The Joy of the Cantata: Bible in the BIG Story

    First, a Presupposition.  I presuppose that the Bible is the BIG Story of Jesus.  Genesis to Revelation, Jesus is the center.  The rest of this post depends on that presupposition.

    Secondly, we are joyfully able to present our Easter Cantata:

THE CHANCEL CHOIR AND GUESTS PRESENT:

JESUS! THE RESURRECTION OF THE MESSIAH

Music by Mary McDonald; Words and Narration by Rose Aspinall

     Usually, on a Sunday, we do a focused piece of the Big story of the Bible.  We use a resource, the Lectionary, that offers a three year cycle of Scripture readings, focused pieces of the Big story.  From this, we draw on our Sunday passages to share in worship.  Usually.

    This Sunday is the Cantata: a Big Story of the BIG Story of Scripture.  In musical form, we take a journey through death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  10AM, April 6, 10 W. Maple Ave., Merchantville, NJ.  Come and listen!

    So, for Traveling Worship, we do not have the 'usual' focused bit of the story.  But we do have this piece, drawn from the narration:

“Jesus, our most merciful and faithful High Priest₁, You are the living bread₂ Who was broken₃.  You took on our likeness and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!₄  While we were sinners, You died for us₅, forever tearing down the wall that separated us from the Father₆ and paying the price to purchase back everything we’d lost₇; our birthright₈.  You ushered in the new covenant and sealed it with Your own blood₉.  Our redemption was indeed costly₁₀.  You are the radiance of God, the exact imprint of His nature!₁₁  Forever, You are exalted, Eternal God and Savior!₁₂  Amen.”

It is a prayer, it is an introduction to one of the musical passages, it is a celebration.  Perhaps most powerfully is that this passage is an integration.  We are not focused on chapter and verse, as is the usual custom, but on the Big story, the drawing together of many verses, integrating them to tell the magnificent story of Jesus.

    It is an invitation to come at the Bible in a slightly different way.  Instead of going deep on a single passage, this takes you across the blessings of God's Word, to see how the whole story comes together in detail and depth that one passage just cannot accomplish.  Want to take a closer look for yourselves?  See the list below.  These are the connections I found.

₁ Hebrews 2:17

₂ John 6:51

₃ 1 Corinthians 11: 23-24

₄ Philippians 2:8

₅ Romans 5:8

₆ Ephesians 2:14

₇ Matthew 16:26

₈ Colossians 1:12

₉ Matthew 26:28

₁₀ 1 Peter 1: 18-19

₁₁ Hebrews 1:3

₁₂ 1 Timothy 1: 17; Psalm 92: 8, Hebrews 7:25

Peace,
Pastor Peter