Two parts of the service today were especially moving to me as Presider.
1. As I laid my hands on the heads of many members and pronounced to each of them individually the words of absolution, it struck me that THIS is one of the places where heaven meets earth. Through this simple gesture, here on earth, the church participates in the divine economy and bestows God’s very own grace. No wonder Martin Luther included “Confession and Absolution” in some of his “lists” of sacraments.
2. As my colleague Dave stooped to wash my feet after his sermon, I was humbly thankful for this calling, but most of all for our Lord Jesus who stoops down to wash us in the waters of Holy Baptism.
It’s going to be a beautifully long three days, I’m afraid.
And this one’s for fun. In a senior/associate pastor ministry situation, is it appropriate to refer to the senior pastor as the “Prime Minister”? 🙂