Window to Heaven

Of course God's presence is with us everyday but as Christians there something very special about gathering together to worship Him. I am so grateful for the extreme gift of being able to worship together with my church body. Every time we meet to worship God through song, the preaching of his word and communion it increases my gratitude for what Christ has accomplished for me through his perfect life I could never live, The death he died that I deserved and his resurrection as well as the anticipation for day we will worship together in the new heaven and new earth. These moments that the Holy Spirit reveals God's presence in a special way are just a small sampleing of what is to come, a tiny window peering into Heaven.

Revelation 21:3-5 states, "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” In a world so full of hurt and pain so rampant with the effects of the fall (Genesis 3). I long for the the day when God makes all things new. When pain, sadness, and sickness will be gone we will dwell with our savor forever. When he wipes every tear from my eyes and the eyes of all his followers. The day when death will be swallowed up in victory and and we will be renewed (1 Corinthians15:51-58). There will also be no more divisions among us or tensions and the whole world will be filled the knowledge and glory of the Lord (Isaiah 11:6-9)

In our worship together we are getting a picture of what worshiping God will be like forever. We gather to remember that this present world full of pain and trials is not all there is. Our Sabbath is a small reflection of what one day everyday will be like. It is the refreshment needed in our crazy weeks in this fallen world to remember what we will one day be able to enjoy forever. "What we do together in worship is nothing less than a glorious rehearsal of what we will experience when the 'ultimate assembly ' is fully and finally brought together by Christ. Our weekly worship is a foretaste of that day when our feasting will be permanent and our fasting will be over- when we will finally be able 'to enjoy what is most enjoyable with unbounded energy and passion forever'." Tullian Tchividjian  What a beautiful "ultimate assembly' that will be as we gather with our local church and all the believers from all time to worship God collectively together. "Very soon you and I will be standing before the majesty and glory of God. We'll take our place among the throngs of heaven, made up of people from every tribe, language, people, and tongue who have been purchased by the blood of the Lamb." Bob Kauflin

 It is crucial that we come to Sunday mornings with this eternal perspective on worship. Our Sunday worship services now are not perfect with out of tune voices, crying and wiggly children, imperfect worship leaders, Pastor's, Pastor's wives (me) and congregations. But together as believers we set aside a day to worship our savior together as a picture, a tiny window into what will one day be made perfect. When believers from every generation from all over the world will worship God filled with His knowledge and dwelling in His presence. I for one can not wait! Until that day I rejoice in the abilities to show in spite of our fallen world we as believers cling together to worship our Savior for how glorious He is and for all he has done and will do for us. For bringing us messed up sinners along with him in the most beautiful love story ever told. God's redemption of his people.

Esultet (The Easter Proclamation)

Rejoice now, all you heavenly choirs of angels;
Rejoice now, all creation;
Sound forth, trumpet of salvation,
And proclaim the triumph of our King.
Rejoice too, all the earth,
In the radiance of the light now poured upon you
And made brilliant by the brightness of the everlasting King;
Know that the ancient darkness has been forever banished.
Rejoice, O Church of Christ,
Clothed in the brightness of this light;
Let all this house of God ring out with rejoicing,
With the praises of all God's faithful people.
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
It is good and right so to do.

It is truly good, right, and salutary
That we should at all times and in all places,
With all our heart and mind and voice,
Praise You, O Lord, Holy Father, almighty everlasting God,
And your only begotten Son,
Jesus Christ.
For He is the very Paschal Lamb
Who offered Himself for the sin of the world,
Who has cleansed us by the shedding of His precious blood.

This is the night
When You brought our fathers, the children of Israel,
Out of bondage in Egypt
And led them through the Red Sea on dry ground.

This is the night
When all who believe in Christ
Are delivered from bondage to sin
And are restored to life and immortality.

This is the night
When Christ, the Life, rose from the dead.

The seal of the grave is broken
And the morning of a new creation breaks forth out of night.
How wonderful and beyond all telling is Your mercy toward us, O God,
That to redeem a slave You gave Your Son.

How holy is this night
When all wickedness is put to flight
And sin is washed away.

How holy is this night
When innocence is restored to the fallen
And joy is given to those downcast.

How blessed is this night
When man is reconciled to God in Christ.

Holy Father,
Accept now the evening sacrifices of our thanksgiving and praise.
Let Christ, the true light and morning star, shine in our hearts,
He who gives light to all creation,
Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and forever.
Amen.