A season for Symbolism

March 4, 2009

It’s an interesting question, as there are always different symbols or things that relate to different people groups. Our church has developed a foot washing culture as an evangelical event. A small group of our people participate in the local churches Easter festival or in some cases setup at spiritual exploration festivals. This is done as a blessing to people and is often the most popular, this is to me a symbol to those giving that they desire to show the love of God in a simple practical way. Those receiving know that they have enjoyed a foot wash or they realize that a stranger is washing their feet and showing them the love of God in a simple practical way.

 The things where we people can join in easily is the types of worship that has survived within the main stream of worship within the churches over the years. Singing, Baptism, Eucharist are simple things that groups of people on any level can participate in together. Foot washing, candle lighting and other types of symbolic worship are perfectly valid but I observer these are often done in smaller groups that people feel are appropriate settings. This is not to say that there are any rules to this.

The seasons of the year seem to be a key that provokes the expressions of symbolism. People in the Philippines have large symbolism over the gathering of Palm leaves to the home almost to a superstitious point. The Crucifixion is also re-enacted every year promoted by the season. In my church context ,we take these symbols, and attempt to include them just enough, in order that we enhance the meaning of the season without taking the focus away from whom we are celebrating.

For the King ! http://neal101.wordpress.com

Repetion is good for the soul

February 25, 2009

I went to a conference once that had Wes Campbel as a guest speaker. He spoke along a similar line about the repetitive reading of scripture. You take a passage of scripture, however long, and you read it and re-read it. Then you disect as slowly as you need to you start to meditate on a group of words and relect and see new meaning in the words either for yourself or in some cases for those that are distant from you.

Once example is the Lords prayer.

You start reading ” Our Father who art in heaven” and the idea in your mind comes-what does the words “OUR father” say to you” You have the the word ‘OUR’ includes your family, the you add your friends and before long you realise that there are vast cultures and people groups that are worshipping and calling out to the same Father you are.

This changes the prayer from being personal and takes it to another level recognising that millions of people are saying the same words to the same Father. It makes it come alive and shows you a depth and a meaning in each and every word.

It certainly is a time I feel like I’m watering my soul, as it has opened my eyes to exploring the depth of repetition in scripture.

I wish I did it more often.

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December 28, 2008

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