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Advent
Advent is a season of four weeks including four Sundays. Advent derives from
the Latin adventus, which means "coming." The season proclaims the comings
of the Christ—whose birth we prepare to celebrate once again, who comes
continually in Word and Spirit, and whose return in final victory we
anticipate. Each year Advent calls the community of faith to prepare for
these comings. Each Sunday of Advent has its distinctive theme: Christ's
coming in final victory (First Sunday), John the Baptist (Second and Third
Sundays), and the events immediately preceding the birth of Jesus Christ
(Fourth Sunday). Advent is the beginning of the Church Year for most
churches in the Western tradition. It begins on the fourth Sunday before
Christmas day, which is the Sunday nearest November 30, and ends on
Christmas Eve (Dec 24). The color of Advent is traditionally purple.
Anthem
Special music sung by the choir or a soloist just before the sermon. It is
traditionally a psalm or hymn that uses words from the Scriptures.
Apostles' Creed
A creed is a summary of Christian Faith written by the church in order to
confess clearly what it believes. The
Apostle's Creed
is one of the earliest statements of faith (summaries of the Christian
faith) that is held in common by most Christians. Around A.D. 180,
Roman Christians developed an early form of the Apostles’ Creed. They
affirmed that the God of creation is the Father of Jesus Christ, who was
born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, was buried and
raised from the dead, and ascended into heaven, where he rules with the
Father. They also affirmed belief in the Holy Spirit, the church, and the
resurrection of the body. Candidates for membership in the church, having
undergone a lengthy period of moral and doctrinal instruction, were asked at
baptism to state what they believed. They responded in the words of this
creed. The Apostles’ Creed underwent further development. In response to the
question of readmitting those who had denied the faith during the
persecutions of the second and third centuries, the church added, “I believe
in the forgiveness of sins.” In the fourth and fifth centuries, North
African Christians debated the question of whether the church was an
exclusive sect composed of the heroic few or an inclusive church of all who
confessed Jesus Christ, leading to the addition of “holy” (belonging to God)
and “catholic” (universal). In Gaul, in the fifth century, the phrase “he
descended into hell” came into the creed. By the eighth century, the creed
had attained its present form.
Ascension Day
Ascension Day always falls on a Thursday and is seen as completing the
sequence of events celebrated at Easter. The feast recalls the final
ascension of Christ after he had been raised from the dead, and
re-commissioned the disciples. Theologically, ascension marks the end of
the period of appearances of the risen Christ to his disciples. The theme
of exaltation is important in that Jesus is understood to have been exalted
to the right hand of God.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is the actual day when the season of Lent begins—a season of
repentance. Because the Old Testament occasionally refers to putting
ashes on one’s face or clothing as a symbol of repentance or remorse (Esther
4:1;
Jeremiah 6:26)
people started to wear ashes as a proper external sign of their inward
attitude of remorse or repentance. The first day of Lent was therefore
marked by imposing ashes on the heads of the clergy and people. It is
a day of silence, fasting and prayer and a time when we can publicly confess
the sin that entangles us and we acknowledge our human mortality. The
ashes are placed on people’s foreheads in the sign of the cross during a
service of worship as the one imposing the ashes says, “Remember that you
are dust, and to dust you will return” (others say, “Remember your baptism
and be renewed”). Traditionally, the ashes for this service were
prepared by burning the palm branches from the previous year’s Palm Sunday.
Ordinarily the palms from the service are returned on the Sunday before Ash
Wednesday. These palms are then burned into ashes and ground into a
fine powder with a spoon. Ashes on the forehead are a visible reminder
of our frail human condition and the need for repentance and forgiveness.
Assurance of Pardon
After the prayer of Confession, the minister declares God’s promise of
forgiveness. This is done to reaffirm the Scripture's teaching in
1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive our
sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (NRSV) The congregation
responds to this declaration by singing the Gloria Patri.
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Baptism
Baptism is the sign and seal of God's grace and covenant in Christ. Baptism
enacts and seals what the Word proclaims: God's redeeming grace offered to
all people. Baptism is God's gift of grace and also God's summons to respond
to that grace. Baptism calls to repentance, to faithfulness, and to
discipleship. Baptism gives the church its identity and commissions the
church for ministry to the world. In Baptism, the Holy Spirit binds the
Church in covenant to its Creator and Lord.
The water of Baptism symbolizes the waters of creation, of the flood, and of
the Exodus from Egypt. Thus, the water of Baptism links us to the goodness
of God's creation and to the grace of God's covenants with Noah and Israel.
Prophets of Israel, amidst the failure of their own generation to honor
God's covenant, called for justice to roll down like waters and
righteousness like an everflowing stream. (Amos
5:24)
They envisioned a fresh expression of God's grace and of creation's goodness
-- a new covenant accompanied by the sprinkling of cleansing water. In his
ministry, Jesus offered the gift of living water.
Baptism is received only once. There are many times in worship, however,
when believers acknowledge the grace of God continually at work. As they
participate in the celebration of another's Baptism, as they experience the
sustaining nurture of the Lord's Supper, and as they reaffirm the
commitments made at Baptism, they confess their ongoing need of God's grace
and pledge anew their obedience to God's covenant in Christ.
Benediction
A blessing given to the people by the pastor. This is done at the end of the
worship service.
Book of Confessions (or "The Confessions")
The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has two parts. The first
is the Book of Confessions, the second (consisting of the Form of
Government, Directory for Worship, and Rules of Discipline) is called the
Book of Order. The Book of Confessions contains eleven historical
statements of faith that articulate what we believe as a church. Included
in these eleven statements are the Nicene Creed, the Apostles’ Creed, the
Scots Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Second Helvetic Confession,
the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Shorter Catechism, the Larger
Catechism, the Theological Declaration of Barmen, the Confession of 1967,
and A Brief Statement of Faith.
Book of Order
The Book of Order sets out the way we govern ourselves, sets guidelines for
worship, and offers information in the case of disciplinary actions. It was
developed and can be modified by the General Assembly with the approval of
the majority of presbyteries. Our Book of Order has undergone significant
changes over the years to reflect the needs of our church and the world we
live in. As stated above, it contains three sections beginning with the
Form of Government, then the Directory for Worship, followed by the Rules of
Discipline.
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Calvin and Knox
In the Presbyterian Church you may hear the names John Calvin or John
Knox. John Calvin was a French Reformer who followed in the footsteps of
Martin Luther in the 1500s. John Knox was a Scottish preacher who brought
the teachings of John Calvin to Scotland helped lead the Presbyterian church
their.
“Catholic” and “catholic”
The word catholic (small “c”) refers the church “universal”. The word
Catholic (capital “C”) refers to a particular denomination of the Christian
church – the Roman Catholic Church. Presbyterians believe that there is
only one Church – of which the Presbyterian Church is but one denomination.
As the Bible speaks of the one body which is the Church living under the one
Spirit of God known through Christ, it reminds us that we have one Lord, one
faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all. (Ephesians 4:5.6) Visible
oneness, by which a diversity of persons, gifts, and understandings is
brought together, is an important sign of the unity of God’s people. It is
also a means by which that unity is achieved. Further, while divisions into
different denominations do not destroy this unity, they do obscure it for
both the Church and the world. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), affirming
its historical continuity with the whole Church of Jesus Christ, is
committed to the reduction of that obscurity and is willing to seek and to
maintain communion and community with all other branches of the one, holy,
catholic, and apostolic Church.
Chancel
The front part of the sanctuary containing the lectern (where the scriptures
are read), the pulpit (where the sermon is preached), the baptismal font and
the communion table.
Choral Response
A response sung by the congregation, choir or a soloist.
Christmas
Christmas is the day in which celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is also a
season of praise and thanksgiving for the incarnation of God in Jesus
Christ, which begins with Christmas Eve or Day and continues through the Day
of Epiphany. The name Christmas comes from the season's first service, the
Christ Mass. Epiphany comes from the Greek word epiphania, which means
"manifestation."
Church Year (The)
God has provided a rhythm of seasons which orders life and influences
the church's worship. God's work of redemption in Jesus Christ offers the
Church a central pattern for ordering worship in relationship to significant
occasions in the life of Jesus and of the people of God. The Church thus
has come to observe the following days and seasons:
Advent:
A season to recollect the hope of the coming of Christ,
and to look forward to the Lord's coming again.
Christmas:
A celebration of the birth of Christ.
Epiphany:
A day for commemorating God's self-manifestation to all
people.
Ordinary Time:
The seasons between Epiphany and Lent and Pentecost
and Advent. They are called ordinary time because they have no central
theme.
Lent: A season of spiritual discipline and preparation, beginning with
Ash Wednesday, anticipating the celebration of the death and resurrection of
Christ.
Holy Week:
A time of remembrance and proclamation of the atoning
suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
Easter:
The day of the Lord's resurrection and the season of
rejoicing which commemorates his ministry until his Ascension, and continues
through the Day of Pentecost, the celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit
to the Church
Commissioning
The blessing and sending out of a church member to do work for God away from
the church. The biblical practice of laying on of hands by other pastors and
elders is a part of the installation, ordination and commission services.
Communion (see
Lord's Supper)
This is the meal we share from the Lord's Table. We call this meal
Communion; others may call it the Eucharist or the Lord's Supper. Eucharist
is from the Greek word for "thanksgiving" which is what Jesus did before he
gave bread and wine to his disciples.
Communion Table
This is the table at the front of the sanctuary that holds the bread and
wine for Communion. Sometimes other items are on the table such as the
Bible, a cross, or candles. We call this the Lord's Table rather than an
altar because the night Jesus Christ was betrayed he was eating the Passover
meal with his disciples at a table. An altar is a place for making
sacrifices. In the Reformed tradition, we believe that Jesus' sacrifice on
the cross was sufficient for all. It doesn't have to repeated with a Mass
or other Communion on an altar.
Confession, Prayer of
A prayer we say together to admit our sins to God and to ask God’s
forgiveness. This is often followed by a time of silent confession.
Confession comes at the beginning of worship because we have to tell the
truth about ourselves before we can hear the truth of God's Word to us.
Confirmation
The act in which one "confirms" the vows or promises made on one's behalf by
one's parents at infant baptism. Through discussions with the pastor, the
young people come to more fully understand the grace of God received at
baptism and now are able to renew those promises on their own. Those who
have not been baptized are usually baptized at this time. After
confirmation, one is considered to be a voting member of the church.
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Deacons
The Church offices mentioned in the New
Testament which this church has maintained include those of presbyters
(ministers of the Word and Sacrament and elders) and deacons. The office of
deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of sympathy, witness, and service
after the example of Jesus Christ. It is the duty of deacons, first of all,
to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to
any who may be in distress both within and beyond the community of faith.
They are nominated and elected by the congregation.
Debts and Debtors
When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we use
the words debts (as in "forgive us our debts") and debtors. Some Christians
say "trespasses" or "sins." This is because the Lord's prayer is found in
both Matthew's and Luke's Gospels and in the original Greek they used two
different words that mean "to sin." In Matthew's version the word means "to
owe a debt" but a debt of sin, not money.
Doxology
A song of praise and thanksgiving used by the church for over 300 years. We
sing it at the end of our worship service as the congregation is holding
hands to remind us of why we are here and of how good God is to us. The
words are:
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
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Easter
The Easter Season, also known as the
Great Fifty Days, begins at sunset Easter Eve and continues through the Day
of Pentecost. It is the most joyous and celebrative season of the Christian
year. It focuses on Christ's resurrection and ascension and on the givings
of the Holy Spirit on the first Easter (John
20:22-23) and the Day of
Pentecost (Acts
2). Lessons from the Acts of the Apostles replace readings
from the Old Testament because the early church, empowered by the Holy
Spirit, is the best witness to the Resurrection. The ancient Christian name
for this festival is Pasch, derived from the Hebrew pesah ("deliverance" or
"passover"), thus connecting the Resurrection to the Exodus. The origin of
the English word Easter is disputed but may come from the Anglo–Saxon spring
goddess Eastre and her festival. Pentecost comes from the Greek pentekoste,
which means "fiftieth." It refers to the Jewish Feast of Weeks, which
Greek–speaking Jews called the Day of Pentecost (Acts
2:1).
Early Christians also used the term Pentecost to refer to the Great Fifty
Days as a season.
Elders
An elder doesn't mean someone is of great
age, or even length of time in our church. As there were in Old Testament
times elders for the government of the people, so the New Testament church
provided persons with particular gifts to share in governing and ministry.
Elders are chosen by the people. Together with ministers of the Word and
Sacrament, they exercise leadership, government, and discipline and have
responsibilities for the life of a particular church as well as the church
at large, including ecumenical relationships. They serve faithfully as
members of the session. When elected commissioners to higher governing
bodies, they participate and vote with the same authority as ministers of
the Word and Sacrament, and they are eligible for any office. It is the duty
of elders, individually and jointly, to strengthen and nurture the faith and
life of the congregation committed to their charge. Here at Northminster
Presbyterian, the session is comprised of 15 elders, five of whom rotate off
every year. Every August, the congregation meets briefly after worship
service to elect elders based on the Nominating Committee's recommendations.
Epiphany
The unusual name of this festival derives
from the Greek word epiphaneia, which literally means “manifestation” or
“making known”. The festival takes place on January 6th and is
traditionally linked to the baptism of Jesus (in the Eastern church) and the
visit of the “wise men” or “magi” to the infant Jesus (in the Western
church). This festival is understood to mark the beginning of the long
process by which the identity and significance of Jesus was “made known” to
the world. It is a time that celebrates the appearance of the Lord in the
midst of humanity. It follows Christmas (or the season of Advent) and our
celebration of God coming to us.
Eucharist (or Communion or Lord's Supper)
This is the meal we share from the Lord's
Table. We call this meal Communion ; other may call it the Eucharist or the
Lord's Supper. Eucharist is from the Greek word for "thanksgiving" which is
what Jesus did before he gave bread and wine to his disciples.
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General
Assembly
Every two years all the presbyteries in
the church elect commissioners or representatives to attend a meeting of the
General Assembly. This group makes decisions for the whole church within
the United States based on democratic election principles.
Gloria Patri
A song of praise to the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) used by
Christians for 1500 years. The words are:
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Amen.
Good Friday
This is the Friday before Easter on which
the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is observed.
Great Three Days (The)
Sometimes called the Triduum or Pasch—from sunset Holy Thursday through sunset Easter Day are the
climax of Lent (and of the whole Christian year) and a bridge into the
Easter Season. These days proclaim the paschal mystery of Jesus Christ's
passion, death, and resurrection. During these days, the community journeys
with Jesus from the upper room, to the cross, to the tomb, and to the
garden. They should be seen as a great unified service beginning with a
service of Holy Communion on Holy Thursday and concluding with the services
of Easter Day. These services may be connected with a prayer vigil lasting
from Holy Thursday evening (or Good Friday) until the first service of
Easter and may be accompanied by fasting.
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Hymn
A song of praise to God, that also instructs us in the Christian faith.
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Installation Service
The dedication of people who have been ordained to do a particular ministry
in the Church, such as a pastor, elder or deacon.
Introit
The first song sung by the choir "introducing" worship (or inviting us to
worship). This is usually a song of praise to God.
Invocation
See
Prayer of Invocation.
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Kyrie Eleison
A Greek phrase that means "Lord have mercy." It is often sung during Lent.
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Lay Leader
A lay leader is one of the leaders of the
church who has not been ordained to the position of pastor.
Lectionary
A Lectionary is a table of readings from
Scripture appointed to be read at public worship. The association of
particular texts with specific days began in the 4th century. The
Common Lectionary, published in 1983, was an ecumenical project of several American
and Canadian denominations, developed out of a concern for the unity of the
Church and a desire for a common experience of Scripture. It was intended
as a harmonization of the many different denominational approaches to the
three-year cycle of Sunday readings. The
Revised Common Lectionary,
published in 1992, takes into account constructive criticism of the Common
Lectionary based on the evaluation of its trial use and is a three-year
cycle of Sunday readings in which Matthew, Mark and Luke are read in
successive years with some material from John read in each year. The
lections (or readings) used in worship at Northminster typically follow the
pattern established by the Revised Common Lectionary.
Lent
Lent is a season of forty days, not
counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday.
It is widely regarded as a time of preparation for Holy Week and Easter
(Christ’s death and resurrection). Lent comes from the Anglo–Saxon word
lencten, which means "spring." Taken literally, the word means that this is
the time of the year when the days lengthen. We see the season before Easter
as a holy springtime of the soul–a time of preparation and nurture for
Christian growth. The season of Lent began in the early church as a time
for preparing new converts for Baptism on Easter. Lent is based on the
period of forty days spent by Jesus in the wilderness before the beginning
of his public ministry. Just as Jesus fasted for forty days, so his
followers were encouraged to do the same thing. The First Sunday describes
Jesus' temptation by Satan; and the Sixth Sunday (Passion/Palm Sunday),
Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem and his subsequent passion and
death. Because Sundays are always little Easters, the penitential spirit of
Lent should be tempered with joyful expectation of the Resurrection. Purple
is the color associated with the season of Lent and is used in churches that
observe liturgical traditions. Purple is a solemn color, reminiscent of
royalty and repentance. It reflects the serious and somber nature of this
time in the life of the church.
Letters on the Cross
The Letters on the Cross, which were
nailed on a sign above Jesus on the cross at the command of Pontius Pilate
are INRI. "I" is actually a "J" in Latin and stands for: Jesus. "N" stands
for: Nazareth. "R" stands for: Rex which means "king" in Latin. The last
"I" stands for "J" again, this time representing the word: Jews. "INRI"
means in Latin "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." Pontius Pilate
actually had the sign written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek so everyone who
stood at the foot of the cross could read the sign in a language with which
they were familiar.
Litany
A group of sentences or phrases that the pastor and the congregation take
turns reading.
Liturgical Colors
The Christian year contains two cycles:
the Christmas Cycle (Advent– Christmas–Epiphany) and the Easter Cycle
(Lent–Easter–Pentecost). Within each cycle are a preparatory season
symbolized by the color purple and a festival season symbolized by the color
white. After each cycle there is an ordinary time of growth symbolized by
the color green. Thus there is a sequence of seasons using purple, white,
and green in that order twice each year.
Purple:
Purple is a color of both
penitence and royalty used during the preparatory seasons of Advent and
Lent. It can symbolize pain, suffering, and therefore mourning and
penitence. As the color of royalty it is used during Advent as we prepare
for the arrival of Christ our King.
White:
White symbolizes purity, holiness,
and virtue, as well as respect and reverence. White is used for all high
Holy Days and festival days of the Church Year, especially the seasons of
Christmas and Easter, as well as for baptism, marriage, ordination, and
dedications. It is also used for funerals as a symbol of the resurrection.
Red:
Red is a color of fire,
symbolizing the Holy Spirit. It is used on the Day of Pentecost and at other
times when the work of the Holy Spirit is emphasized. It symbolizes the
presence of God. It is also considered the color of the Church, since red
can also symbolize the blood of martyrs. It is used for special ordination
services and is sometimes used for Maundy Thursday and during Eastertide.
Green:
Green is a color of growth used in
the Seasons After the Epiphany and After Pentecost (Ordinary Time), except
when special days call for white or red. Green symbolizes the renewal of
vegetation and generally of living things and the promise of new life.
Liturgist
Someone who helps lead worship. A
liturgist is the person who reads portions of the liturgy or leads the
congregation in the speaking of the liturgy—the written texts which order
our service of worship.
Liturgy
The word liturgy literally means “the work of the people” in Greek. The
various parts of the worship service and how they work together to help us
experience God's Word to us.
Lord's Prayer (The)
The prayer which Christ taught His disciples and is still used by followers
around the world, found in
Matthew 6:9-13
or
Luke 11:2-4.
Lord's Supper (or Communion or Eucharist)
The Lord's Supper is the sign and seal of
eating and drinking in communion with the crucified and risen Lord. During
his earthly ministry Jesus shared meals with his followers as a sign of
community and acceptance and as an occasion for his own ministry. Around
the Table of the Lord, God's people are in communion with Christ and with
all who belong to Christ. Reconciliation with Christ compels reconciliation
with one another. Coming to the Lord's Table, the faithful are actively to
seek reconciliation in every instance of conflict or division between them
and their neighbors.
The Lord's Supper is to be observed on
the Lord's Day, in the regular place of worship, and in a manner suitable to
the particular occasion and local congregation. It is appropriate to
celebrate the Lord's Supper as often as each Lord's Day. It is to be
celebrated regularly and frequently enough to be recognized as integral to
the Service for the Lord's Day.
All the baptized faithful are to be
welcomed to the Table, and none shall be excluded because of race, sex, age,
economic status, social class, handicapping condition, difference of culture
or language, or any barrier created by human injustice. The invitation to
the Lord's Supper is extended to all who have been baptized, remembering
that access to the Table is not a right conferred upon the worthy, but a
privilege given to the undeserving who come in faith, repentance, and love.
In preparing to receive Christ in this Sacrament, the believer is to confess
sin and brokenness, to seek reconciliation with God and neighbor, and to
trust in Jesus Christ for cleansing and renewal. Even one who doubts or
whose trust is wavering may come to the Table in order to be assured of
God's love and grace in Christ Jesus.
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Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday is the Thursday of Holy
Week. The emphasis for this Thursday is on Jesus' own commandment of love:
"Love one another even as I have loved you." The word "maundy" comes from
the English form of the Latin mandatum, which means "commandment." Maundy
Thursday is a combination of three things: 1.) a time to commemorate the
Last Supper, 2.) a time when penitents are reconciled to the family of
believers, and 3.) a time to prepare for Baptism. It is also a time when the
discipline of Lent is concluded with absolution and forgiveness. Jesus' love
for all people is demonstrated in His service to others, as well as in His
gift of Himself for our salvation. The washing of the disciples' feet as
part of the Last Supper was a concrete example of the loving service Jesus
shared with His followers. Foot washing is often a part of Maundy Thursday
celebrations today, as a response to the new commandment and as a symbol of
Christian love and service.
Minister
We believe that all are called to
ministry in their communities, but particular forms of leadership are needed
for the work of the church. Presbyterians understand a call to ministry to
have three parts: 1) an inner sense of call; 2) a community that tests this
call; and 3) a call from a community to serve in a particular place. A
person who feels called by God to be a Presbyterian minister, expresses that
desire to Session and spends about two years in an inquiry phase exploring
what it means to become a minister. An inquirer must demonstrate personal
faith, a sense of self-understanding, an understanding of the Reformed
tradition, what it means to be Presbyterian, and an understanding of the
task of being a minister. Candidates have a college degree, a seminary
degree and then pass exams that demonstrate their competence in the fields
of theology, Bible, worship and the Sacraments. Following an oral review by
a committee and after presenting a personal statement of faith and preaching
a sermon, the candidate receives a call to ministry from a church. The
presbytery then ordains him or her to the Office of Minister of the Word and
Sacrament.
Mission
Jesus’ last words to his disciples in the
Gospel of Matthew
were, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching
them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” In response to the
love and grace of God, all Christians are asked to spread the love and
message of Jesus Christ to the world. We do this through proclamation,
teaching, and various acts of service to our neighbors. As one sent
with a message, we are called to proclaim this message in word and deed.
This is our mission.
Music
Song is a response which engages the
whole self in prayer. Song unites the faithful in common prayer wherever
they gather for worship whether in church, home, or other special place…
through the ages and from varied cultures, the church has developed
additional musical forms for congregational prayer. Congregations are
encouraged to use these diverse musical forms for prayer as well as those
which arise out of the musical life of their own cultures. To lead the
congregation in the singing of prayer is a primary role of the choir and
other musicians. They also may pray on behalf of the congregation with
introits, responses, and other musical forms. Instrumental music may be a
form of prayer since words are not essential to prayer. In worship music is
not to be for entertainment or artistic display. Care should be taken that
it not be used merely as a cover for silence.
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Narthex
The hallway or lobby just outside the sanctuary (between the door of the
church and the sanctuary).
Nicene Creed
A creed is a summary of Christian Faith
written by the church in order to confess clearly what it believes. The
Nicene Creed was originally written in 325 A.D. (in Greek) when the Roman
Emperor Constantine called together the Council of Nicaea (in Asia Minor) to
address the fragmentation of the Christian church--primarily because of
disputes over whether or not Jesus Christ was fully God. The Creed was
expanded to the current text at Constantinople in 381 A.D. The Nicene Creed
is the most ecumenical of creeds. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) joins
with Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and most Protestant churches in
affirming it.
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Offering
The congregation is asked, as an act of worship, to give back to God a
portion of what they have received. We give to God from our time, talent and
treasure. The Christian life is an offering of one's self to God. In worship
the people are presented with the costly self-offering of Jesus Christ, are
claimed and set free by him, and are led to respond by offering to him their
lives, their particular gifts and abilities, and their material goods.
Worship should always offer opportunities to respond to Christ's call to
become disciples by professing faith, by uniting with the church, and by
taking up the mission of the people of God, as well as opportunities for
disciples to renew the commitment of their lives to Jesus Christ and his
mission in the world.
Offertory
The music played or sung while the offering is being received. This is a
time when the people of the church can thank God for God’s blessings and
offer back to Him their money, their time and their lives to be used for
God's work in the world.
Offertory Prayer (Prayer of Dedication)
A prayer the pastor says after the Offering is taken to thank God for His
blessings and to present our offerings to be used for God's work.
Ordinary Time
This is a time of the church year that is
called ordinary time because it stands between the two great christological
cycles of Advent–Christmas–Epiphany and Lent–Easter–Pentecost and has no
central theme. The shorter period of Ordinary Time between Epiphany and Ash
Wednesday is usually designated as "Sundays After Epiphany" and the longer
period between Pentecost and Advent is designated as "Sundays After
Pentecost."
Ordinary Time (after Epiphany)
The Season after the Epiphany is a season
of Ordinary Time, which includes four to nine Sundays, depending on the date
of Easter. The First Sunday focuses on the Baptism of Christ and the Last
Sunday on the Transfiguration. The Gospel readings in the lectionary center
on stories from the early ministry of Christ.
Ordinary Time (after Pentecost)
The Season after Pentecost, also called
Ordinary Time, begins the day after Pentecost and ends the day before the
First Sunday of Advent. It may include twenty–three to twenty–eight Sundays,
depending on the date of Easter, but the first Sunday is always Trinity
Sunday, and the last Sunday is always the Sunday of the Reign of Christ or
Christ the King. Although the scripture lessons in the lectionary for this
half of the year go in a semi-continuous cycle through books of the Bible
rather than follow a theme, the gospel lessons cover Jesus' teaching
ministry and tend to center on the kingdom and reign of God.
Ordination Service
The "setting apart" or blessing of someone for service to God. Pastors,
elders and deacons are ordained.
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Palm or Passion Sunday
Palm or Passion Sunday is celebrated on the Sunday before Easter. It
commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, during which the
crowds threw palm fronds into his path (see
Matthew 21:1-11).
This day, which marks the beginning of Holy Week, is now widely marked by
the distribution of crosses made from palm fronds to congregations.
Pastor (also Associate Pastor)
The permanent pastoral offices of ministers of the Word and Sacrament in the
PC (USA) are pastors and associate pastors. The person who fulfills this
responsibility has, in Scripture, obtained different names expressive of his
or her various duties. As he or she has the oversight of the flock of
Christ, he or she is termed bishop. As he or she feeds them with spiritual
food, he or she is termed pastor. As a servant of Christ in the Church, the
term minister is given. As it is his or her duty to be grave and prudent,
and an example to the flock, and to govern well in the house and Kingdom of
Christ, he or she is termed presbyter or elder. As he or she is sent to
declare the will of God to sinners, and to beseech them to be reconciled to
God, through Christ, he or she is termed ambassador. And as he or she
dispenses the manifold grace of God and the ordinances instituted by Christ,
he or she is termed steward of the mysteries of God. Both men and women may
be called to this office.
When a minister of the Word and Sacrament
is called as pastor or associate pastor of a particular church or churches,
she or he is to be responsible for a quality of life and relationships that
commend the gospel to all persons and that communicate its joy and its
justice. The pastor is responsible for studying, teaching, and preaching
the Word, for administering Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, for praying with
and for the congregation. With the elders, the pastor is to encourage the
people in the worship and service of God; to equip and enable them for their
tasks within the church and their mission in the world; to exercise pastoral
care, devoting special attention to the poor, the sick, the troubled, and
the dying; to participate in governing responsibilities, including
leadership of the congregation in implementing the principles of
participation and inclusiveness in the decision making of the church, and
its task of reaching out in concern and service to the life of the human
community as a whole. With the deacons the pastor is to share in the
ministries of sympathy, witness, and service. In addition to these pastoral
duties, he or she is responsible for sharing in the ministry of the church
in the governing bodies above the session and in ecumenical relationships.
Pastoral Prayer (Prayers of the People)
A prayer by the pastor or liturgist for us (the congregation), our city, our
nation and the world. Having our needs cared for in the sermon, we respond
by caring for the needs of the world around us.
Pentecost
The word "pentecost" in Greek is "pentekostos"
from "pentekonta" or the fiftieth day from Passover. Pentecost comes from
the Greek pentekoste, which means "fiftieth." It refers to the Jewish Feast
of Weeks, which Greek–speaking Jews called the Day of Pentecost (Acts
2:1).
Early Christians also used the term Pentecost to refer to the Great Fifty
Days as a season. Pentecost is the feast on which the church
celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit to the apostles, leading to the
dramatic expansion of the church in its formative period (Acts
2).
Pentecost is traditionally seen as the birthday of the Christian church, and
is also the beginning of the longest season in the church - the season after
Pentecost. The season after Pentecost runs from the day of Pentecost to the
first Sunday in Advent. Pentecost is sometimes referred to in older English
as “Whitsun” (literally “White Sunday”) on account of the tradition of the
clergy wearing white robes on this occasion.
Pledge/Tithe
The offering of material goods in worship
is a corporate act of self-dedication in response to God. It expresses
thanksgiving to God, the giver of life and all goods, the redeemer from sin
and evil. It is an affirmation by Christ’s disciples of (1) their commitment
to be stewards in all creation; (2) their responsibility to share the Word
with and to care for all people; (3) their desire to share God’s gifts with
those to whom believers are bound in the Church universal; (4) their common
bond in the body of Christ.
In the Old Testament the people of Israel
were commanded to bring a tenth (a tithe) of their income to support the
work of the house of God and those who served God in it. In the New
Testament the apostles recognized that the work of the Church required
disciplined support. Both in Israel and in the early Church the people were
encouraged to give generously to meet the needs of the poor. God calls
believers today to be disciplined and generous in giving support to the
ministries of the church. During public worship, at an appropriate time, and
as an act of thanksgiving, the tithes and offerings of the people are
gathered and received.
The Christian life is an offering of
one’s self to God. In worship the people are presented with the costly
self-offering of Jesus Christ, are claimed and set free by him, and are led
to respond by offering to him their lives, their particular gifts and
abilities, and their material goods.
Giving has always been a mark of
Christian commitment and discipleship. The ways in which a believer uses
God’s gifts of material goods, personal abilities, and time should reflect a
faithful response to God’s self-giving in Jesus Christ and Christ’s call to
minister to and share with others in the world. Tithing is a primary
expression of the Christian discipline of stewardship. Church members are
asked to make a pledge (a commitment) to give a certain portion of their
financial resources. Church members fill out a pledge card that indicates
how much money they intend to give to the church throughout the year on a
weekly, monthly or other basis.
Postlude
The music played as we leave the sanctuary following the service. In some
churches, the worship service isn’t over until after the postlude.
Therefore, it is customary to wait until after the postlude is finished
before standing to leave.
Prayer
Prayer is at the heart of worship. In
prayer, through the Holy Spirit, people seek after and are found by the one
true God who has been revealed in Jesus Christ. They listen and wait upon
God, call God by name, remember God's gracious acts, and offer themselves to
God. Prayer may be spoken, sung, offered in silence, or enacted. Prayer
grows out of the center of a person's life in response to the Spirit. Prayer
is shaped by the Word of God in Scripture and by the life of the community
of faith. Prayer issues in commitment to join God's work in the world.
Prayer of Invocation
This is an opening prayer which asks God to be present with us as we
worship.
Prelude
The music played as the congregation enters the sanctuary and prepares for
worship.
Presbytery
The Presbytery is made up of a group of
churches usually in a certain geographical area. Northminster Presbyterian
Church is a member of the
Presbytery of Greater Atlanta.
A presbytery meeting includes "presbyters" or elders sent to represent their
churches to help make decisions affecting the whole presbytery.
Presbyterian
Presbyterians are distinctive in the
Christian world in two major ways: they adhere to a pattern of religious
thought known as Reformed theology and a form of government that stresses
the active, representational leadership of both ministers and church
members.
PC (USA)—Presbyterian Church (USA)
In its confessions, the
Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) gives witness to the faith of the Church catholic
(universal). The confessions express the faith of the one, holy, catholic,
and apostolic Church in the recognition of canonical Scriptures and the
formulation and adoption of the ecumenical creeds, notably the Nicene and
Apostles. Creeds with their definitions of the mystery of the triune God and
of the incarnation of the eternal Word of God in Jesus Christ. These creeds
link us all other Christian churches.
In its confessions, the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) further identifies with the affirmations of the Protestant
Reformation. The focus of these affirmations is the rediscovery of God’s
grace in Jesus Christ as revealed in the Scriptures. The Protestant
watchwords grace alone, faith alone, scripture alone embody principles of
understanding which continue to guide and motivate the people of God in the
life of faith.
In its confessions, the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) further expresses the faith of the Reformed tradition.
Central to this tradition is the affirmation of the majesty, holiness, and
providence of God, who creates, sustains, rules, and redeems the world in
the freedom of sovereign righteousness and love. Related to this central
affirmation of God’s sovereignty are other great themes of the Reformed
tradition: (1) The election of the people of God for service as well as for
salvation; (2) Covenant life marked by a disciplined concern for order in
the church according to the Word of God; (3) A faithful stewardship that
shuns ostentation and seeks proper use of the gifts of God’s creation; (4)
The recognition of the human tendency to idolatry and tyranny, which calls
the people of God to work for the transformation of society by seeking
justice and living in obedience to the Word of God.
Thus, the creeds and confessions of this
church reflect a particular stance within the history of God’s people. They
are the result of prayer, thought, and experience within a living tradition.
They serve to strengthen personal commitment and the life and witness of the
community of believers.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
reaffirms, within the context of its commitment to the Church universal, a
special commitment to basic principles of Presbyterian polity: The
particular churches of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) wherever they are,
taken collectively, constitute one church; This church is governed by
presbyters (elders and ministers of the Word and Sacrament, traditionally
called ruling and teaching elders); These presbyters come together in
governing bodies (traditionally called judicatories or courts) in regular
gradation; Presbyters don’t simply reflect the will of the people, but
rather seek together to find and represent the will of Christ; Decisions are
reached in governing bodies by vote, following opportunity for discussion,
and the majority governs; A higher governing body has the right of review
and control over a lower one and has the power to determine matters of
controversy upon reference, complaint, or appeal; Presbyters are ordained
only by the authority of a governing body; Ecclesiastical jurisdiction is a
shared power, exercised jointly by presbyters gathered in governing bodies;
Governing bodies possess whatever administrative authority is necessary to
give effect to duties and powers assigned by the Constitution of the church.
The nature of Presbyterian order is such
that it shares power and responsibility. The system of governing bodies,
whether they have authority over one or many churches, sustains such mutual
relationships within the structures as to express the unity of the church.
PC (USA) vs. PCA
Many people wonder about the differences
between the
Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) and the
Presbyterian
Church in America (PCA).
There are many similarities between the two denominations. Yet there
are some significant differences including their position on scripture and
their understanding of the role of women in the church.
Both denominations are Presbyterian which
refers to their form of government—being governed by elders who are elected
by the congregation.
Both denominations are rooted in the
theology of the Reformed Tradition. While the PC (USA) holds eleven
statements of faith to clearly articulate what the church believes (as found
in the Book of Confessions), the PCA relies strictly on the
Westminster Confession and the
Larger and
Shorter Catechisms. The PC (USA) does not believe that any one
confession or collection of confessions is an absolute, infallible statement
of the faith for Christians of all times and places. Both believe that
their confessional documents are subordinate to the Word of God.
The PCA believes that the original
manuscripts of scripture (the Old and New Testaments) are inerrant (without
error).
The PCA does not believe that women are
called to use their gifts in ordained ministry. The Presbyterian Church
(USA) believes all people who have been gifted by God with specific gifts
for ministry can be called to serve as deacons, elders and Ministers of Word
and Sacrament.
The PCA is often regarded as a very
strict “conservative” denomination. They separated from the Presbyterian
Church (US) in the early 1970’s based on differences of opinion regarding
the ordination of women and the nature of scripture. The PC (USA) is
regarded as a denomination that has a broader range of theological
convictions. In 1983, the Presbyterian Church (USA) was formed by the
reunion of the United Presbyterian Church (USA) commonly known as the
Northern branch and the Presbyterian Church (US) commonly referred to as the
Southern branch. There are larger channels of navigatable waters
theologically in the PC (USA) with many congregations being more
conservative and many congregations being more liberal—a broad spectrum.
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Reformed Theology
Theology is a way of thinking about God and God's relation to the world.
Reformed theology evolved during the 16th century religious movement known
as the Protestant Reformation. It emphasizes God's supremacy over
everything and humanity's chief purpose to glorify and enjoy God forever.
In its confessions, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) expresses the faith of
the Reformed tradition. Central to this tradition is the affirmation of the
majesty, holiness, and providence of God who creates, sustains, rules, and
redeems the world in the freedom of sovereign righteousness and love.
Rite 13 Service
The Rite-13 program assists young people
as they take the first steps of passage away from their families and into
their adult lives. It begins with a liturgical celebration of the gift of
manhood and womanhood, based loosely on the concept of the Bar and Bat
Mitzvah in the Jewish tradition. The Rite-13 Ceremony takes place at one of
Northminster’s Sunday morning worship services in order for the whole
congregation to take part in witnessing and supporting each young person as
they make the move from childhood to womanhood or manhood within the
Christian community. During the two years of Rite-13, the congregation
acknowledges the gift of the changes occurring in these young peoples' lives
and celebrates their creative power and potential.
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Sacrament
Denominations often differ over what they recognize as sacraments. Some
recognize as many as seven sacraments; others have no sacraments in the life
of the church. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has two sacraments, Baptism
and the Lord's Supper.
The Reformed tradition understands
Baptism and the Lord's Supper to be Sacraments, instituted by God and
commended by Christ. Sacraments are signs of the real presence and power of
Christ in the Church, symbols of God's action. Through the Sacraments, God
seals believers in redemption, renews their identity as the people of God,
and marks them for service."
The early Church, following Jesus, took
three primary material elements of life--water, bread, and wine--to become
basic symbols of offering life to God as Jesus had offered his life. Being
washed with the water of Baptism, Christians received new life in Christ and
presented their bodies to be living sacrifices to God. Eating bread and
drinking wine they received the sustaining presence of Christ, remembered
God's covenant promise, and pledged their obedience anew.
Sanctuary
The sanctuary is that part of the church
building where the congregation traditionally gathers for worship.
Sermon
The preached Word or sermon is to be
based upon the written Word. It is a proclamation of Scripture in the
conviction that through the Holy Spirit Jesus Christ is present to the
gathered people, offering grace and calling for obedience… the sermon should
present the gospel with simplicity and clarity, in language which can be
understood by the people… the preaching of the Word shall ordinarily be done
by a Minister of Word and Sacrament. Northminster
maintains an
archive
of past sermons for reference and reflection.
Session
This is the group of people elected by
the congregation who make decisions on the long term goals of the church and
help plan how we as a church will get there. In some churches this group is
called the "church council." At NPC, the session is comprised of 15 elders,
each of whom serves a three-year term, and 3 pastors. Five new elders are
elected to the session each year.
Scripture Reading
A passage from the Bible that is read by a church member or pastor. The
sermon for the day is based on this reading.
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday (sometimes known as "Fat Tuesday"), the day before Ash
Wednesday, is traditionally considered the beginning of Lent. Shrove comes
from the word "shrive" which means "to free from guilt" or "to administer
the sacrament of penance." Today we may be more familiar with this day as a
time of Mardi Gras or other carnival-type celebrations. Because of the
emphasis on denial during the 40 days of Lent, Shrove Tuesday was a last
chance to indulge in some of the things to be given up for Lent. For many
people, this is the last opportunity to eat meat or other foods with an
excess of fat before Lent begins.
Sunday School
Sunday School at Northminster
Presbyterian happens to be on Sunday morning at 10:00. At Sunday School we
study the Bible and apply it to our lives in meaningful ways. We are
fortunate in that many are professional teachers (of both children, teens,
and adults).
Synod
Synod is the unit of the church’s life
and mission which consists of not fewer than three presbyteries within a
specific geographic region. Synod is the intermediate governmental unit
responsible for the mission of the Presbyterian Church (USA) throughout its
region. The Presbytery of Greater Atlanta is a member of the
Synod of South Atlantic.
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Tenebrae
This is sometimes called "The Service of Shadows" or "Darkness." It is a
late night or early morning service that is an extended meditation on the
passion of Christ. It can be observed at the end of the Maundy Thursday
service or on the evening of Good Friday as the beginning of a prayer vigil
lasting through Saturday.
Transfiguration Sunday
This is the last Sunday before Lent marking Christ’s transfiguration on the
mountain with Elijah and Moses.
Trinity
A word which refers to the fact that although God is One, He is made up of
three persons, the Father (God), the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit.
Trinity Sunday
Trinity Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost on which is celebrated as
the union of three persons Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
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Wholeness and Healing
"Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful?
They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call
for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them
with oil in the name of the Lord” (James
5:13-14).
The focus of the Presbyterian wholeness and healing service is on God's
ability to heal and make whole. Jesus was a teacher and a healer. Many
stories in the Bible tell us about Jesus making the lame walk, the blind
see. There are many ways we need to be healed—disease, old grudges,
pettiness, self-hatred, lack of self-esteem, addiction and other personal or
social ills. Just as healing was an integral part of the ministry of Jesus,
so the church has been called to continue this ministry as one dimension of
its concern for the wholeness of people. Through services for wholeness,
the church enacts in worship its ministry as a healing community. Because
this is a time of the community waiting in faith upon God, services for
wholeness and healing are worship services designed especially around the
element of prayer.
During these services, we give thanks for God’s promise of wholeness,
praying with and for one another, for the church, and for the world. There
is much about these worship services that is familiar: hymns, prayer, the
reading and hearing of God’s Word, the Lord’s Supper, etc. There is also
ample time for prayer: silent and spoken prayer, as well as a time when you
will be able to pray with a pastor and/or an elder (if you choose),
to participate in the laying on of hands and to be anointed with oil. The
laying on of hands is symbolic of passing on God's support and strength. The
anointing with oil is symbolic of healing and forgiveness. We know that it
is not magic but a symbolic reminder of God's love and forgiveness. We
understand that healing is not the result of the holiness, earnestness, or
skill of those enacting the prayers, or of the faith of the ones seeking
healing, but rather it is the gift of God through the power of the Holy
Spirit. Everyone is invited to participate in this service as the gathered
community worships the living God.
Words of Institution
Words spoken by Jesus to His disciples at the Last Supper and repeated by
the apostle Paul in
1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
These words are said during the Communion service prior to receiving the
communion elements.
Worship
Worship is an act of the gathered community. We bring who we are and who we
want to be. We bring our doubts and our certainties. We bring our
frustrations and our celebrations. We bring all aspects of our lives into
the presence of God. Each time we gather for worship, we become open to the
possibility that our encounter with God and God's word will comfort us,
challenge us, and may even change us.
The order of a Sunday worship service in a Presbyterian church is determined
by the pastor and the session, the church's governing body. It generally
includes prayer, music, Bible reading and a sermon based upon scripture. The
Sacraments, a time of personal response/offering, and a sharing of community
concerns are also parts of worship.
The constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) suggests that worship
be ordered in terms of five major actions centered in the word of God
(gathering around the word, proclaiming the word, responding to the word,
the sealing of the word, and bearing and following the word into the world),
but recognizes that "other orders of worship may also serve the needs of a
particular church and be orderly, faithful to Scripture, and true to
historic principles.
Worship and Wonder
Worship and Wonder is the time during worship when our younger children are
excused to continue the worship experience with a time of prayer and
learning designed specifically for them. Through Worship & Wonder, children
learn about God as they experience God. Using simple wooden figures and
other objects, children are allowed to experience and interact with the
biblical story as it is told to them. They hear Bible stories in a way that
allows them to enter into the stories and form responses out of their own
life experiences.
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