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Dear Bunny does it matter?
Although we are all enamored with certain liturgies it was said best in the Gates of the Forest by Elie Weisel:
When the great Rabbi Israel Baal Shem-Tov saw misfortune threatening the Jews, it was his custom to go into a certain part of the forest to meditate. There he would light a fire, say a special prayer, and the miracle would be accomplished and the misfortune averted.
Later, when his disciple, the celebrated Magid of Mezritch, had occasion, for the same reason, to intercede with heaven, he would go to the same place in the forest and say: "Master of the Universe, listen! I do not know how to light the fire, but I am able to say the prayer." And again the miracle would be accomplished.
Still later, Rabbi Moshe-Leib of Sasov, in order to save his people once more, would go into the forest and say: "I do not know how to light the fire, I do not know the prayer, but I know the place and that must be sufficient." It was sufficient and the miracle was accomplished.
Then it fell to Rabbi Israel of Rizhyn to overcome misfortune. Sitting in his armchair, his head in his hands, he spoke to God: "I am unable to light the fire and I do not know the prayer; I cannot even find the place in the forest. All I can do is to tell the story, and that must be sufficient." And it was sufficient.
The Gates of the Forest (New York: Holt, Rinehardt, & Winston, 1966) by Elie Wiesel.
The process begun in Elie Wiesel's tale could be completed soon: the story itself may be forgotten.
If indeed you are looking for "liturgy" I have liturgies dating from more than a millenium ago, all Christian liturgies. Then you must consider Liturgies to do what? If you are speaking of the Eucharistic feast, I suggest that you use the following blessings over the bread and wine. They are very similar to the ones that Jesus Christ used.
Over the Bread should be said:
We praise You, God, King of the Universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth. (Note We praise you can be translated as Blessed Art Thou - If you like more antiquated English)
We praise You, God, Who provides food unto all.
Over the Wine should be said:
We praise You, God, King of the Universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine.
Other than that, liturgy is how you wish to honor the God who made you.
posted by
palmhaven
on October 9, 2003 at 7:58 PM
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From Bunny
It depends on whether they're following a planned liturgy. Are they having the same sort of service they would have in a church building, or are they gathering to each pray in their own ways?
posted by
Bunny
on October 9, 2003 at 12:06 PM
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Thank you Palmhaven . . . .
I'll visit your site after I get off work. That's another nice thing about this blogging site, there are always people willing to teach me something new, and I like that.
posted by
archiew
on October 9, 2003 at 8:40 AM
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Now you have something!!
I have been advocating that for a long time and I believe that it doesn't take a large family to have "church services." As a matter of fact the Lord did some of his best work in fields and on mounts. Further, Apostle is Greek for witness not "bishop." In the early days of Christianity there was no clergy. Everyone performed the Eucharist service and what the church later called the "sacraments." If you have the time, my website is
www.christsrevolution.com the explanation is long but I think you will find it well documented.
posted by
palmhaven
on October 9, 2003 at 7:58 AM
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