(The following from the December 2007 Newsletter the "Salt Shaker")

Pastor's Letter "BOW DOWN AND WORSHIP"

As we near the completion of our building expansion and remodeling I am excited about our new entrance and “welcome center” as people come to worship and study each week. The openness, the convenience, the spaciousness will be inviting and a blessing for all who come.

In comparison, the main entrance of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is very different. There is both a relatively high threshold (5-6 inches high), and an obviously low door (less than 5’ high).

Being the inquisitive person I am I began asking around why they weren’t doing something about the entrance – like make it big enough for people to be able to walk through. I initially thought that perhaps the people in the early centuries were short. The truth is, they were quite short – but not as short as the door.

Finally I spoke with one of the priests in the church and the rector at Tantur (where Carolyn and I were staying) and found that the primary reason for the entrance was so that any pilgrim, worshipper or visitor who came would first be bowing as they entered this holy site.

Wow! The matter of convenience and accessibility was not the priority; the position of worship (bowing) was. What a concept – planning and building theologically. I walked through that door several times over the course of our nearly 5-weeks in Israel. Every time I bowed – and I was conscious that I had bowed as I entered the church. It made a difference for me, I came in to worship.

While our new entrance is made for welcoming and convenience, I have considered afresh how I enter our building – especially on Sunday. While I don’t have to bow at the door, I come bowing knowing that inside I will be worshipping the King of kings, and the Lord of lords.

I pray that you and yours will have a blessed Advent and Christmas season; and also that you will join me in choosing to bow our minds and hearts as we come to worship Him.

-- PASTOR CRAIG