Worship is modelled after what we know of worship in heaven.
How do we know what worship looks like in heaven?..............We consult Scripture first, then compare it to what we find the church doing for 2000 years.
So let’s Review what the scripture says about Worship:
How do we know what worship looks like in heaven?..............We consult Scripture first, then compare it to what we find the church doing for 2000 years.
So let’s Review what the scripture says about Worship:
Worship comes First..........Theology follows worship. We do not figure out what we believe then build a service around it. Many modern churches build their theology first, then organize a worship to service that reflects their theology. The Apostles worshiped the Lord before they understood what it meant. We should do likewise. Historically we see that the Worship actually precedes explanations. Borrowing from the ancient Hewbrew faith, the early church patterned it’s worship liturgically and stressed the gathering together, not privitization.
Worship is Patterned after worship in the book of The Revelation by St. John and visions of worship by Isaiah and has the following Characteristics:
Worship is Patterned after worship in the book of The Revelation by St. John and visions of worship by Isaiah and has the following Characteristics:
Vestment.....................There are vestments and robes, Jesus and the elders are all wearing special robes.
Liturgical.....................The prayers are liturgical (24 total) The entire heavenly host repeats these together. (The Orthodox Church all these texts and 80% of all our liturgical texts come straight from the bible. We not only read the bible but we pray and worship the bible.)
Liturgical Furniture....We see images of Lamp stands, Altars, Thrones, Chairs, Books bound by gold.
Incense.......................Incense is found in worship throughout the Old and New Testament especially in The book of revelations and Isaiah. It has always been a part of Christian worship representing our prayer before God. This helps us to use all our senses to worship....even smell.
Icons...........................Icons depict the reality that we are joined in worship throughout all eternity by all the saints. They depict the reality that God became incarnate. We embrace the beauty of the created world and offer it back to God.
Song...........................no matter what service you hear, you will hear endless singing. We sing the scripture, the psalms, the prayers. We love to utilize the one instrument that God gave humanity, Our heart..........and our voice. We sing into existance our love for God and use our voices to glorify God.
Structure.................. Our worship has structure and pattern. Our Divine Liturgy is broken up into two pieces:
Liturgical.....................The prayers are liturgical (24 total) The entire heavenly host repeats these together. (The Orthodox Church all these texts and 80% of all our liturgical texts come straight from the bible. We not only read the bible but we pray and worship the bible.)
Liturgical Furniture....We see images of Lamp stands, Altars, Thrones, Chairs, Books bound by gold.
Incense.......................Incense is found in worship throughout the Old and New Testament especially in The book of revelations and Isaiah. It has always been a part of Christian worship representing our prayer before God. This helps us to use all our senses to worship....even smell.
Icons...........................Icons depict the reality that we are joined in worship throughout all eternity by all the saints. They depict the reality that God became incarnate. We embrace the beauty of the created world and offer it back to God.
Song...........................no matter what service you hear, you will hear endless singing. We sing the scripture, the psalms, the prayers. We love to utilize the one instrument that God gave humanity, Our heart..........and our voice. We sing into existance our love for God and use our voices to glorify God.
Structure.................. Our worship has structure and pattern. Our Divine Liturgy is broken up into two pieces:
1st half............The synaxis (gathering) like in the synagogue for teaching of the Word (Liturgy of the Word). This includes the reading from the Epistle and the Gospel reading along with Homily or teaching.
2nd half...........Eucharist (the celebration of the Mysteries of God)
2nd half...........Eucharist (the celebration of the Mysteries of God)