Word and Sacrament

This picture was taken on a lovely, sunny Oklahoma afternoon. The way the light explodes through the rose window into a spray of colors delights and amazes me. Earlier in the week, the Worship Committee and the Board of the Federated Church in Weatherford approved the move of this baptismal font from under the pulpit (not pictured, but on the left in this picture) to this place where it will be seen by all who come to worship.

There is something else wonderfully special about this font, specifically the stand. Under the runner is a small plaque noting that this is not a font stand, this is the original pulpit.

The Federated Church was founded in 1901 as a United Church of Christ congregation. Years later, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) entered into communion forming the Federation and later the Presbyterian Church (USA) joined the Federation.

Of course, the UCC and DOC Churches baptize by immersion. That main baptistery is in the basement of the building. While Presbyterians can celebrate baptism by immersion, it is not usually done that way, thus the font.

Not so long ago, Presbyterian Ministers were called "Ministers of Word and Sacrament" (forgive us, we Presby's get a little wordy), we now call our pastors "Teaching Elders." When I was told that the font sets upon the original pulpit, I thought how glorious it was that this congregation brings these symbols of Word and Sacrament together so wonderfully and so gloriously. It makes me wonder if someone created this symbolic symbiosis intentionally.

Either way, it is glorious. The late Rev. Dr. Stan Hall, Professor of Worship and Liturgics at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary would be delighted.