Sermon for April 8th, 2018

Luke 24:50-53

50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53 and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

1 Corinthians 14:26-33, 39-40

26 What should be done then, my friends? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let them be silent in church and speak to themselves and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to someone else sitting nearby, let the first person be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets, 33 for God is a God not of disorder but of peace.

39 So, my friends, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues; 40 but all things should be done decently and in order.

FPC Worship is Orderly

During a worship service at an old Presbyterian Church, when the Lord's prayer was said, half the congregants stood up and the other half remained seated. The half that was seated started yelling at those standing to sit down, and the ones standing yelled at the ones sitting to stand up... The young pastor, realizing this was something that hadn't been covered in seminary, was at a loss for a way forward.

His congregation suggested that he consult the 102 year old matriarch of the church, who was one of the original church members. The pastor hoped the elderly woman would be able to tell him what the actual tradition was, so he went to the retirement home with a representative of each faction of the congregation.

The one whose followers stood during Lord's prayer said to the elderly woman, "Is the tradition to stand during the Lord's prayer? She thought for a moment, and answered, "No, that is not the tradition."

The one whose followers sat said, "Then the tradition is to sit during the prayer!" The woman thought some more, and answered, "No, that is not the tradition."

Then the Pastor, in desperation, exclaimed, "But the congregants fight all the time, yelling at each other about whether they should sit or stand..." And here the old woman interrupted, exclaiming, "Yes! THAT is the tradition!"