As I sit to write, it is still summer and my sabbatical is just around the corner. As you sit to read this, I will be several weeks into that time away. Know that I continue to hold tremendous gratitude in my heart as I anticipate this wonderful gift of time and space.
As I sat at the Worship, Prayer and Spirituality ministry meeting in late July, I wondered if you all know that one of our most substantive agenda items each and every time we meet is something we call “Worship Responses”? This is where we share any responses to worship we have heard and share any feedback that has come our way. One topic of conversation at our July meeting was how the new hymnals are sitting with folks. We’ve heard lots of affirmation from people for the rich new offerings that these hymnals have provided. We have also heard that we might be trying too many of those news hymns at once. People want some more familiar hymns that allow them to sing unselfconsciously in the course of worship. When the editor of the “Red Hymnal” was with us this Spring she commented that we were bold in our choices of hymns that day. In her congregation, the only way the new hymnal was accepted was to sing only familiar hymns for the first year! I felt a surge of deep gratitude for the musical gifts and openness of spirit in our congregation. And we also want you to know that we have heard and are seeking to be responsive to the desire to have some solid ground on which to stand while singing.
Here’s another moment from “Worship Responses” a few months ago. Someone shared a question and suggestion after stumbling over a phrase in the ecumenical version of the Lord’s Prayer week after week. The person said something like this: “Why do we pray ‘Save us from the time of trial’? God never promised to save us from times of trial. Jesus himself was not saved from the time of trial. Why would we expect to be saved from suffering in this life?” My first instinct was to whole heartedly agree. We aren’t saved from the time of trial. We are saved IN the time of trial but not FROM the time of trial. Wouldn’t that be a better way to pray that line? So we talked about this suggestion at ministry meeting. We were poised to give the reinterpretation a try in worship. We decided we should do a little investigation first and I agreed to do a little research. When I read about the formation of the Ecumenical versions of the Apostle’s Creed and the Lord’s Prayer (both of which we use in worship here at Hope Church), I received an education about this line of the prayer. There was considerable discussion about how to word that phrase. The “time of trial” referred to in the biblical text from which this prayer comes refers to what is sometimes called eschatology – or the end of time. It refers to an expectation that there will be times of trial and suffering at the end of time where people will be tempted to renounce their faith. The way I think about this phrase now is that it gives voice to our longing to remain faithful to the gospel to the end of life no matter what pressures may come our way. Knowing that the word choice was intentional and connected to a close reading of the biblical text, we decided it was best to let the language stand even if some of us will continue to do a little translating in our minds as we pray.
I am grateful that much of my sabbatical will keep me close to home (even as I am grateful for those couple of opportunities that will take me traveling to places like the Iona community). I may worship from time to time in a sister church but mostly plan to worship with all of you because this is the place I love to be. Worship is such a central part of our life of faith together, isn’t? I am grateful to continue to share in that experience even if it is from your side in the pew. I share this window into the behind-the-scenes of worship because I wanted you to know that when you share your responses to worship they are taken seriously. Our liturgy truly is the work of the people!
Peace to you,
Jill