand in hand. It is only when the two do not match that we realize that something is wrong. Agreement is a sign of integrity.
Public worship depends constantly on our actions as a means of expressing God's self-giving to us, our self-giving to God and our self-giving to one another. This is not to contrast words and actions. Much of what we do is accompanied by spoken words. Words and actions, or rites and ceremonial, complement each other in worship and in life. Some of our actions are for comfort, such as sitting down during the sermon. Some of our actions are important bearers of meaning, such as bowing our heads during prayer.
Our humanity needs action as an outward and visible sign of self-giving. God knows what our needs are. That is the reason for the sacraments. They are God's self-giving actions to or for us.
We have, somehow, in Protestantism settled for the idea that words are more spiritual than actions. Does not Christ give himself through the words of the sermon as well as the bread and wine? Our humanity depends upon both words and actions for perception in everyday life and in worship.
The quality of celebration is related to the social nature of worship. It is related to the ability of all present to enter the ritual in one accord in word and action to give of themselves. For example, the more who enter into the ritual of receiving members, the better the service. There is no magic in the words alone or in the actions alone, but the power lies in what they both at their best represent: "worship in spirit and in truth."
The sacraments are God's self-giving acts to us. They are sign acts. The words and actions are important at the time of the sacraments.
The words and actions at a funeral are important. For the Christian, death is a celebration. For those who are left behind, it is saying "good-bye!" Yes! There will be reunion later, but this is a temporary good-bye. The funeral is a time for closure with the deceased, for reassurance to the loved ones of victory in Christ, and for celebration of the life of the one who has entered the presence of the Lord. It is the last witness for the deceased. As a Christian, it is the right and privilege of the deceased to have that celebration in the church - preferably with a closed casket covered by a pall. Some choose a memorial, which is fine, but there ought to be a time for family and friends to view the body.
The ritual and ceremonial of the Christian marriage are important. The couple are the ministers of the rite while the pastor or priest presides. The couple marry each other, making a commitment to one another before God. In fact, God is a part of that covenant.
Church membership is a covenant relationship between an individual and a group of people and God.
There is something about going public with commitments and celebrations that makes them a firm part of our life. A ritual is a prescribed way of doing things. What we say is important and what we do is important. Our words and actions need to agree.
Discussion Questions
1. What actions are significant in worship such as bowing the head for prayer?
2. Do you think we need more ritual or less ritual in our services?
3. Can celebration be prescribed?
Evaluations
Have course participants complete the weekly evaluation form from page 63 (you may make copies) and hand it in at the end of the class period.
1. Prayer
2. Sing "O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee"
3. Is ritual important? Is it important in celebration? Should it be? Could it be?
Information
Ritual refers to the prescribed words in an act of worship while a ceremonial refers to the actions (for example, the exchange of marriage vows is part of the ritual while the woman and man facing each other and holding hands is part of the ceremonial).
If words are not important, it does not matter what we say. If actions are not important, it does not matter what we do. Scripture tells us that words are important (Matthew 12:36) and what we do is important (James 2:26; 2:20).
A much admired expression throughout western culture in both sacred and secular circles has been that of "self-giving." That is certainly heightened by the fact that God loved us so much that God sent Jesus (John 3:16). Jesus himself and his words proclaimed the self-giving of God (words and actions).
We are not usually called to give our lives for others, but we give or refuse to give of ourselves in various ways throughout the day. Acts of kindness are forms of self-giving - forms of love. The refusal to do such things is evidence of the lack of love.
Words and actions are ways that we give ourselves. It has been said that actions speak louder than words. Indeed, our actions and words go hand in hand. It is only when the two do not match that we realize that something is wrong. Agreement is a sign of integrity.
Public worship depends constantly on our actions as a means of expressing God's self-giving to us, our self-giving to God and our self-giving to one another. This is not to contrast words and actions. Much of what we do is accompanied by spoken words. Words and actions, or rites and ceremonial, complement each other in worship and in life. Some of our actions are for comfort, such as sitting down during the sermon. Some of our actions are important bearers of meaning, such as bowing our heads during prayer.
Our humanity needs action as an outward and visible sign of self-giving. God knows what our needs are. That is the reason for the sacraments. They are God's self-giving actions to or for us.
We have, somehow, in Protestantism settled for the idea that words are more spiritual than actions. Does not Christ give himself through the words of the sermon as well as the bread and wine? Our humanity depends upon both words and actions for perception in everyday life and in worship.
The quality of celebration is related to the social nature of worship. It is related to the ability of all present to enter the ritual in one accord in word and action to give of themselves. For example, the more who enter into the ritual of receiving members, the better the service. There is no magic in the words alone or in the actions alone, but the power lies in what they both at their best represent: "worship in spirit and in truth."
The sacraments are God's self-giving acts to us. They are sign acts. The words and actions are important at the time of the sacraments.
The words and actions at a funeral are important. For the Christian, death is a celebration. For those who are left behind, it is saying "good-bye!" Yes! There will be reunion later, but this is a temporary good-bye. The funeral is a time for closure with the deceased, for reassurance to the loved ones of victory in Christ, and for celebration of the life of the one who has entered the presence of the Lord. It is the last witness for the deceased. As a Christian, it is the right and privilege of the deceased to have that celebration in the church - preferably with a closed casket covered by a pall. Some choose a memorial, which is fine, but there ought to be a time for family and friends to view the body.
The ritual and ceremonial of the Christian marriage are important. The couple are the ministers of the rite while the pastor or priest presides. The couple marry each other, making a commitment to one another before God. In fact, God is a part of that covenant.
Church membership is a covenant relationship between an individual and a group of people and God.
There is something about going public with commitments and celebrations that makes them a firm part of our life. A ritual is a prescribed way of doing things. What we say is important and what we do is important. Our words and actions need to agree.
Discussion Questions
1. What actions are significant in worship such as bowing the head for prayer?
2. Do you think we need more ritual or less ritual in our services?
3. Can celebration be prescribed?
Evaluations
Have course participants complete the weekly evaluation form from page 63 (you may make copies) and hand it in at the end of the class period.
