Page 40 - Presbyterian Connection, Spring 2024

40
PRESBYTERIAN
SPRING 2024
presbyterian.ca
Submit your questions to connection@presbyterian.ca. All questions in this issue were answered by the Rev. Ian Ross-McDonald, General Secretary.
What is the appropriate style of gown for the minister to wear?
Connection
JUST WONDERING...
Traditionally, Presbyterian ministers wore black gowns reminiscent of academic garb or the everyday street dress of pre-Refor- mation clergy. There are many traditions but no hard-and-fast rules regarding gowns and the wearing and not wearing of them in the PCC. Rather, the gowns and vestments that ministers wear (or don’t wear) reflect local customs and personal preferences.
I hear some clergy say they don’t wear vestments because they don’t want to
stick out and that gowns are distracting because they are from another time. And I hear some clergy say they wear vestments so they won’t be distracting as sometimes people are more interested in the pattern of ministers’ shirts and socks than what is being taught. Regardless of whether min- isters wear gowns or not, ministers take care in selecting what they wear when they lead worship so as not to distract, offend or place the focus on themselves.
????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Why do we say “Amen” at the end of prayers?
“Amen” is frequently said by the prayer- leader and/or everyone gathered in public worship. And it was customary for many years to sing “Amen” at the end of singing hymns in Presbyterian churches.
Amen is a Hebrew word that means something like “Firm,” “Truly” or “So be it.” Martin Luther translated it “Yes, let it be so!”
Amen is meant to be an expression of confidence that God hears the prayers that have been said. And more than that,
Amen was originally meant to be said by the members of the whole congregation in ancient Jewish worship to indicate that they too give assent to a prayer spoken on their behalf. Worship is sometimes called “liturgy,” which means “work of the peo- ple.” So worship is not meant to be passive or a performance to be watched; it is to be participated in and practiced by all. By add- ing your voice to the prayer in saying Amen it becomes one more way for all to partici- pate more fully in the worship of God.
Can you please settle something for us? Isn’t the minister supposed to read the gospel lessons in church?
In some places, it is the custom for mem- bers of the congregation to read selec- tions from the Bible in worship. And in some places, the minister takes over and reads the gospel reading (the selection from Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) for the day. This may be done for many reasons. In some traditions, the scriptures are taken in a majestic procession of candles and singing to the middle of the church and the gospel read in the midst of the people. In part, this is a way of showing that the Word of God has come into the world and dwells among the people. While these kinds of symbolic acts can be very rich with meaning, there is the danger that
the wrong messages could be received. It would be a shame if it were construed that by the minister taking over the read- ings from the gospels that gospel read- ings were somehow more impor tant than the other readings from the Bible. We do not believe there is a Bible within the Bible or that some parts of scripture are more Godly or holy than others. God speaks in the reading of the Old Testament and the Epistles as authentically, fully and truly as in the gospels. The books of Micah, Mala- chi, Leviticus and Jonah, and the letters of Paul and the early church, are no less important and precious than the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Does the PCC sell its contact lists to any vendors or other charities?
No, the PCC does not sell or share any emails, phone numbers or addresses with vendors or other charitable organizations. However, we are aware that sometimes organizations or companies have taken
the contact information that congrega- tions and individuals submit that is found in the published Acts & Proceedings, or they comb the internet looking for church addresses.
Photos Needed for the 2025 Wall Calendar
Seeds grow food. But seeds also grow compassion, empathy, knowledge, contemplation and faith. Send in your images from the lives of the church’s ministries, people or initiatives — seeds of hope!
Submit photos and learn more at: presbyterian.ca/call-for-photos