Worship Notes: Stepping on Holy Ground

Some ceremonies in church are obvious.  We kneel at the altar to receive the body and blood of our Lord.  We may cross ourselves at various places in the service.  We stand to confess our faith according to the Creed for the day.

Some ceremonies are less obvious.  Worse, they may be misunderstood or cause confusion.

You may have noticed that the pastor does not begin the service at the altar, but rather near the communion railing.  If you've wondered why, the answer follows.

The ceremony of not approaching the altar has as its roots the practice of Israel's high priest on the Day of Atonement.  On that day, and only on that day, the high priest entered into Holy of Holies--the very presence of God.  The high priest was not allowed to enter the Holy of Holies without blood.  First, he filled the room with clouds of incense.  So, even when he entered God's presence, it was hidden to an extent by a cloud.  Then the high priest brought in the blood of a goat which was slain for his sin.  Once the high priest's sin was atoned for, he could stand in God's presence and make atonement for that nation with more blood.  Even though God had granted him access to his presence, the high priest could not stand on holy ground without his own sins being covered.

This is reflected in our Divine Service as the pastor begins away from the altar.  Along with the congregation, the pastor confesses his sin and sings the Kyrie (Lord, have mercy).  Then, in the stead and by the command of Jesus Christ, the pastor proclaims the absolution to the congregation.  Once sins have been absolved, the pastor makes his way to the holy ground at the altar as we join in the Christmas song of the angels, "Glory be to God on high!"  

It is a rather small ceremony, but one that accentuates the need for sinners to be forgiven to stand on holy ground.