Q: Why do we wear robes?
A: We wear robes called “vestments” in our services for a couple of reasons. The main reason is that we want to identify with our most important source of meaning: that we are baptized Christians – followers of Jesus Christ who have died with him in baptism and are raised to new life.
When early Christians were baptized they “put on Christ” after their baptism by putting on a white robe, indicating they had been washed clean in the blood of the Lamb. The basic white vestment is called an “alb.”
Other more colorful vestments we wear over or with our albs identify the priest and servers as slaves or servants in the Court of the King of the Universe. Even though we are slaves, we wear the King’s clothing to remind us all that we worship the King, in His presence.
Q: Why are there candles?
A: Candles are used to remind us of a couple things as well. First, a flame reminds us that God is present in our midst and has set us “on fire” with his new life and love for the world. We Christians are to be “on fire” for God.
Secondly, on a practical level, for hundreds of years candles or torches were needed to provide light in dark churches, so that people could read and do what they had to do. Sometimes we keep traditions like this that remind us we are connected to Christians from the past, even though we no longer need light from candles. A flame is light and life.
Q: What does the cross or a crucifix mean?
A: Most people know that Jesus died on a cross. Once he did this and was resurrected, the cross became a symbol of central meaning for followers of Jesus. It identifies us. The empty cross reminds us that Jesus is risen from the dead, and that death has been conquered.
A crucifix, in similar manner, is not a negative symbol – the body of Christ hanging on the cross is a reminder that we are called to live out the life of Christ in our own lives by dying to self – that is by placing the lives of others before our own, considering ourselves to be less important than friends, neighbors, loved ones, and strangers. We imitate Christ’s example by living “lives of death to self” every day.
Q: What is the Sabbath, and what is Sunday?
A: Many of us have grown up calling Sunday “the Sabbath.” This partially true and partially not quite correct. The Sabbath is the day that God rested from creating all that exists – it has always been celebrated as the last day of the week, (Saturday). Human beings are created in God’s image and we also need to rest from our work, roughly one day out of every seven. So we all need a Sabbath in our schedules – but in today’s world, it is sometimes hard to make it on Saturday.
Sunday is not really the Sabbath – it is “the Lord’s Day,” the day of resurrection after the Sabbath rest – the First Day and also the Eighth Day of creation, which tells us that a new Creation and a New Work has begun. This new work has been initiated by God in raising Jesus from the grave and giving us the Holy Spirit. We may treat Sunday as a Sabbath for ourselves if that is what works best (and often it is), but we should always remember that Saturday, the last day of the week, is God’s Sabbath. (For ancient Hebrews and for today’s Jews, Saturday’s sabbath rest begins at sundown on Friday and ends at sundown on Saturday). Some of our liturgies today still reflect the tradition of a new day beginning at sundown, not with midnight or sunrise as we are accustomed to.
Q: Do we need to “dress up” for church?
A: Not really…but this is a matter of personal judgment and conscience. It is always nice to respect others when we gather by making sure we are clean, well-groomed, and that our bodies and clothing do not smell badly or run the risk of getting somebody else dirty when we interact, but the bottom line is that God loves us and accepts us as we are. We are welcome in the church no matter how we dress. It’s up to you. Many people like to wear suits or nice dress clothing simply because “church” is an event that calls us together in community, but we all wear what we need to wear and what we are able to wear. Our clothing should communicate neither pride nor shame. God provides.
Q: What are icons, and how should we think about them?
A: This is a good question. An icon is a special kind of symbol that reminds us of the person or story depicted in the icon. They are not overly realistic in their presentation because they are designed to convey ideas and ideals more than connections to people avoiding the risk that their use might be considered “idolatry” by some.
An icon can be considered a window into God’s reality, where we are reminded of saints we identify with, and whom we wish to emulate, and by which we can call to mind stories from scripture. Icons of Mary holding Jesus remind us that Mary is the icon of the Church – she is Theotokos, the “God-bearer,” and so are we. Mary said “Yes” to the Holy Spirit, and because she did, Christ was conceived in her so she could give him to the world. This is what we as the Church are called to do as well.
St. Michael's Episcopal Church 