The Drawn Curtain: An “End of Year” Worship Series
For the next four Sundays, we are counting down to one of the most exciting times of the Christian year. Advent begins the Sunday after Thanksgiving with our annual Hanging of the Greens service. As we draw closer to this sacred season, I hold before you a distinct image as our guide for this ‘end of year’ series of preparation.
Historically, venues with a stage where performances occur had large curtains operated by unseen ropes and hidden backstage workers. The signals that the ‘show’ was starting were typically the dimming of the lights and the curtains pulled away from each other to reveal the set and players behind them. The curtains coming back together meant it was time for an intermission or the end of the show.
Worship is not a performance or a show. It is not theater, and it doesn’t take place on a stage. However, when we come together to worship the Holy Trinity, this curtain is an excellent metaphor for us as we approach God’s presence. The drawn curtain can’t help but make us wonder, “What’s on the other side?” There is a mystery to the curtain that draws us closer to anticipate what is to come.
God is always calling us to take a next step of faith, even if we can’t see what is ahead. I hope you will make plans to worship with your community of faith as we wait for our God to draw back the curtain and reveal himself to us in new and wonderful ways.
all good things to each of you,
Dr. Darian