Dear Congregation,
Once again we find ourselves travelling along the road to public gathering for worship as the people of God, with up to 16 people able to join those who have been managing the livestream broadcast services. The DHHS has set in place procedures that must be followed in terms of social distancing, wearing of masks, and registration as per the PCV approved Covidsafe Plan adopted by the Session.
In respecting the Government’s responsibility in such matters, there is a greater matter that governs us as we gather.
| “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. Let all things be done decently and in order.” – 1 Corinthians 14:26, 40 |
The “coming together” here is evidently for worship, stressing the public and corporate nature of worship.
The reformed faith holds that all of life is to be formed by the Bible, focused in worship (Col 3:17) and submitted to God. Our life as Christians is to be doxological as we have seen (Do you remember the meaning of SDG?). Yet throughout Scripture worship has of necessity a formal aspect.
The formal nature of worship is established in the Sabbath principle of one day in seven belonging to the Lord. In Mark 2:27-28 Jesus Himself asserted “I am the Lord of the Sabbath” and that “the sabbath was made for man” thereby stressing the continuing importance of the principle of the Fourth Commandment for His church under the New Covenant. As long as we live in this present world Jesus is saying we need the Sabbath. We understand that through the resurrection victory of Jesus Christ the day has moved to the first day of the week, as validated by His coming among His disciples on the Sunday, and also by the NT’s description of this day as the Lord’s day. Despite that change the purpose in its provision remains – this is a day in which we rest from our daily labours but also retains the focus of formal worship as it was in the OT.
Rather than withdraw from it, we should highly value this day, and make the most of it for the good of our souls and for each other, being anxious to demonstrate our love for God, His people, and His Word. It is to “be done for edification.”
| “… not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:25 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” – Acts 2:42 |
Day by day we find ourselves sent back by God, as it were, to the place of work, of study, of family and social duties essential to daily life in this present world. So every opportunity to gather together is welcomed. The duties of the Lord’s Day, the duties of public worship are welcomed by us as high kingdom privileges, as a result of which they orientate our lives throughout the week ahead as we embrace the week reinforced by the grace of our God – forgiving grace, sustaining grace, supporting grace, serving grace so that we seek to turn out our lives in ongoing thanksgiving unto the Lord.
We have been thankful how that has been enabled, our “coming together” through livestreaming but let us not hesitate to once again “come together” physically as we have opportunity. This may be by taking up a turn in the ’20-assmebly’. It maybe by inviting or joining another family to watch and participate together in that small way.
Yet it is not just “coming together”, it is to “be done decently and in order” by which we recognise and declare that our God is not a God of confusion but of peace (1 Cor 14:33). Over the coming weeks let’s think about the various elements of worship that God sets before us in His Word, so that we not only know why we do them, but learn to lean to look for and enjoy the blessing God intends through them to His people as they worship Him.
You will also notice in the attached Order of Service we have a new hymn to finish worship service with – please check out the link today or before church tomorrow to familiarise yourself with it.
Together in Christ’s love and service,
John
Your Pastor