This is part of the worship series,
"God of All Ages”
Series Introduction
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4
WEEK ONE
FIRST CENTURY
Introduction
We begin in the first century, somewhere between a.d. 30 and 100. The church is a group of men and women who believe that the Messiah has come in the person of Jesus Christ. Some have heard the word spoken by the apostles and other believers, others may have heard Jesus himself speak.
Many are Jewish, but a number of Gentiles are also coming to faith. The church is ostracized by the Jewish community, and it lives under an ever-present threat of persecution by the ruling Romans.
Believers gather in each other's homes, devoting themselves to "the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer" (Acts 2:42). Imagine the service beginning at nightfall after the workday has ended. A psalm is sung to signal the start of the service. The believers probably sit in a circle. Their worship is fully participatory and accessible to all.
Gathering Songs
Old Testament psalms were very likely used as songs in early Christian services. We paired the text of Psalm 92 with the well-known ancient plainsong melody commonly sung to "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" in order to help the congregation connect with a chant style.
Psalm 66, with "Cantad al Senor/O Sing to Our God" tr. Cartford
Psalm 92, with "How Good It Is to Thank the Lord" Matthews
Prayer
The congregation was invited to stand with arms raised in the manner of Luke 18:10. This helped us remember that sitting with head bowed and eyes closed has not always been the position for prayer. The prayer of approach began with the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4–9), a confession of faith; it was followed by a prayer of confession and assurance of pardon.
Kiss of Peace (Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20)
As a sign of our reconciliation to God and to one another, the early Christians greeted one another with a kiss; our custom is to greet with handshakes. We used this opportunity to introduce the passing of the peace of Christ, a practice we have carried over into all our services.
The peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Scripture
Acts 15:1–21; Psalm 98
A visiting teacher like Paul or an elder from within the community would take time to explain the readings, a practice that gave rise to the modern sermon.
Sermon: What Does It Take to Be the Church?
Text: Acts 15:1–21
Notes: After years of meeting in school gymnasiums and a library, a congregation finally completed their own building. "Now we are a real church," commented one member.
We tend to think of the church as a building. The first-century church knew what we tend to forget: the church is people. But they faced a tough question. Who, exactly, is the church?
Obeying Jesus' commission, the disciples went to the synagogues in many cities to share the gospel. On one such journey, Peter received a vision and a message: "Don't call anything impure God has made clean" (Acts 10). Peter was shocked when God told him to visit a Gentile named Cornelius. With the discomfort of a Protestant entering a Catholic's home in northern Ireland, Peter entered Cornelius's house and was invited to share the gospel. When Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit, Peter saw that the church is all who receive Christ. Referring to the traditions and obligations of Judaism, Peter said to the council in Jerusalem, "We should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God."
The church is those whose faith is in Jesus Christ. Everything else is secondary.
Sung Response
"Song of Simeon" Bourgeois (for other versions of this canticle look under "Nunc Dimittis" or "Now May Your Servant, Lord")
This response to the message was sung in koine (vernacular) Greek by a soloist, giving the congregation an opportunity to hear Greek and demonstrating that the King James Version is a translation. A translation of the words was printed in the order of service.
The Lord's Supper
The prayers we pray today are from a first-century document called the Didache, perhaps the earliest record we have of worship practice. Portions of the prayers are from Justin Martyr, a church leader from the second century.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
With this cup
we thank you, our Father,
for the holy vine of David your servant,
which you made known to us through Jesus your
servant.
To you belongs the glory forever.
Sung Response
Gloria Patri
We sang the Gloria Patri in a variety of styles as we moved through the four different periods of our series, beginning in this setvice in plainsong, and ending in the fourth service in a contemporary style presented by the praise team.
The Bread (raised and broken)
Prayer of Thanksgiving
We thank you, our Father,
for the life and knowledge
which you made known to us through Jesus your
servant.
To you belongs the glory for ever.
Sung Response
Gloria Patri
Prayer of Supplication and the Lord's Prayer
Sung Acclamation
"Come, Jesus, Amen" Bell
Offering
In the manner of the first-century church, we collected the offering at the door at the end of the service. The following explanation was given to the congregation: "When the service was completed, the church would give food and money for support of the poor in and beyond the church. It would be collected as they left to go home."
Revised Common Lectionary
Year B: Easter—Sixth Sunday of Easter
Year C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 27 (32)
Year C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 28 (33)
