I ask out there if any has found a suitable source of supply or has wondered, as I have, about obtaining such an ornamented metal cover for the lectionary book (suitable especially for processions but also for ordinary use in raising the Gospel book at the end of the reading). Let me know if you have come across something!
My pastors found something actually in France, I think. I would send a line to them at St. John's in Wheaton, Illinois. Maybe they could give you more info...
ReplyDelete-Peter Sovitzky
You can try any of the Orthodox vendors here in the states. They will have the Resurrection on the front with the Crucifixion on the backside. That may do.
ReplyDeleteMost Roman Catholic Supply Stores in
ReplyDeletethe Midwest carry them. As Lutherans
we get our candles, wine, hosts,
clergy shirts, cleri-cool white
collars, and vestments from them.
The Word does not need any ornamental cover to highlight its place of honor in worship. The best adornment would be a systematic preaching of its content to the faithful.
ReplyDelete"The Word does not need any ornamental cover to highlight its place of honor in worship. The best adornment would be a systematic preaching of its content to the faithful."
ReplyDeletePietism rears its ugly head yet again.
Is it Pietism to meditate on God's Word without some of the distractions that some of the 'High Church', hyper-liturgical people present?
ReplyDeleteBeauty is never necessary; it's just an expression of love. Because we love the gift of our Lord's blood, we use a gold chalice. Because we love the gift of God's Word, we make beautiful covers for it. Pietism is when one JUDGES the desire to honor our Lord as being unfitting. As our Lord said to the woman who "did a beautiful thing" for Him: "Leave her alone." So here - the desire for a beautiful cover to honor the Holy Word is borne of love for the sacred gift. Beware of belittling it.
ReplyDeleteAnd Pr. Peters, if you should ever find one, please let me know!!!
"Is it Pietism to meditate on God's Word without some of the distractions that some of the 'High Church', hyper-liturgical people present?"
ReplyDeleteTo claim that the traditions and practice of the Church catholic are "distractions" may not be pietistic, but it sure is hypocritical if one retains the "Lutheran" moniker.
Pr. Weedon,
ReplyDeleteThank you for an understanding that "beauty is never necessary." God could have created the world without it. He could have ordered the Tabernacle and Temple to be plain boxes.
The Ark of the Covenant was a covering for God's Word on the stone tablets. Why should we not adorn God's Word today? As you say, it is our love for the Gifts of God causes us to seek expression in Art.
And yes, our Lord's directive to the critics of the woman who anointed His feet was, "Leave her alone." The churches who do use beautiful Art don't generally criticize those who don't.
One of the major pitfalls of modern Western Christianity is that it seems to only focus on the mind or the spirit. We are corporeal beings with our five senses. And all of those must be participatory in our worship of God. That is why we(Greek Orthodox) adorn our churches with icons, use incense, have offered/ receive the Eucharist weekly, hear and sing the hymns of the church. Everything must be elevated, not just the mind. Unfortunately, most Western confessions have become somewhat iconoclastic.
ReplyDeleteMy sister once remarked to me that she found all the icons distracting in the church and that she couldn't worship. I told her that heaven would probably be no better for her since there too the cloud of witnesses will all stand in worship of God.
You may want to try the following web site: http://www.sofrino.ru/products/category/91
ReplyDeletethe prices are in Russian Rubles. If I can give you any help with this please let me know at gmarquart@san.rr.com
Peace and Joy!
George A. Marquart