The liturgy for our worship service is the backbone of our gatherings. It provides the outline of what we do. Most of the time, people think of the liturgy as the standard or set parts each week. It is the Kyrie we sing near the front of the service. (“Kyrie, Eleison. On our world and on our way”) It is The Great Thanksgiving that we recite before communion (“The Lord be with you.” “And also with you. “Lift up your hearts.” You know how the rest goes.) It is the Communal Blessing that is said right after communion. (“May the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.”) Much of these words are lifted straight from scripture and have been said by Christians for almost 2000 years. They are really powerful.

What I love about having a worship service that is based in liturgy, is that I don’t have to come up with the words to always describe what is going on in the world or what is going on within me. I can rely on the words of the saints that have gone before us.

But the liturgy is also the hymns or songs that we sing at other parts of the service. They are written by people, as long as 500 years ago or as recently as last year. They are just as sacred and powerful as the other parts of the liturgy.

Just this morning, a new hymn was shared with me that I don’t want to wait until Sunday morning to share with you. (We will use it for our Prayer Song during our zoom service and I will ask our musicians can learn it so we can sing it when we are all back together.) It is titled “Christ Still Rises.” Some days, many days lately, I don’t feel that I have the words that we all need to hear. I find myself craving someone to preach the Gospel to me. To give me words of hope. This song did it for me this morning and I hope it does the same for you.

Technically, I think it is an Easter hymn. It speaks of Christ rising. Obviously, that is an Easter theme. But sometimes, we need to hear things that are out of order in the church season. It is the same way that in the middle of winter, we love an unseasonably warm sunny day. It reminds us that the cold and dark won’t last and it gives us the strength to carry on.

So, as you listen and watch, may you have the strength to carry on when you feel that you are running out of steam, or perhaps have already run out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3it9Bi1Y1Nk

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tim