The second Sunday in Lent had us reflecting on the ritual of bringing light into our worship space and taking it out of our worship space. Ironically, the wicks in the candles we light at the front of the sanctuary were out, so we had no light during the worship service when the sermon was about light in the sanctuary (note to self - when preaching on lit candles make sure the candles will light!). Nevertheless, we did have an acolyte process in and recess out as we usually do.
It was probably two sermons that I wrapped into one. The John text captivated me immediately with the idea of who will testify for Jesus. But, I also had a commitment to the ritual of bringing the light in and out, which meant spending time reflecting on the ritual, which led to the acolyte process, which led to another section, which meant I probably tied two sermons together in one. The hymns were new hymns (I think) to the congregation, but they worked (at least for me) and added to the interpreting of the texts and sermon.
“Rituals - Testifying to the Light” March 17, 2019; St. Andrew; Richard B. Culp; John 8: 12-20; Exodus 10: 21-29; Lenten series on rituals, 2019
John 8: 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” 13 Then the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards;[a] I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father[b] who sent me. 17 In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. 18 I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf.” 19 Then they said to him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury of the temple, but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
Introduction: “Let there be light.”
God’s first command caused light to shine into the darkness of the chaos.
Light gave shape to day and separated it from the darkness of night.
God saw the light and called it good.
Light has been an integral part of life since creation.
Light is an integral part of our lives, both in the physical, concrete way of giving us light, but also in symbolic ways.
As we move through Lent focusing on different rituals in which we engage, this morning we reflect on the ritual of bringing light into the sanctuary for worship and then taking it back out into the world.
Last week we reflected on the ritual of gathering as God’s people and thought about what it means that we gather in this place.
this week, we are invited to reflect on what it means that we gather here with light shining before us and then follow the light into the world.
Move 1: Welcome to the ritual of bringing light into our worship space and then following it out at the end of worship.
a. One of the types of rituals is a rites of passage (christian Worship: 100,000 Sundays of Symbols and Rituals, Gail Ramshaw, 39).
1. Rituals we go through at a particular time that mark the moment, even as they prepare us for the future.
2. Having the acolytes bring in and take out the light has become a rite of passage for our youth growing up at St. Andrew.
2. They do not have to become acolytes, but they are given the opportunity.
3. They are given training.
4. Then, they participate in worship by leading the processional into worship and leading the recessional out of worship as they carry the light in and out.
5. When they are newly trained, we see them tentatively come down the center aisle. Their faces revealing their concentration, and at times, a bit of bewilderment as they wonder if they are doing it correctly, or consider the questions that had not come to mind until they arrive at the chancel area:
Questions like - which candle do I light first - the right or the left?
Do I blow out the light at the end of the candelabra or pull down on the wick?
What do I do if the candles do not light?
What are those silly ministers trying to signal to me?
6. We watch as they gain confidence each time they stride down the center aisle. soon, they are veterans at leading us into worship and out into the world.
7. We call them acolytes - sounds like light is the root word, but really acolyte means attendant or follower (https://www.dictionary.com/browse/acolyte)
8. Our children begin to learn and express what it means to follow Christ as they participate in the ritual of lighting the candles.
b. In earlier times, the bringing in of light to the place of worship and the lighting of candles played the critical role of actually providing the light for worship.
1. Lighting candles used to be necessary to provide light for worship.
2. We still light candles now, but for us, it is symbolic.
3. the lit candles represent the light of Christ and the Holy Spirit (given the strange things that sometimes happen with candles and the lighting of candles, HS might be a good symbol).
4. As the candle stays lit during worship, it reminds us the HS is present in worship with us.
5. The light shines before us as a reminder that God meets us in this place.
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c. The Deuteronomy passage reminds us of the power and importance of light to God’s people.
1. you remember what is happening in the story.
2. Battle between the Israelites and Pharaoh. Actually, the battle is between God and Pharaoh.
3. At stake - the freedom of the Israelite slaves from bondage in Egypt.
4. Also in question - will God, indeed, can God save the Israelites?
5. A series of plagues descend upon the Egyptians.
6. The ninth plague is darkness - for three days the land is covered in darkness.
6. a darkness so thick you could feel it.
7. As if the darkness could suffocate the light and life itself.
8. The darkness is everywhere, except, except in the homes of the Israelites where they have light.
9. A reminder that they are not alone because God is with them.
11. A sign that the God comes to save them already is at work in their midst.
Move 2: Light points to the possibilities.
a. Replacement for the Hubbel telescope.
1. The new one, to be called the James Webb Space Telescope will be sent into orbit in they hope 2021. It will be sent over a million miles away from Earth and will be able to capture light from over thirteen billion light years away, which means that light will be thirteen billion years old when we see it for the first time (I am now way beyond my scientific comprehension).
2. But, I was greatly intrigued by the fact that when they first came up with the design for the Webb Telescope twenty, twenty-five plus years ago it required ten technologies that had not yet been invented (capturing light
by miltybc • May 11, 2007; New Space Telescope Will Outdistance Hubble; Heard on All Things Considered; May 10, 2007; Nell Greenfeld Boyce
3. Their plan to capture the light was put into motion without compete knowledge, but trusting they could live into that which they could barely imagine in the moment I love that their dream was not tethered to their sense of limitation.
b. Each week we worship with the light shining before us as a symbol of the Holy Spirit in our midst.
1. A reminder that God is working on us, transforming us, giving us what we need to live into the future, as we trust in the God of infinite possibilities.
2. The light leads us out of worship, but next week it will light our worship space again because God is not done with us.
3. The light continues to shine as we live into the future to which God’s calls us.
move 3: Let’s finish by looking at the story from the Gospel of John.
a. The Gospel of John, by the way, has an ongoing play between light and darkness.
1. in the darkness there is confusion and misunderstanding.
2. In the light, there is understanding.
b. In this story, Jesus testifies that he is the light of the world.
1. he meets with resistance, primarily because the Jewish law is such that you cannot testify to something about yourself.
2. IN our time, we may read someone’s tweet or hear someone proclaim something about himself or herself…..
WE live in a time Jesus meets some resistance when he
3. But in Jesus’ time, Jewish law did not allow for someone to testify for himself or herself.
3. Two witnesses had to testify on someone else’s behalf.
4. Now I happen to think that Jesus’ response that he and God are enough to satisfy any rule about who can testify is a good enough answer, but i also love the question the story asks of us - if Jesus cannot testify for himself, who will?
b. The light leads us out of worship.
1. We follow.
2. We know the light will get put out in the hallway - it’s just a symbol.
3. But we continue out the doors into the world to testify on Jesus’ behalf.
4. When we see hatred and violence perpetrated on others just because they are different or worship a god different than ours, who will stand up and testify to our world the truth and claim of God’s love?
5. When we see people in power using and manipulating those without power, who will stand up and testify to the way Jesus showed his power by serving others and dying on the cross?
6. When we see fear mongering driving the conversations and dominating decisions, who will stand and testify to the words of Jesus who tells us, “Do not be afraid,” and calls us to act with courage and love?”
Conclusion: As you follow the light into the world, will you testify to the light of Christ?
