The Most Important Part Of The Gathering

What is the most important part of the worship gathering?

My Anglican friends would likely say the Eucharist.

My extroverted friends would likely say the time of fellowship.

My musical friends would likely say sung worship.

My worship-leading friends would likely say sung worship as well.

My reformed, gospel-centered friends would likely say the preached word of God.

Most pastors would likely say the sermon.

My charismatic friends would likely say what is unexpected, or surprising.

Whether we realize it or not, every portion of our corporate gatherings is formative. We are shaped in subtle and significant ways by years of repetition. What we emphasize, and where we place the most resources (time in the service, staff, money, etc) is likely what the churches we serve value most. But if everything portion of our gathering is retelling the gospel story, if every part of our gathering is intentionally placed to form our people, then each component has a role to play in the importance of our formation.

What is the most important part of the corporate gathering? It all is important.

Preparing for Holy Week

We mark days that have marked us. This is why our calendars are filled with holidays celebrating where we have been, how far we have come, and who we’d like to be. As followers of Jesus, the two most significant days on the Church calendar are Christmas and Easter. These are days that change the course of history, and humanity. Quite literally splitting time into two halves - before Christ, and in the Year of our Lord.

We mark the days that have marked us, and we mark the days which have marked history. Following the Church Calendar with its seasons and holidays build meaning and transcendence into our lives. Rather than trying to pack all our meaning and celebration on a single day, the seasons allow us to build anticipation, expectation, and excitement as we approach these holy days. The reflection of Lent gives way to the blip of celebration on Palm Sunday, the days set apart of Holy Week, the gore of Good Friday, the quiet of Holy Saturday, and the triumph of Christ over Satan, sin, and death on Resurrection Sunday.

Holy Week preparation is important practically as well as spiritually. Maybe this year, preparation during Holy Week looks like spending time in the Gospels each day from Palm Sunday through Resurrection Sunday. I have found this overview and timeline from ESV on the Harmony of the Events of Holy Week to be so helpful.

Here is a quick glance:

Friday/Saturday: Jesus arrives in Bethany, is anointed by Mary, and the crowds come to see

Palm Sunday: The triumphal entry

Monday: Jesus curses the fig tree, cleanses the temple, and returns to Bethany

Tuesday: Disciples see the withered fig tree, temple controversies in Jerusalem, Olivet Discourse and return to Bethany

Wednesday: Jesus continues daily temple teachings, Sanhedrin plot to kill Jesus, Begin passover preparation

Maundy Thursday: Passover Meal/Last Supper, Upper Room Discourse, Jesus prays in Gethsemane

Good Friday: Betrayal and arrest, Jewish trial, before Annas, before Caiaphas and part of the Sanhedrin, before full Sanhedrin, Roman trials, before Pilate, before Herod, before Pilate, Crucifixion, Burial

Holy Saturday: Silence, rest on the Sabbatha

Resurrection Sunday: Empty tomb witnesses, and Resurrection appearances