Vicar Sarah's Messages, Intern Year 2005-2006

Dear People,

One of my favorite seminary professors always addresses his classes, "Dear People." Whether he is assigning term papers, waxing eloquent about Martin Luther or just chatting, we are always "Dear People." Finally we asked him why he always refers to us this way and he said, "Because that’s what you are, dear, dear people of God."

 So, dear people of God, I suddenly find myself at the end of a year among and with you. I say "suddenly" because in many ways this year has flown by. But when I think of all that has happened, I’m amazed that it has been only one year. From a trip to Utah with the high school youth to my first advent sermon to hours of laughing and sharing the love of God, you have opened your arms and your hearts to me. And for that, I thank you.

 I’ve been spending my time lately reflecting on this past year while writing final papers and evaluations. Pr. Jim, my internship team and I will all rate my competency on a scale of 1-3, and give feedback to the ELCA and the seminary regarding my readiness for pastoral ministry. I will report back to the seminary what my greatest learning was, where I saw the most growth, and the areas I need more experience. I know that when I return home I will be asked the inevitable question: "So, how was internship?" I’ll say things like, "It was wonderful. A great learning experience. Very affirming. A real joy." And all of those things will be true.

But how does one express the depth of relationships formed, the connections made, and the changes she goes through during a year in a community of God’s people? It’s not on a scale of 1-3, it’s not in a final paper, and it’s not in quick, one-line answers.

Instead I measure the "success" of this year in the laughter shared, the prayers lifted, the sorrow mourned and the joy celebrated together.

I have said before that I think St. Andrew is the perfect internship site because there are so many things happening and therefore so many new experiences for a fresh intern to learn. My first Sunday here the Servants’ Celebration honored over 200 people whose ministry has been important to a sister or brother in the congregation. I was impressed and throughout the year I have seen this servant’s heart at work in you. Your ministry in the church, in the community, and throughout the world is perhaps the greatest learning. This is what God’s people do: they love one another and they serve. Your ministry in raising up leaders is yet another way you give back to God what you have been given. And for that, I thank you.

And so, dear people, I leave you with the words of St. Paul to his beloved church in Philippi. "I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now." And to my beloved church in Vancouver, you are in my prayers and in my heart even as we now are apart. Grace and peace be with you, my brothers and sisters.

 In Christ’s joy and love,

Vicar Sarah Friesen-Carper

“Why we do what we do” - worship in the Lutheran tradition

I attended my first Lutheran worship service in the fall of 1993 and, after a lifetime of “non-liturgical” services in the Mennonite church, I must admit that I was confused. I had no idea who the people in white robes were, I didn’t know when to stand or sit, and I certainly didn’t know which book to use or what page to look at. Over time, however, my confusion dissipated and a love for Lutheran liturgy grew. Hunger to understand liturgy and to fully experience worship fueled study and involvement, and has led to much joy and some interesting discoveries.

The first question to ask is, Why do we worship? In an age of personal spirituality, our expectations of worship often center on individual experience. However, corporate (that is group) worship is intended to bring the body of Christ together to worship God in unity. Our worship is an expression of the faith of the St. Andrew community and the global church past, present and future.

We also worship because God desires a relationship with us. In hearing the Word of God, celebrating communion and baptism, confessing and receiving forgiveness, and in fellowship with one another, we grow ever closer with God.

Now, this unity and relationship can happen in many kinds of worship. So our second question is, Why do we worship the way we do? There are many aspects of our worship I’d love to discuss (for a full look at worship, I invite you to join Scott Norton and me in our spring adult education class With the Whole Church). But for now, I’d like to talk about a few particulars.

First, our worship is symbolic of the mystery of God’s grace and, therefore, all aspects of worship are symbols and play particular roles in liturgy. These roles include the order of worship, the placement of the baptismal font, the candles, the prayers, the songs and especially the people. All people participate – pastors, vicars, assisting ministers, communion assistants, readers, acolytes, crucifers (cross-bearers), ushers, greeters, musicians, the congregation – and all play important roles. I’d like to start first with you, the congregation. This assembly is the heart of the church’s identity and purpose. In fact, some consider the fellowship of believers to be sacramental, much like baptism and communion, because in community we experience God.

Those we often call “worship assistants” also play important liturgical roles. For example, the acolyte is not just a cute child lighting candles. Candles represent the light of Christ in our midst. The acolyte carries that light into our worship space in the beginning of the service to remind us of Jesus’ presence among us. At the end of the service, he or she leads us with that same light back out into the world to proclaim Jesus.

The Word of God is central to our worship and so the readers serve a primary role. For many years, before Bibles were printed in the language of the people, there were few copies of the holy text. Instead of being read in worship, it was proclaimed by the reader and heard by the people. Hearing the Word allowed people to internalize it. Try it sometime- don’t read along with the reader, just listen to the Word of God. See how it moves you.

Communion assistants and assisting ministers also play primary roles in our worship as representatives of the congregation. What we call “Prayers of the Church” are meant to be the prayers of the body lifted up by a representative of that body. The assisting minister stands with the pastor during the blessing of Communion to represent the body taking part in the blessing. As representatives of the body, communion assistants are servants one to another and symbolize our servanthood to each other as we freely give and receive the body and blood of Christ.

The role of the pastor is as a representative of Christ. Christ is the host of our worship service as we gather in his house. The pastor is the servant of Christ and therefore the servant of all who gather to worship.

Of course, these are not all the people who participate in worship here at St. Andrew. We could list many other people and many other very important roles. But these are a sampling and I hope that with this brief explanation we might recognize the symbolism and intention with which we worship.

However, all this reverence and formality does nothing if the heart is not focused on God, centered in Christ, and open to the Holy Spirit. The symbolism and order with which we worship is intended only to bring us closer with God in whom all our hope and delight rests. May our worship be to the glory of God, in the name of Christ, and gifted by the Holy Spirit.

Vicar Sarah Friesen-Carper