THREE BLESSINGS
Easter week in the Christian community serves as a remembrance of the passion of our Lord and His great sacrifice on our behalf. In the days before and after Resurrection Sunday, known respectively as Lent and Eastertide, the Church commemorates three cardinal events of Christ’s great work of salvation in three ordinances. His incarnation (John 1:1-14) is memorialized by Feet Washing (John 13); the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22) commemorates His crucifixion (Luke 23); and baptism (Matthew 28) celebrates His resurrection (Romans 6).
| Many Churches of God congregations observed Feet Washing last evening on what is known as Maundy Thursday. The word Maundy traces its meaning back to a Latin root (mandatum: command) used in St. Jerome’s Vulgate Bible to translate the words of Jesus in John 13:34. |
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Seen in light of other verses in that chapter (1, 15 & 17) it seems obvious that the observance of Feet Washing is mandatory as a sign of Christ’s love and our own. In the Churches of God the frequency of Feet Washing varies as there is no Biblical directive on periodicity.
| The same bears true of the Lord’s Supper, but the implication of Scripture is an observance with some regularity. Being drawn out of Winebrenner’s reformed heritage most Churches of God observe these two ordinances quarterly, more or less. |
Observing the Lord's Supper by Intinction |
Interestingly, in the ancient and medieval Church the bishop or even the king would wash the feet of the poor before the congregation in obedience to Christ’s directive. It was known as the maundé ceremony and happened annually on the Thursday before Easter. In addition, small gifts of food, clothing or cash were distributed to the poor by the Church in remembrance of Christ’s words in Matthew 25:40. What have we done for the poor in fulfillment of the mandatum of Jesus? You will be blessed in obedience to Jesus’ command!
Most Churches of God will also have observed the Lord’s Supper on Thursday evening, but some will celebrate it on Good Friday or even Easter Sunday. Again, there is no prescription as to when and where. One of my most meaningful worship experiences came when we shared the “bread and the cup” at a frosty Easter sunrise service nearly forty years ago. It is forever fixed in my memory. Another blessed sharing of the “body and the blood” comes to me twice a year when I’m privileged to lead the ordinance service at Ephrata, PA for the German Seventh Day Baptists. How this came to be is a long story, but just let me invite you to come join this most meaningful service at the cloister on April 19 (5 p.m.). You will be blessed!
Last Sunday evening I attended a service of baptism at College First Church in Findlay, Ohio. Associate Pastor Dave Welker of College First led the service of worship with Pastor Bob Baratta preaching. He leads College First’s contemporary worship service that meets at Winebrenner Theological Seminary. Basically three CGGC congregations came together for the service, including College First (pastored by Bill and Judy Reist), CrossPoint Church (pastored by Bill and Candice Shoemaker) and The Catalyst Community Church (pastored by Nate and Alison Buck).
Pastor Bill Reist, College First Church |
Pastor Bob Baratta, Worship at Winebrenner |
Pastor Bill Shoemaker, CrossPoint Church |
Pastor Nate Buck, The Catalyst Community Church |
Some eleven candidates were baptized including the Dillinger family (Cy, Lisa, Devon and Hunter) from CrossPoint and Nate and Alison’s daughter Coryn.
Pastor Bill Shoemaker (center) baptizes a member of the CrossPoint Congregation
A joint service such as this is a great statement of Christian unity and provides a mutual time of witness to the resurrection and celebration of new life in Christ. Has your church ever joined with another for baptism? If not, you might want to consider doing so. Again, you will be blessed if you do!
Fellowship following the baptism service
As we remember the “Word made flesh,” crucified and risen again for us this weekend, let us rejoice together in and through the ordinances and thereby keep the faith.
Pastor Ed
