This festival is something of a bridge between Christmas and Calvary, Epiphany and Easter in the church year. We hear him as he speaks to us in and through the Scriptures. Written by God s prophets and apostles under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures are His Word. As such they have their place in the divine service giving and bestowing the gifts of the One who is both Scriptures Lord and Author. His Word bestows what it says.
Faith is born from what is heard acknowledges the gifts received with eager thankfulness and praise.
With this simple exchange between pastor and people, the Scripture is confessed for what it is, the very Word of God and it is acknowledged as bearer of the Lord s gifts of spirit and life to be embraced with thanksgiving. The liturgy is permeated with Scripture. Central to the Service of the Word is the reading of the Holy Scriptures and preaching that is governed by these Scriptures. At this point we may observe the continuity of the Christian liturgy with that of the synagogue. In the synagogue service there were readings from the torah, the prophets, and the historical writings.