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I was very happy when James Spragens and the
Worship Committee decided to bring back the
tradition of the Acolyte to our Worship Service.
But it seems as though not many others are as
excited. I certainly hope that changes.
Worship Committee decided to bring back the
tradition of the Acolyte to our Worship Service.
But it seems as though not many others are as
excited. I certainly hope that changes.
When I was growing up in our church, there were two things you
had to be “prepared” for. One was Acolyte training and the other
was Confirmation. Actually being an Acolyte was preparation for
adult membership and Confirmation. Unless you transferred into
our membership at the age of Confirmation, you were EXPECTED
to have been an Acolyte for at least one year. Some of us served
for many years as Acolytes, up to the age of 16! It was a
responsibility you had to fulfill on a regular basis, helping you to
understand that your Church Family was counting on you to be
there and to play a part in Worship. And, that God was counting on
you to participate in a special way by carrying the Light into
Worship.
had to be “prepared” for. One was Acolyte training and the other
was Confirmation. Actually being an Acolyte was preparation for
adult membership and Confirmation. Unless you transferred into
our membership at the age of Confirmation, you were EXPECTED
to have been an Acolyte for at least one year. Some of us served
for many years as Acolytes, up to the age of 16! It was a
responsibility you had to fulfill on a regular basis, helping you to
understand that your Church Family was counting on you to be
there and to play a part in Worship. And, that God was counting on
you to participate in a special way by carrying the Light into
Worship.
How important is the Light in Worship? As a
symbol, it may be the most important! Some may
say the Cross is most important and it can be
debated that it is. But the Cross can not exist
without the Light. The Light was the first thing
the Creator caused to be! Everything in all of
Creation is dependant on the Light. And the
burning candle represents Christ as the Light of
the World.
symbol, it may be the most important! Some may
say the Cross is most important and it can be
debated that it is. But the Cross can not exist
without the Light. The Light was the first thing
the Creator caused to be! Everything in all of
Creation is dependant on the Light. And the
burning candle represents Christ as the Light of
the World.
In the Order of Worship, we have greetings and make
announcements, THEN we have the Call to Worship and the first
thing that is SUPPOSED to happen is the Acolytes carry in the
Light, representing the arrival of the Holy Spirit, the Light of God’s
Presence, to our Worship. What could be more important to any
Worship service than the Presence of the Holy Spirit? Yes, it’s just
a symbol, but it has so very much meaning!
announcements, THEN we have the Call to Worship and the first
thing that is SUPPOSED to happen is the Acolytes carry in the
Light, representing the arrival of the Holy Spirit, the Light of God’s
Presence, to our Worship. What could be more important to any
Worship service than the Presence of the Holy Spirit? Yes, it’s just
a symbol, but it has so very much meaning!
We've been lighting our candles before Worship begins because
we have no Acolytes! I’ve never gotten used to that and I don’t
think I ever will.
we have no Acolytes! I’ve never gotten used to that and I don’t
think I ever will.
While Rev. Gavin Meek was here, we began the
tradition of our Acolytes being inducted into the
Order of Calvin. This order was created as a
fellowship of Acolytes, past and present. All
former Acolytes of UPC were “grandfathered”
into the Order and given the responsibility of
inducting all new members into the Order in a
similar fashion as the Elders are ordained. All
past members of the Order of Calvin come
forward and lay hands on those entering. Yes,
it’s just more symbolism, but it means so much to
everyone involved!
tradition of our Acolytes being inducted into the
Order of Calvin. This order was created as a
fellowship of Acolytes, past and present. All
former Acolytes of UPC were “grandfathered”
into the Order and given the responsibility of
inducting all new members into the Order in a
similar fashion as the Elders are ordained. All
past members of the Order of Calvin come
forward and lay hands on those entering. Yes,
it’s just more symbolism, but it means so much to
everyone involved!
These traditions were stopped during times when the leadership
felt we needed to take a more modern turn and relax the formalities
of our services. We could have met a happy medium rather than
abolishing something so meaningful. That’s why I feel bringing it all
back is so important. After all, we didn’t stop lighting the candles,
did we?
felt we needed to take a more modern turn and relax the formalities
of our services. We could have met a happy medium rather than
abolishing something so meaningful. That’s why I feel bringing it all
back is so important. After all, we didn’t stop lighting the candles,
did we?
The history of Light and religion go hand in hand
from the very beginning. Archaeologists find fire
pits any place they suspect religious activity,
even the most early and primitive types. The
Sun’s light in the day gave warmth and heat and
caused the plants to grow for food. At night, the
fire gave light and warmth, and safety. Light by
candle or fire, was an obvious first symbol for
the Presence of God.
from the very beginning. Archaeologists find fire
pits any place they suspect religious activity,
even the most early and primitive types. The
Sun’s light in the day gave warmth and heat and
caused the plants to grow for food. At night, the
fire gave light and warmth, and safety. Light by
candle or fire, was an obvious first symbol for
the Presence of God.
One of the most ancient of religions
has fire as its primary symbol. The
early Zoroastrians would build huge
sacred bonfires for their worship.
Some historians claim they actually
worshiped the fire itself, but the fire
was a symbol of the one true God,
that they called Ahura Mazda.
Later, after civilization had come a
little further, the Zoroastrians built
Fire Temples and their priest had
the job of making sure the fire was
never extinguished on the alter.
The fire represented God’s
Presence to them and they never
wanted God to leave their Temple.
has fire as its primary symbol. The
early Zoroastrians would build huge
sacred bonfires for their worship.
Some historians claim they actually
worshiped the fire itself, but the fire
was a symbol of the one true God,
that they called Ahura Mazda.
Later, after civilization had come a
little further, the Zoroastrians built
Fire Temples and their priest had
the job of making sure the fire was
never extinguished on the alter.
The fire represented God’s
Presence to them and they never
wanted God to leave their Temple.
The Jewish faith uses light as an
important symbol. The Menorah holds
seven candles (the Hannukah Menorah
holds nine candles) and is said to
represent a number of things: the light of
the Torah (the first five Books of the Bible
written by Moses); the Burning Bush that
God spoke to Moses through; the miracle
of the Temple Lamp during the war of the
MacCabees with the Greeks, the lamp
only had one day’s worth of oil in it, yet
after seven additional days of war, when
the priests returned to the Temple, the
lamp was still burning and this gives Jews
the tradition of the Festival of Lights or
Hanukah. The Menorah also is a symbol
of Wisdom and Truth as the Light
banishes the darkness of ignorance and
shines Light on Truth.
important symbol. The Menorah holds
seven candles (the Hannukah Menorah
holds nine candles) and is said to
represent a number of things: the light of
the Torah (the first five Books of the Bible
written by Moses); the Burning Bush that
God spoke to Moses through; the miracle
of the Temple Lamp during the war of the
MacCabees with the Greeks, the lamp
only had one day’s worth of oil in it, yet
after seven additional days of war, when
the priests returned to the Temple, the
lamp was still burning and this gives Jews
the tradition of the Festival of Lights or
Hanukah. The Menorah also is a symbol
of Wisdom and Truth as the Light
banishes the darkness of ignorance and
shines Light on Truth.
So you see, Light is a very important symbol and has been for all
times and places. Bringing the light into our beautiful sanctuary to
represent the Presence of God is something we should return to and
we should hold this symbolism close in our hearts!
times and places. Bringing the light into our beautiful sanctuary to
represent the Presence of God is something we should return to and
we should hold this symbolism close in our hearts!
| Zoroastrian Fire Chamber and priest tending the Fire. |
| Ahura Mazda, the symbol of God in the Zoroastrian faith, above the entrance to a Fire Temple. |
| If any Youth are interested in induction into the Order of Calvin, please contact James Spragens, Ellen Leake, or Rev. Murray. |
Article held over for May.