Dear Reader,
We’ve entered the season of Pentecost and what is called in Roman Catholic liturgical terminology “ordinary time.”
The way the Roman Catholic Church, of which the Lutheran Church is a descendent, thinks of the liturgical church calendar is all the days between Christmas and Easter, and their preparatory seasons of Advent and Lent, respectively, is ordinary time. In these seasons of the year, namely epiphany and Pentecost, the liturgical colour is green.
My dear wife who values change tells me she gets quite bored looking at the same green paraments for some twenty Sundays in a row if there happens to be no feast day in the middle of the season of Pentecost that particular year.
I’m O.K. with seeing the same green paraments for a long time, it’s less work for the altar guild, and I appreciate a nice long run of one colour on the altar.
All this gets me to think of the shift that I’m observing in the church in North America where Christian young adults are making a definite move toward churches that value the liturgy and old church traditions over whatever is the latest and greatest trend in non-denominational and evangelical churches. It is too simple to say that these individuals are making a move away from the church growth movement and contemporary worship toward traditional, liturgical worship, but that is certainly part of what is happening. Perhaps another part of this movement is younger Christian adults are seeing the world’s continual changes, political and otherwise, in society are not benefiting them and they are seeking something more substantial and enduring in their worship of God.
Whether you like a little change or value stability, I invite you to join us at Grace Lutheran Church for worship. Here our worship is centred on the Word of God, in particular the Good News of God’s salvation won for the world in Jesus Christ, and God’s gifts given to us in the Holy Sacraments of Holy Communion and Holy Baptism. No matter your individual preferences, here you will hear Christ Jesus proclaimed as your Lord and Saviour. You will hear what Christ has done to save you from your sin, to sanctify you, and to bring you into and keep you in His family and kingdom the church, all based on what God does, not based on any contribution of yours. The Gospel is a freeing message and it gives peace. It grounds us in place and time and it helps us see the place God has made for us in history and God’s plan for us in life.
You’ll hear all of this in ordinary time during the season of Pentecost.
Hopefully you won’t mind seeing green on the altar for awhile.
Sincerely,
Pastor Korsch
