And then there was a sermon, an unusual feature in itself, with historically grounded talk of a dying and rising God. Pagans entered a wholly different world than they were used to. Furthermore, it was difficult to join the early church. Now, this runs counter to what many so-called experts tell us today. He should feel this community engages in practices so important they take time to learn.
Few people grasp that today.
But the early church grasped it very well. But the combination of Gospel preaching and careful, beautiful worship that emphasizes the joining together of heaven and earth in Jesus and the prayer of the ages has enormous drawing power, and is the key for at least some people as they embark on a spiritual journey. I say all this because we commit a considerable proportion of our financial and other resources to making our worship the very best we can offer. Christ our God to earth descendeth, our full homage to demand' are the words of that familiar hymn from the Liturgy of S. James. They are a challenge to the casual in difference with which so often we approach these holy and sacred mysteries.