abbotsford parish church@clydebank@scotland

worshipalternative
(december 29th 1999)

This is just a selection of the words and images that go together to make the worshipalternative	the last party
	While it wasn't quite the end of the millennium, this was a spiritual journey through time and of crossing the edge into the Third Christian Millennium
	Entering A cantor sung these words while we gathered on a table in the middle of the worship area symbols that have united the whole of time. (Wine is brought to the table) Let all mortal flesh keep silent And with fear and trembling stand Ponder nothing earthly minded For with blessing in his hand Christ our God to earth descended Our full homage to demand (Bread is brought to the table) King of kings, yet born of mary As of old on earth he stood Lord of lords in human vesture In the body and the blood He will give to all the faithful His own self for heavenly food (A candle is brought to the table) Rank on mark the host of heaven Spreads its vanguards on the way As the light of light descendeth From the realms of endless day That the powers of hell may vanish As the darkness clears away (A cross is brought to the table) At his feet the six winged seraph Cherubim with sleepless eye Veil their faces to the presence As with ceaseless voice they cry Alleluia, alleluia Alleluia, Lord most high
	Statement The sound of silence is more honest that any words we can put together. All eternity flows into silence and every silence contains eternity. Belief and faith are given all the meaning they could ever have in expensive, opulent, deep silence. There will be total silence for the next five minutes....
	Action A line of stones was laid along the worship space. beyond was a cutrained doorway. During music, the people were invited to choose an item that symbolised how they felt, hoped, longed for, questioned from the table in the middle. It was covered with various items.   What has your silence said? What dreams were spun, hopes laid open, truths discovered? Can we symbolise them? As we move closer to the edge, it is these things that will lead us over into the future. I now invite you, if you feel comfortable, to choose some object here on the table that somehow symbolises your dreams, thoughts, feelings, hurts, anxieties, doubts, joys and celebrations discovered in the silence. Take your time. Enjoy the experience. And take that symbol and place it on the edge here. For these thoughts send forward. They are the very edge of hope, of future, of eternity.
	Crossing the edge With images of the past century on the back wall, people were invited to cross the edge , stepping over the line that had been made of stones and symbols, and then pass through the curtained doorway, into the Third Christian Millennium. Bonnie tyler sang Total Eclipse of the Heart and Jimmy Nail, 'Love' while all this happened. Beyond the curtain was a single candle. lit symbolising the fresh, new, uncomplicated hope that lies ahead.

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