Where Does our Worship Come From? (10-12-2003; 10-21-2018)

   Does anyone here, please raise your hand, want to be possessed by demons? Of course not, no one wants that or seeks that. Yet, that is a central part of today’s Gospel reading from the Sixth Sunday of Luke (8:26-39), when Jesus encounters a demoniac in the country of the Gadarenes. So, although we don’t know how, we know it’s possible. And we do know the consequences are adverse in that the man was naked and homeless (v.27). And we do know that the stakes are high in that the demons exorcized by Jesus destroy the herd of swine (v.33). The reason I share this in our ongoing series about worship and the Divine Liturgy is to underline what I said the first week—we are in a spiritual battle against the forces of evil and darkness. Last week, we talked about humans as relational and liturgical beings. We were created by God for faith and worship. If we don’t believe in God the Holy Trinity, we’ll believe in something else. And if we don’t worship God, we’ll surely worship something else. That something else is what we call idols. So, this brings us to today, our third talk: Why do Orthodox Christians worship the way we do? Where does our worship come from?

   Surely, we all notice that our worship and divine liturgy is different from other churches including our incense, chanting, icons, candles, standing, kneeling, making sign of cross. What we see, hear, smell, taste and touch is certainly different from our school, jobs and shopping, but it is also very different from other churches and other religions. Some might say that our worship was invented by some bishop or group of bishops a few centuries ago. Others say that New Testament worship was spontaneous and free-flowing. In other words, it did not follow a set structure or order. It was always changing. However, the reality is that the Divine Liturgy we celebrate today is essentially the same, at its core, as the Liturgy of the first century Christians.

   The Apostles and first disciples were Jews. Yet, unlike many fellow Jews, they accepted Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah. After Christ ascended into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Jesus’ apostles and disciples did not invent some new worship of Him. Rather, they took the forms and rituals of the worship they knew, that is Judaic worship, and gave it a Christian character. Jesus Himself observed all the rituals of Judaic worship including fasts, feasts and pilgrimages, so why wouldn’t His disciples also do this? Eastern Orthodox worship and the Divine Liturgy are rooted in early Christian worship which comes directly from ancient Judaic worship.

   Now some might say the same thing about Judaic worship, that it was invented by some Levites and rabbis a few hundred years before Christ. After all, Jews at the time of Jesus already had a history of worship almost 1500 years long and it probably changed along the way depending on who had power and control. Not necessarily. Remember last week when we talked about God giving the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai and the first four said: 1) worship God only, 2) don’t make idols, 3) don’t misuse the Lord’s name, and 4) keep the Sabbath?

   But we often forget that in addition to the Ten Commandments, God gave Moses hundreds of other commandments, recorded in the Books of Exodus and Leviticus, many of which had to do with details of worship. Exodus 25-27 includes specifications about the physical structure of the temple and its dimensions; instructions for the Ark to be built; the internal decor of the Tabernacle; details of the priest’s vestments; the use of incense; the presence of an altar, the daily offerings, the use of anointing oil, and the use of images.

   God said that He would meet with you and I will commune with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim (Exodus 25:17). The cherubim carvings are the earliest use of icons! The mercy seat, or Ark of the Covenant, was understood as the “empty throne where nothing was to be seen.” On this throne God was present—the sole object of worship in Israel. And worship was how the people would meet God and commune with Him.

   To see the continuation in Orthodox Churches today, we see behind the altar on which the bread and wine are consecrated to become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, the new once and for all Sacrifice, there are representations of two cherubim. Between them is the altar at which we commune with God in the Eucharist.

   The pattern and design of the worship God decreed to Moses and the Israelites, was a reflection of the angelic worship of God in heaven. Read Isaiah 6, Daniel 7 and Revelation 4 & 5 to see that this is true. Thus, earthly worship paralleled heavenly worship. Later on, the worship of God in the Temple in Jerusalem became the most prominent focus of Jewish worship, including the form and frequency of prayer and sacrifice.

   The second focus of worship for the Jew were the daily hours of prayers along with weekly and monthly blessings, and the annual High Feast Days. Fr. Louis Boyer points out, The synagogue worship, already before Christ, had its necessary complement in the ritual of the meals: the family meal, and…the meals of those communities of the faithful brought together by a common messianic expectation… Thus, the entire structure of the Last Supper as recorded by St. Luke mirrors the meal liturgy as practiced within Judaism at the time.

   As we conclude today, going from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant in Christ did not mean going from liturgy to no liturgy. Rather, it meant going from a good sacrifice to a better one within the same basic structure of worship. We read in the Book of Acts that day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart (Acts 2:46). I hope and pray that we can see our deep connection to early Christian, New Testament and ancient Judaic worship. Amen!

ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

 Rev. Fr. Richard Demetrius Andrews, Presbyter

1111 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105, (651) 222-6220, www.stgeorgegoc.org

October 28, 2018                                                                                  7^TH SUNDAY OF LUKE

TODAY’S EVENTS:  OXI Day presentation, 11:30am; Youth Ministry meeting 12:00pm, Greek Dance practice, 4:30pm.

Memorial: Spero Thomaidis (1.5 yrs)  Epistle Reader: Steve Kanavati   Prosfora: Krisandrea Ballas-Rylander

Head Greeters: Alexis Bighley, Bob Baffa                        Fellowship: AHEPA

Tuesday       10-30     Strategic Planning Committee meeting                                                            6:30PM

                                  Catechism Class “Sacraments I-Baptism, Chrismation, Confession, Unction”       7:00PM

                                   Youth Sandwich Prep for Homeless Teens through FOCUS MN                             7:00PM

Thursday     11-01     Metropolis Council Meeting and Strategic Planning Retreat (thru Sunday)

Friday          11-02     Cunningham Lecture at UMN Elmer L. Anderson Library                                     7:30PM

Saturday      11-03    VESPERS                                                                                                          5:00PM

                                   JOY Youth baking party                                                                                    6:00PM

                                   Budget Committee meeting                                                                              6:00PM

Sunday         11-04    ORTHROS (8:15am) &DIVINE LITURGY – 5^TH SUNDAY OF LUKE                        9:30AM

                                  Patriarchate Sunday

Monday       11-05     Parish Council meeting                                                                                     6:30PM

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Youth Ministry Meeting Today: Everyone’s input and involvement are welcomed at today’s youth ministry meeting following liturgy. We will be reviewing the youth activities calendar and the youth minister job description. Immediate needs include a Sunday School (co-)director(s) and parent leaders for various activities. This ministry is only as successful as the parish and parental support that undergirds it. Please offer your help!

2019 Budget: All parishioners invited to dialogue with St George Treasurer John Simon during Sunday coffee hour today. Also, please join us Sat 11/3 at 6pm (after Vespers) to share your ministry's vision & financial budget for next year. Please provide amount and details to John Simon at 651-338-2355 or simonjohn@aol.com by Nov 3 for consideration in the 2019 budget. Thank you!

Think About It:         Heaven is full of repentant sinners.    Elder Arsenie Papacioc of Romania (+2011)

Fall Back Next Sunday: be sure to set your clocks back one hour next Saturday evening for Daylight Savings.

October is for Teen Bag-Lunches- Thank you to our youth who made 80 bag lunches for the FOCUS approved teen shelter this past week. We will do it again, this Tuesday, Oct 30^th at 7 pm. Arrive at 6:30 for a quick sandwich dinner together before we begin. This is our last scheduled date to make lunches this year.

Vespers Has Begun! Start off your Saturday evening on the right foot with Great Vespers service at 5pm. It has beautiful hymns about the Resurrection and the Saints of the day, petitions, prayers and readings but only takes 45 minutes to complete. It is an excellent preparation for Sunday Divine Liturgy.

Exterior Restoration- Brick, block and tuckpointing have been completed. The cost of the project is $118,647. All parish council members and many others have already pledged or given their financial support. A brochure was mailed in October Glad Tidings. Please join us in this important work. Thank you!

Fresh Phyllo for Holiday Baking – Philoptochos is once again taking orders for fresh phyllo following liturgy todayand next Sunday. Ready for pick up Nov. 18. Forms are available on-line and at church. Any questions, contact Presbytera Jane at janedono1@gmail.com. Holiday baking is easy with fresh phyllo!!

Bible Study: the newly formed Bible study group will meet the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 1:30-3pm in the conference room at St. George church. RSVP or questions to Kathy Ryan 651-292-9948 or Kathy.aeiou@gmail.com. All are welcome!

Patristic Wisdom: Try very hard to not become despondent, despairing or hopeless. There is no sin that cannot be forgiven, except that which is not repented. Separate yourself from the world and draw closer to the Lord and He will console you here and in the life to come.                            Abbot Nikon Vorobiev of Tver (+1963)

Mittel-European Dinner: Saturday, November 3 at St. Herman of Alaska OCA, 5355-38th Ave S, Minneapolis, 55417, 5pm Vespers, dinner to follow. All profits go towards capital campaign for building renovation. See flyer in social hall for fundraiser details.

Cunningham Lecture: The Modern Greek Studies Department at the University of Minnesota invites you to the James W. Cunningham Memorial Lecture, “The Russian Church & Revolution: the Case of Patriarch Tikhon” at 7:30pm on Friday, November 2, 120 Elmer L. Anderson Library. RSVP stavr001@umn.edu.

Twin Cities IOCC Dinner: Thursday, November 8, 2018, at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church. Come and learn how your support is helping families in Greece, Syria, Ethiopia, and right here at home in the US. Pan-Orthodox Vespers will begin at 6:00pm, followed by a reception, dinner, and special IOCC presentation at 6:30pm. Join us! Tickets are $45. For registration and sponsorship information, visit iocc.org/minneapolis.

Church Fathers Speak: God is with us today, tomorrow and always. Do not fear the future. Fear only to grieve God through sin. However, if we fall in to sin, let us repent and the Lord will forgive us as long as we do not consciously choose evil, attempt to justify ourselves or murmur against God. Fear nothing! Be bold to bring to the Lord all your troubles, confusion, fears, hurts (from demons and people). God desires and knows how to relieve you of these, freeing you from them in a beneficial way.            Abbot Nikon Vorobiev of Tver (+1963)

Pan-Orthodox Youth Dance: students in grades 6-12 are invited to a pre-Advent Dance on Saturday, November 10, at 6pm (Vespers at 5pm) at St. Mary's OCA Cathedral, 1701 5th St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418.

Stelios Petrakis Trio: coming to The Cedar in Mpls on November 11, 2018 at 7:30pm. They perform Cretan music that blends cultural influences from Iran, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Spain, and France. https://www.thecedar.org/listing-2/2018/11/11/stelios-petrakis-trio-with-special-guest

Wisdom from the Fathers: Having God, fear nothing, but cast all of your care upon Him, and He will take care of you. Believe without doubt, and God will help you according to His mercy.              St. Barsanuphius the Great (+540)

Parish Council Elections: nomination forms must be received by the Board of Elections on or before Sunday, November 11, 2018. Official notification of the Elections will be mailed by November 28, with a list of eligible candidates and of parish council members whose terms are ending. Elections will be held on Sunday, December 9, 2018. If you have any questions concerning the nomination process, please contact one of these Board of Election members: Bill Clemons, Dean Natto, Maria Paraschou, Tina Sageotis, Andrea Walkush.

Missing Anything? Please check the Lost & Found area near the coat rack in the lower level for items that have been left at church. Anything not claimed by November 15 will be donated.

Welcome Visitors Thank you for joining with us in prayer and fellowship. The worship of the Orthodox Church is deeply rooted in and very similar to that of the early Christian Church. Unique sensory stimuli and mystery are elements that go back even to the liturgy of the Jewish temple. Everything in an Orthodox Christian church communicates the majestic presence of God the Holy Trinity with His Saints. It is literally heaven on earth. It is a sad consequence of the divisions in Christianity that we cannot extend a general invitation to receive Holy Communion. Visitors are invited to receive the blessed bread (antithoron) at the conclusion of the liturgy. We pray and work for the reconciliation and unity of all Christians. If you are interested in learning more about Orthodoxy, please contact Fr. Rick at fatherrick@stgeorgegoc.org. We are proud of our Greek heritage, but one does not have to be of Greek descent, nor speak Greek to be a Greek Orthodox Christian.

Note to Orthodox about Holy Communion: Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ is one of the most Holy experiences for a Christian in order to be granted the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. We are never worthy to partake of Divine Nature. Yet, it is essential that we prepare ourselves for this sacred Communion by constant prayer, reading the Scriptures, regular fasting and periodic Confession. At a minimum, we should fast all morning before Communion, arrive at the beginning of Liturgy, and come for Confession at least once a year. In addition, we should not have separated ourselves from the Church through serious sin. Otherwise, please refrain from Communion to avoid “judgment…not discerning the Lord’s body” (1Cor. 11:29). Contact Fr. Rick for pastoral guidance.

Glad Tidings deadline: The 10th of each month. Glad Tidings email: gladtidings@stgeorgegoc.org  Sunday Bulletin Deadline: Wednesday Noon each week.  Email: office@stgeorgegoc.org