November 14, 2010

  • "Do this in remembrance of Me..."

    The Lord commanded us to celebrate the Lord's Supper. We have a beatiful document in the form that we read before the Lord's Supper. Because it is read every time we celebrate the Lord's Supper, we know most of it by heart.

    The opening paragraph quotes from 1 Cor. 11: 23-29.

     23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

     27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.

    I look at this part of Scripture as the summary of the rest of the form. It is an opening statement that is very clear about what we are about to do and it gives a clear warning too.  

    Tomorrow we will be celebrating the Lords Supper again. Although it is called "celebrating", I do not experience the Lord's Supper a celebration. The Lord's commanded us do this in remembrance of Him. His life on earth was suffering, and He paid for our sins. His

    It says "...you proclaim the Lord’s death...". What that means for us, is beautifully worded in the form:

    We remember in particular that the weight of the wrath of God caused by our sins pressed out of Him sweat like drops of blood falling on the ground in the garden of Gethsemane.

    There He was bound that He might free us from our sins.
    He suffered countless insults that we might never be put to shame.
    Though innocent He was condemned to death that we might be acquitted at the judgment seat of God.
    He even let His blessed body be nailed to the cross that He might cancel the bond which stood against us because of our sins.
    By all this He has taken our curse upon Himself that He might fill us with His blessing.
    On the cross He humbled Himself, in body and soul, to the very deepest shame and anguish of hell.
    Then He called out with a loud voice, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mt 27:46) that we might be accepted by God and nevermore be forsaken by Him.

    Sometimes I have the feeling that we forget that quickly. We would like to proclaim the Lord's Resurrection. We would like to skip his death and the wrath-part. We like to sing upbeat Psalms and Hymns around the Lord's Supper, about forgiveness, and power and glory.

    How do you prepare for the Lord's Supper as church organist/pianist? What music do you choose to play before the service, when the congregation comes in and prepares for worship? Is it fitting to play music that proclaims the Lord's death? Or should we play music that proclaims the Lord's resurrection?

    It becomes even more challenging when you receive the song selection, and you see "Hallelujah! Praise the LORD, and exalt his holy name.", "Christ has risen! Hallelujah! He is our victorious Head. Sing his praises! Hallelujah! Christ has risen from the dead.", "O give the Lord wholehearted praise! In thankful song my voice I raise within the righteous congregation.". Sure, someone can probably explain how you proclaim the Lord's death through these songs, but for the average church member it appears to be a stretch.

    It is not easy - how to prepare the congregation for worship, with the celebration of the Lord's Supper??! How should your music support the pastor's message and tone he tries to set, by selecting certain songs? I don't have an answer other than communication with the pastors.

    I admit that I have not followed the indication from the pastors based on their song selection. Instead I have played Lent chorales and preludes from J.S. Bach and other German composers, parts of the St. Matthews Passion, selections from the Messiah, parts from Stainer's Crucifixion, variations on Psalm 22, etc. In 8 out of 10 services people take the effort to let me know how much they appreciated the selections. Sometimes I ask them why... They don't like it because they recognize it, but because of the deeper meaning behind the selections.

    Tomorrow in Langley we will proclaim the Lord's death and celebrate the Lord's Supper again. The service starts with Psalm 146, "Praise the Lord who reigns forever! O my soul, bring him your praise" and before the service we hear Bach chorales and arias... about suffering... about death... to remember...