Even if you have been coming to Parish for a while, you may not often read the small text under the header of each section in the bulletin that gives some explanation for the various elements of worship. At the top of page 10, you’ll find these words: “Our praying, serving, and giving are essential aspects of worship. It is…
This morning’s service draws our attention to the relationship of joy, comfort, and affliction in the Christian life. We are invited into worship with a passage from 1 Thessalonians, which implores us to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.” The opening two hymns both call us to “join in glad adoration” and “Rejoice in [our] King”—but…
G.K. Chesterton was once asked what was wrong with the world, and he responded, “Dear Sirs, I am.” Chesterton is in good company. In the gospel invitation this morning from 1 Timothy, Paul competes with Chesterton saying, “Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” Each of us could submit an application for the…
The elements in this morning’s service point us to the extravagance of God’s grace in our lives—both the abundance and the totality of the undeserved blessings He gives. Jesus Shall Reign and All People That On Earth Do Dwell—Psalm 100 speak of Christ’s kingdom reaching from “shore to shore,” compelling the praise of “all people.” The Call to Worship from…
The very first promise of redemption comes immediately after the Fall of Adam and Even in the Garden. There, God declares that the “seed of the woman” would “bruise the head of the serpent” (Genesis 3:15). In the earliest churches, this great promise was artistically represented by mosaics of dragons on floors—upon which everyone in the congregation could step and…
The palm tree and palm leaves appear again and again throughout the Bible as symbols of integrity, honor, righteousness, holiness, godly authority, and royal glory. The palm was used in the carved decorations of the temple, usually associated with the Cherubim, but also with the regal lion and the flower in full bloom. In addition though, throughout the entire ancient…
Psalms of imprecation, a subset of the larger category of lament, are psalms in which the speaker speaks a curse on the enemies of God. Pastor Sean McGowan in his book Psalms That Curse: A Brief Primer points out that these psalms often make the modern church uncomfortable—and none more than Psalm 137, which we’ve been singing these last five…
Last week Pastor Jamie reminded us that we as Christians have a glory that is weightier than any of the sufferings we face now on this earth. C.S. Lewis once said, “The suffering in this world is not the failure of God’s love for us; it is that love in action for believe me, this world that seems to us…
Here vouchsafe to all Thy servants as they ask of Thee to gain; What they gain from Thee forever and Thy blessed rest retain… —Anonymous 7th century hymn After focusing on the certainty of trials in the Christian life last week, this morning’s service is filled with words of comfort. Paul reminds us in the sermon text that the difficulties…
In Matthew 16 Jesus tells His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” The Christian walk is not easy —as Paul writes to the Corinthians, we are afflicted in every way, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. The Christian life requires us to continually lay down our lives in…