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Style or Paradigm? Often we're asked what "style" of worship we practice at St. Stephen's. But more important than the "style" of our worship is the "paradigm" or "pattern" we model our worship after. Where we find our pattern for worship is not anywhere on this earth. For when the Church assembles in the Name of Christ to worship Almighty God, we believe we actually transcend this earth and ascend in the Spirit into the very throne-room of God. There we worship Him "with angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven." It is that heavenly worship service that we participate in each Sunday, and it's therefore that service in heaven that becomes the pattern for our own earthly worship, as it is revealed to us in the Word of God. When the Apostle John was "in the Spirit on the Lord's Day" (Rev. 1:4) - in other words, when he was engaged in holy worship - he was caught up in the Spirit into the holy of holies of heaven itself and given a vision of the worship service around the throne of God. He saw Christ, the Lamb of God, as though He had been slain, standing upon the throne. Surrounding the throne were the elders, or "presbyters," of heaven, dressed in white robes, offering their corporate act of worship, "saying" and "singing" together their words - their liturgy - of adoration and praise. He saw the prayers of the saints ascend to God under the symbol of incense. He heard the Seraphim sing the Sanctus - "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty..." And when they sang he saw the elders fall down before Him who lives for ever and ever. This heavenly paradigm explains much of what we do, and why we do it, in our traditional Anglican service. To delve more deeply into the theology and form of our worship, we invite you to read the tract written by one of our bishops entitled, "Worship in a Reformed Episcopal Church: Why We Do What We Do," or to peruse The Book of Common Prayer (pdf). |
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