A Lot of Scripture

One thing most non-Episcopalians will notice first about worship in an Episcopal Church is that we read a lot of Scripture.  Most Episcopal Churches read two or three lessons and recite or sing a Psalm.  In addition, much of the language of our Book of Common Prayer is from the Bible.

For large portions of the year, we will read through significant chunks of the Bible.  For instance, we read a large portion of Matthew during the season Pentecost (generally, June through November) this past year.  In 2024 we’ll be reading a lot from Mark.  Even so, since we get just little snippets each week, it is easy to lose the larger drama of the Biblical story, what is sometimes called “creation history.”

This Sunday we get the big picture!  In the traditional Festival of Lessons and Carols, we hear, in abbreviated form, the story of God’s work from creation through the life and ministry of Jesus.  Interspersed with Carols, we will get a sample of the sweep of God’s redeeming work and see that we are not an afterthought, nor are we a problem that surprised God, which He sent Jesus to deal with.  No, we are the plan from the beginning!

As we celebrated the birth of Our Savior on Sunday evening and Monday, we remember that Jesus’ coming is part of a much bigger picture of God’s work.  Jesus was not a surprise or an afterthought, nor is Jesus in isolation from other pieces of salvation history.  Our salvation and Jesus’ sacrifice was God’s plan from the beginning.  God thought you were worth it!

This column appeared in the December 31, 2023 edition of St. John’s eNews. Click here for the complete issue.

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