Narrative service to be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church

Talk about it

To help increase people’s understanding of and appreciation for the historic liturgy, the Osakis community is invited to attend a “narrative service” at Redeemer Lutheran Church at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 6. Redeemer Lutheran Church is located at the corner of 3rd Avenue West and Pike Street in Osakis.

Throughout the service, brief explanations will be given to help people get more out of the liturgy.

The theme for the service is “God Draws Near to Us.” The Sunday School will sing “Make Me a Servant.”

It’s hard to fully appreciate something if you don’t really understand it. A lot goes into your having a gallon of milk in the refrigerator. It’s hard to even begin to imagine all the things a combat soldier has to deal with. And what about all the hundreds of things that have to work together for your car to start?

The same can be said of the historic liturgy. Most people probably don’t realize that parts of the Sunday morning service have been used by God’s people for most of the New Testament era. It’s a powerful reminder that we belong to the “communion of saints,” which includes all believers of all time! And in the historic liturgy, we’re reminded of Christmas, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter and Christ’s ascension every Sunday. We’re also reminded of our baptism into Jesus, who even comes to us hidden under the form of bread and wine to give us life and salvation through the forgiveness of our sins. We commune with God!

But perhaps the least understood aspect of the historic liturgy is the idea that when we come into God’s presence on Sunday morning, we don’t come to serve Him, He comes to serve us! For God Himself says, “Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.” (Ecclesiastes 5:1)

That’s why most of what we hear and say on Sunday morning is taken word for word from the Bible. God speaks to us in the historic liturgy, calling us to repentance and faith. And we, in turn, thank and praise Him for all He’s done for us. And we also come together as the body of Christ each Sunday to pray for one another, for all people, and for all who serve our country. It’s both a duty and a privilege – a spiritual sacrifice, pleasing to God!

Tags: faith, osakis