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We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church

In Germany we have visited a number of German speaking churches--Lutheran, Reformed and Evangelical Free, but today in Warsaw I went with my parents to what they already, after one month of being here, refer to as "our church."  It is the Church of England in Poland, meeting in a Catholic chapel called Res Sacra Miser, pictured here.

There were certainly a lot of things for the kids to look at, a big change for these Protestant kiddoes.  Elisabeth sat on the pew with my parents and the three of them filled it up, so Henry and I sat behind them. The liturgy was printed on 2 sets of paper and it was a bit tricky to follow along, but it was so good and so needful to hear the word of God.  In my own language.  I don't think I realized until I looked at the liturgy, how hard it has been to not be at an English speaking church.  In truth I was refreshed.

We read together the Nicene Creed, which is more in depth than the Apostles Creed, which even in most Presbyterian churches is less and less often read or recited.

You may think of creeds and liturgy as empty and hollow, but for me it was just the opposite.  "We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church"--I thought of the several places we have worshipped in Hannover and how we have received grace there, even though it did not fill every need, God's word is preached and sung.  Our vocabulary has grown, and our kids have learned Bible stories in German.  I thought of our church in The Woodlands and how we are one body together, Warsaw, Hannover, The Woodlands.  I was reminded that even in our disagreements we are still one Church, one in Christ.
"We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins."  I looked down at my son sleeping in my arms, and remembered his baptism and mine, grateful for the forgiveness of sins that we had recently committed just trying to get out of the apartment this morning--arguing, putting down each other, being selfish.  "We look for the resurrection of the dead" thinking of Tim, Grandmother, others, "and the life of the world to come."  Grateful that our worship is a foretaste of what is to come.  Grateful that we are held in God's hands, here, there and everywhere.

After the sermon we shared the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper together.  Dad carried Henry as we walked up front to receive the bread and wine, as Henry was still sleeping.  Elisabeth received the blessing from the priest, "May the Lord bless you . . .now and forevermore."  The assisting priest, from Nigeria, gave the wine and looked me in the eyes as he shared those simple and powerful words, "The blood of Christ, shed for you."

The closing hymn pointed us to Christ once again, with the words, "Christ is made the sure Foundation, Christ the Head and Cornerstone; chosen of the Lord and precious, binding all the church in one." 


I am glad that we can worship the Lord in Hannover, and I'm glad that my parents have a place to worship here.  Today I needed more than anything to be reminded of the glory of God, his majesty and power, and of the guidance that comes from his word, and the forgiveness of my sins in Christ.
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