remembrance

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper, he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, as oft as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
(1 Corinthians 12:23-25)

tonight, at church, i saw something i had never seen as part of a service before. following Holy Communion, they stripped the altar. it was quiet & very powerful. as each piece was removed & carried from view, a short explanation was given & then the church was silent.

*the elements and vessels of the Sacrament - as His offered body & shed blood were given up

*the processional cross - as Christ's life was taken, after the cross was carried to Calvary

*the altar book & its missal stand - the sounds of joy are removed for our lips as we contemplate the Sacrifice

*the altar candles - as creation went dark when he suffered, and crucifixion extinguished the Light of the world

*the offerings - there is nothing we can offer

*the altar cloths and paraments - the altar is the place where Christ serves as both host & meal, and the coverings and paraments are made of fine linen and brocade, materials appropriate for a King, but as his body was stripped for crucifixion, so is the altar laid bare

upon completion of the stripping of the altar, the congregation left in silence...

Draw nigh and take the body of the Lord
And drink the holy blood for you out-poured
Offered was He for greatest and for least
Himself the Victim and Himself the Priest
("Draw Nigh and Take the Body of the Lord," v.1, The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941)

Go to dark Gethsemane,
Ye that feel the Tempter's pow'r;
Your Redeemer's conflict see,
Watch with Him one bitter hour;
Turn not from His griefs away,
Learn of Jesus Christ to pray.
("Go to Dark Gethsemane," v.1, The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941)