The Service at St. John

Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Romans 12:1

For over 160 years members of our congregation of faith have worshipped together under God’s holy Name. We have done so both outwardly and inwardly. Yet, Christians at times tend to discount the outward expression of worship in favor of the spiritual. And yet we live in a created world. God cares for and saves the whole person, both the outer and the inner you!

As God’s word speaks, it is by and because of the mercies of God that we present ourselves both in body and soul, as a living and holy sacrifice, which is our spiritual service of worship. This reality is reflected in the Divine Service. What takes place in the church Service engages the senses. We make us of what we call the “means of grace” which are means of God’s word among us. For it is the very word of Christ itself which inhabits the form of these means. St. Augustine once called these means “visible words.” For there, God’s words are delivered to us through tangible means, for example, water in Baptism, and bread, and wine in the Holy Supper.

We also sing God’s words in our hymnody and chant! And although the sense of hearing seems to be primary in our worship, for faith comes from hearing the words of Christ, the sense of sight lends to our receiving of these words in other ways. Indeed, as we gather to both hear and see, the senses are engaged. It happens through the sanctuary itself, holding its many lights, reminding us of the light of Christ and his saving words! For God calls us to worship him in the beauty of His Holiness.

The senses are engaged constantly in worship, in our sitting, standing, kneeling, and this may serve to further focus our minds on what it all means. So, we worship as whole people for we will do so for all eternity! One of the wonders of our Christian Faith is the truth that salvation comes to the whole of you, again, both outer, and inner. Because the Lord Jesus Christ is both Divine and Human and has been raised from the dead, his resurrection becomes our guarantee that we will experience the same!

For what we do in our services this side of heaven is rehearsal for eternal things still to be. As his own we will on that day live in a newly created world, serving our God before his throne, body, and soul, forevermore!

Pastor