Even
when I am out of town on vacation, I like to go to church. I usually choose a Lutheran (ELCA) or
Episcopal Church because I look forward to the Sunday Eucharist.
Today I chose differently.
James
Freeman, our organ technician at St. Mark’s suggested I go to First Congregational
Church to hear this baby, built by Rudolf von Beckerath from Hamburg, Germany
in 1972:
The
church actually has two organs. In the
chancel they have an organ built by W.W. Kimball (Chicago) in 1931. Ample information about the organs is
available at http://www.first-church.org/TheOrgans.aspx.
First
Congregation, an open and affirming congregation, has one of those grand church
structures that inspires awe on the inside and out. Over the doors in the front of the church are
the words “Enter to worship. Depart to serve.”
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| The church viewed from East Broad Street |
The
worship service felt very liturgical! As
we gathered and prepared for worship, Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in A (BWV 536)
floated down from the balcony. The language of the liturgy felt very similar to
what I am used to hearing. For example, this prayer at the beginning of the
service:
Keep,
O Holy One, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love; that
through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness and administer your
church with justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
There was no psalm, but the epistle and
gospel readings both matched the readings in the Revised Common Lectionary – so
we heard the story of the woman who anointed the feet of Jesus, washed them
with her tears, and dried them with her hair.
During the sermon, the Rev. Timothy C.
Ahrens asked us to hear Jesus’ question, “Do you see this woman?” He said that most theologians and preachers
like to talk about her history as a prostitute, but encouraged us to see her as
a disciple whose actions prefigured the crucifixion. He encouraged the assembly with these words: May Jesus’ words guide your looking and
seeing the women in your life.
 |
| Inside the narthex |
The hymns were “Guide Me, O Thou Great
Jehovah,” “As We Walk through Life with Jesus,” (written by Pastor Ahrens and
dedicated to his parents for their 65th wedding anniversary), and “Great
Is Thy Faithfulness.” Additional music
at the offering and postlude was from a concerto by Marcello with organ and saxophone. The saxophone was ably played by Grace Gelpi,
a student at Michigan State University.
It suited the solemnity of worship and felt like a special grace for the
morning.
The Pastor is Rev. Dr. Timothy C. Ahrens
and the Music Director is Kevin Jones, M.M.
I did not get to meet him, but admired his playing of the voluntaries
and the hymns. If you are in the
Columbus area, I would recommend visiting this church. First Congregational Church is at 444 East Broad Street in Columbus, Ohio.
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| A beautiful banner and with a stand that is also a work of art |
Did I miss having the Lord’s Supper? Sure.
But when you are attending a Lutheran seminary where there is worship
every day, the Eucharist is never far away.
 |
| The altar |
4 comments:
Interesting blog Tony. Going outside one's comfort zone often opens one to new worlds to explore. We miss you but admire your initiative in undertaking this program in this way. I read this first on Facebook - I like your posts there.
Thanks for sharing this with us. Sounds like a wonderful church. We always miss you when you are away but wish you the best in your studies. As visitors often say: "You don't know how lucky we are to have you"
Jim Dennis
Lynette sent the following to me by direct email:
Tony, It is always inspirational to visit other church services, but we find that such visits affirm our feeling that there's no place like home! You have been missed, even though the substitute musicians have been excellent.
Thanks, Jim and Lynette for your kind words!
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