As I have mentioned before, I am involved in a few singing groups at my school. Throughout the year we have a few Lutheran High Sundays. Through these we go to a variety of churches. From Churches with the Liturgy, chanting, organ; to churches with CCM, lay readers, and power point screens. Throughout this year there have been some of each of those and some in the middle. It seems like the more and more churches I go to, I confess my sins but the pastor really doesn't announce forgiveness to me. Why not? Isn't that what I go to church for?
In our hymnal and in my church the after confession he says this:
“Upon this your confession, I, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God to all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Many churches now leave it open, we should confess our sins daily," or other things that just never get around to forgiveness. Why not? The pastors have the authority to forgive sins.
So I leave you with these questions: What are the reasons you go to church? and Why wouldn't the pastors want to remind us that we are forgiven as much as possible?
We sang O Sacred Head Now Wounded tonight in church. Its one of my favorite hymns
O Sacred Head Now Wounded (TLH)
1. O sacred Head, now wounded, With grief and shame weighed down, Now scornfully surrounded With thorns, Thine only crown. O sacred Head, what glory, What bliss, till now was Thine! Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.
2. Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance, Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee And flee before Thy glance. How art thou pale with anguish, With sore abuse and scorn! How doth Thy visage languish That once was bright as morn!
3. Now from Thy cheeks has vanished Their color, once so fair; From Thy red lips is banished The splendor that was there. Grim Death, with cruel rigor, Hath robbed Thee of Thy life; Thus Thou has lost Thy vigor, Thy strength, in this sad strife.
4. My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me, For it was my transgression Which brought this woe on thee. I cast me down before Thee, Wrath were my rightful lot; Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!
5. My Shepherd, now receive me; My Guardian, own me Thine. Great blessings Thou didst give me, O Source of gifts divine! Thy lips have often fed me With words of truth and love, Thy Spirit oft hath led me To heavenly joys above.
6. Here I will stand beside Thee, From Thee I will not part; O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart, When soul and body languish In death's cold, cruel grasp, Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I'll clasp.
7. The joy can ne'er be spoken, Above all joys beside, When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide. O Lord of life, desiring Thy glory now to see, Beside Thy cross expiring, I'd breathe my soul to Thee.
8. What language shall I borrow To thank Thee, dearest Friend, For this, Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end? Oh, make me thine forever! And should I fainting be, Lord, let me never, never, Outlive my love for Thee.
9. My Savior, be Thou near me When death is at my door; Then let Thy presence cheer me, Forsake me nevermore! When soul and body languish, Oh, leave me not alone, But take away mine anguish By virtue of Thine own!
10. Be Thou my Consolation, My Shield when I must die; Remind me of Thy Passion When my last hour draws nigh. Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, Upon Thy cross shall dwell, My heart by faith enfold Thee. Who dieth thus dies well!
From the title of this post most of you could probably guess what its about. A couple days ago I bought The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe on DVD. It is quickly becomming my favorite movie. I read the books regularly. Everytime you read the books you can get something new out of them. Athiests can even appreciate them as great fiction. With our Christian background it is easy for us to see a lot of the symbolism between The Chronicles and The Bible or Church history.
I have been able to get some of the same things out of the movie. Then there are some things that are more apparent in the book then in the movie. As I watch the movie more I can think of things i never thought of while reading the books. One part I particularly like in the movie is the battle between Peter and The White Witch. Clearly Peter cannot defeat the White Witch by himself, but then Aslan comes and "crushes her head."
I would Reccommend that if you havent seen the movie yet that you do. It is a great movie. It stays very close to the book and it is amazing as far as movies go. Everything from the beautiful locations they chose to film it, to Aslan both his appearance and personality (for lack of a better word).
"Once a King or Queen of Narnia, always a King or Queen!"
