More than 'Just a service' - Sundays

There is a great danger for those who are engaged in the delivery of church services to find oneself caught in a trap whereby Sunday becomes the  'must do' focus of the week. Add to this the triplet that is the rotating basis of services set by the liturgical calendar (we've just started year B) and there is a great temptation to not only make Sunday 'The show' but to look back to four years past and draw on that!

As a teenager I found myself sitting through services delivered by an extremely old cleric. At each and every Remembrance he would regale us with combat stories and of how he'd shot Germans (not sure whether it was first or second world war to be honest) but it was one particularly amusing anecdote that I'd heard before that made me realise something: I'd heard it all before!

I wasn't aware of the three years cycle until then but over the coming weeks, as I listening more closely, I realised that I was hearing the same sermon as before. It had been reheated and there were some topical references, but there was no doubt about it, it was 'same again' sermons. So, naively, I mentioned it to one of the Wardens who told me that the Vicar had a set of card index boxes with the readings, hymns and sermons on them. All he had to do was look at the liturgical date (i.e. Advent 3), pull out the 'Advent 3' card and that was everything done!

The problem with the whole thing then was that although all the boxes were ticked and  Church appeared to be done, it wasn't; and this is as much a problem for us today as it was then.

For most of us Sunday is still the main service of the week and this requires - no it demands - our fullest attention. We need to be reading and studying and thinking about the scriptures before us (and more besides) and working to open them to those who will be hearing our sermons. First and foremost we need to be opening the scriptures to our congregations, not delivering party political broadcasts or campaigning for whatever cause defines us - after all, it should be Jesus doing that!

Then knowing what we are looking at in terms of the Word, we need to make sure that the musical bits (all of the service is 'worship') are building something congruent. Now in my ancient Vicar's day this was simple because all there was on offer was a psalm (remember them, they seem to have vanished from many services), an anthem and a few hymns but not today. Today we have so many songs and other musical offerings that choosing what we will have for the service is perhaps the most challenging thing Sunday brings.

And then there's the shape of the service. Liturgy is something to be worked at and thought about. The trap that sees us doing the same old, same old, each week because, 'It's the right way!' with the rationale that the familiar gives the people the opportunity 'to see past the familiar'. This doesn't mean change for changes sake or the introduction of novelty items but it does mean we can vary the Eucharistic elements and can engage creatively with the intercession and prayers.

The danger of 'just' doing Sunday rather than working towards it as the pinnacle of our week's Christian walk and presenting something crafted and purposeful is ever present. But we have to remember that Sunday is more than 'just' a service.

The Seventh Day of Christmas - Gift Day

The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit - this is what is gifted to us today as our song begins its downhill journey - The thing is that because the accommodation that creates it looks to the Catholic Catechism, which teaches that they are:

Wisdom - Understanding  - Counsel or Advice -Knowledge - Courage - Piety - the Fear of the Lord

My first thought when I saw the words 'Gifts of the Spirit' took me to 1 Corinthians 12:

'Brothers and sisters, I want you to know about the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
You know that at one time you were unbelievers. You were somehow drawn away to worship statues of gods that couldn’t even speak. So I tell you that no one who is speaking with the help of God’s Spirit says, “May Jesus be cursed.” And without the help of the Holy Spirit no one can say, “Jesus is Lord.”

There are different kinds of gifts. But they are all given by the same Spirit.
There are different ways to serve. But they all come from the same Lord. There are different ways to work. But the same God makes it possible for all of us to have all those different things.
The Holy Spirit is given to each of us in a special way. That is for the good of all.
To some people the Spirit gives the message of wisdom. 
To others the same Spirit gives the message of knowledge.
To others the same Spirit gives faith.
To others that one Spirit gives gifts of healing.
To others he gives the power to do miracles.
To others he gives the ability to prophesy.
To others he gives the ability to tell the spirits apart. (Discernment)
To others he gives the ability to speak in different kinds of languages they had not known before. (Tongues), And
To still others he gives the ability to explain what was said in those languages (interpretation of Tongues).

All of the gifts are produced by one and the same Spirit. He gives them to each person, just as he decides.'

This chapter, having continued by speaking of the fact that we are all functioning parts of the one body (the Church) concludes with:

'Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 
And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping (or administration), of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 

Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.'

This is the reason that we find some lists that speak of the 'Gifts of the Spirit' contain Apostleship, Teaching, Help, Administration and Counselling (Wisdom) - and have fourteen rather than the seven (which is two sevens so we've done twice as well!).

The key with the Gifts of the Spirit is to understand that they are not badges of authority or pride but roles to be sought, taken up and used for the 'Common Good' - they are things that build and unite, not separate, elevate and scatter.

Happy Seventh day :-)