Please explain peculiar prayer?

chuck50954 · Oct 21, 2007

Hello everybody. I visited an ELCA church today. Everything was quite as expected, until the affirmation prayer just before communion. Here it is in its entirety:

"In the beginning was the circle. God made the world round, floated a sun to shine light around our days and hung a moon and many stars to brighten each night. All creatures had their place in the circle of life. All seasons came round in their appointed times. All creation danced in a circle of joy.

"In the beginning was the tapestry. Jesus, the great weaver, wove together a rich and diverse fabric. All colors, all sizes and shapes went into the needlework. Cultures and traditions were woven in like gold and silver threads. Each variation contributed to a strong and beautiful whole.

"In the beginning was music. The Holy Spirit conducts a glorious sound using the songs of the birds, the music of the mountains and streams, the harmony of the woods, the chorus of frogs and crickets and the trumpets of praise and drums of glory from the depths of humanity. The orchestra needs all of us to make a great melody of praise.

"From the beginning to now, God uses all of us to create joy and beauty, hope and compassion. Amen."

I do not know what to make of this prayer. I tried looking it up online--it came from somewhere--but I can't trace its origins. So what do you all know about it and think about it? I adore any respectful opinions so please don't be shy.

God bless you in Jesus' name. --Chuck

KimLCMS · Oct 21, 2007

I have never heard this said before. You should ask in the ELCA subforum.

RadMan · Oct 21, 2007

Yep--You have the wrong forum. Who knows what type of new age stuff they are coming up with.

KimLCMS · Oct 21, 2007

RadMan said:
Yep--You have the wrong forum. Who knows what type of new age stuff they are coming up with.

seajoy · Oct 22, 2007

Yikes...that one didn't come from the WELS church....that's for sure.

RadMan · Oct 22, 2007

He said ELCA Sis.

seajoy · Oct 22, 2007

RadMan said:
He said ELCA Sis.

must have been the medication.

Tofferer · Oct 22, 2007

I am aware of this "prayer". It can be found in the new ELCA hymnal, which also includes settings for things that make the strong of stomach cringe. New age? Absolutely. The ELCA has chosen to speak what the itching ears of the people want to hear rather than the truth of scripture. I am glad I left.

mrshoperose · Oct 22, 2007

Tofferer said:
I am aware of this "prayer". It can be found in the new ELCA hymnal, which also includes settings for things that make the strong of stomach cringe. New age? Absolutely. The ELCA has chosen to speak what the itching ears of the people want to hear rather than the truth of scripture. I am glad I left.

I had never heard of it before now. I agree Chris, now that I have read that, I don't understand how we could have ever stayed there!

chuck50954 · Oct 22, 2007

Hello again. Oops--it's true I somehow selected the wrong item in the drop-down box when I first posted; nevertheless, it's interesting to hear from you in this thread.

This "creed" is in the new hymnal, somebody said. The church I attended yesterday had older hymnals (appeared to be from the 70's), which is why I didn't see anything in there, while I was flipping through it.

I'm not a member of any Lutheran church, and my experience with the Lutherans is limited. My background is Jesus first, Ammo-Mennonite second, but actually, I'm not concerned about denominations, unless, as in the case I've presented to you, churches fall away from clearly biblical teaching and preaching.

You know how it is--you show up new to a church, and people always beg you to come back, and they really are pleasant people, and in any case, you are loathe to say, "No, I don't think I'll be returning to your apostate church, thanks anyway." But in this case I really don't feel comfortable doing so. I've had a difficult time finding a church in my current city--El Paso. Strangely, I've driven to a few of them on Sunday morning, after finding them online or in the phone book, and they are kaput--closed. That's not a problem I've run into in other cities.

God bless you all. --Chuck

WildStrawberry · Oct 22, 2007

As my friend, DogMom just stated when I IMd her the "prayer"

"Great Graphtar, it's the Silmarillion Creed!"

and "don't you think they're reading Tolkien just a LITTLE too closely?"

LOL

Kae

porterross · Oct 22, 2007

chuck50954 said:
Hello everybody. I visited an ELCA church today. Everything was quite as expected, until the affirmation prayer just before communion. Here it is in its entirety:

"In the beginning was the circle. God made the world round, floated a sun to shine light around our days and hung a moon and many stars to brighten each night. All creatures had their place in the circle of life. All seasons came round in their appointed times. All creation danced in a circle of joy.

"In the beginning was the tapestry. Jesus, the great weaver, wove together a rich and diverse fabric. All colors, all sizes and shapes went into the needlework. Cultures and traditions were woven in like gold and silver threads. Each variation contributed to a strong and beautiful whole.

"In the beginning was music. The Holy Spirit conducts a glorious sound using the songs of the birds, the music of the mountains and streams, the harmony of the woods, the chorus of frogs and crickets and the trumpets of praise and drums of glory from the depths of humanity. The orchestra needs all of us to make a great melody of praise.

"From the beginning to now, God uses all of us to create joy and beauty, hope and compassion. Amen."

I do not know what to make of this prayer. I tried looking it up online--it came from somewhere--but I can't trace its origins. So what do you all know about it and think about it? I adore any respectful opinions so please don't be shy.

God bless you in Jesus' name. --Chuck

Oh, dear. Did the altar resemble Pride Rock? Were Pumba and Timon the crucifer and acolyte?

Sure sounds like a Disney concoction to me.

Get thee to a Scriputally sound Lutheran church.

chuck50954 said:
Hello again. Oops--it's true I somehow selected the wrong item in the drop-down box when I first posted; nevertheless, it's interesting to hear from you in this thread.

This "creed" is in the new hymnal, somebody said. The church I attended yesterday had older hymnals (appeared to be from the 70's), which is why I didn't see anything in there, while I was flipping through it.

I'm not a member of any Lutheran church, and my experience with the Lutherans is limited. My background is Jesus first, Ammo-Mennonite second, but actually, I'm not concerned about denominations, unless, as in the case I've presented to you, churches fall away from clearly biblical teaching and preaching.

You know how it is--you show up new to a church, and people always beg you to come back, and they really are pleasant people, and in any case, you are loathe to say, "No, I don't think I'll be returning to your apostate church, thanks anyway." But in this case I really don't feel comfortable doing so. I've had a difficult time finding a church in my current city--El Paso. Strangely, I've driven to a few of them on Sunday morning, after finding them online or in the phone book, and they are kaput--closed. That's not a problem I've run into in other cities.

God bless you all. --Chuck

Hi Chuck.

I'm a few hundred miles east of you, yet still in west Texas and I can assure you that there are confessional congregations in El Paso.

Below is the link to the directory of Missouri Synod churches in El Paso and it lists 5 congregations. Click on each church name to get their information and location. Feel free to PM if you have any questions or need anything else.

Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, El Paso

Blessings on your search.

chuck50954 · Oct 22, 2007

Wildstrawberry and Porterrock, I'm hilarious over both of your posts. Most excellent--thank you. This church, to be inside it, was the most ordinary, innocuous place. The altar was normal, the drapes were normal, the sancturary was normal. And remember, I come from one of those plain-people backgrounds, and I sometimes find mere photography to be too much to handle. In the case of this church, its unique personality was all in the message. It makes me sad: Jesus offers us so much more than these strange creeds, and people's souls are in jeopardy over this nonsense. I'm going to write the pastor about this, and I will share my letter with you when I've completed it.

RadMan · Oct 22, 2007

It wouldn't make much difference to say anything. People steeped in the ELCA agenda consider what they are doing to be a Godly endeavor.

Tofferer · Oct 22, 2007

RadMan said:
It wouldn't make much difference to say anything. People steeped in the ELCA agenda consider what they are doing to be a Godly endeavor.

That is so unfortunately true. I heard that a pastor from the ELCA once claimed that all other Lutheran churches desire to be part of the ELCA. He was wrong then and he will continue to be wrong. As I have previously stated, if I have to move to Anchorage because of my job, I will definately be joining an LC-MS church.

mrshoperose · Oct 22, 2007

Tofferer said:
That is so unfortunately true. I heard that a pastor from the ELCA once claimed that all other Lutheran churches desire to be part of the ELCA. He was wrong then and he will continue to be wrong. As I have previously stated, if I have to move to Anchorage because of my job, I will definately be joining an LC-MS church.

And even if ELCA were the only church available, I would not go there! (Chris can preach to Jeremiah and me!)

mrshoperose · Oct 22, 2007

mrshoperose said:
And even if ELCA were the only church available, I would not go there! (Chris can preach to Jeremiah and me!)

He is studying to be a pastor or seminary instructor.

filosofer · Oct 22, 2007

mrshoperose said:
And even if ELCA were the only church available, I would not go there! (Chris can preach to Jeremiah and me!)

........

He is studying to be a pastor or seminary instructor.

[FONT= "Book Antiqua"]
As head of the house, he could do it even if he were not studying to be pastor. But I like your thinking.

The only aspect missing would be the Lord's Supper.
[/font]

Lupinus · Oct 22, 2007

Try a LCMS or WELS Lutheran church. Not to bash ELCA at all but they are pretty far away from Lutheran teaching. And LCMS or WELS church will be much more biblical.

Tofferer · Oct 22, 2007

It is a sad thing when a church becomes that far removed from the truth of scripture.

Please explain peculiar prayer?

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