Byzantine Mosaic of Christ Pantocrator, Church of the Holy Saviour, Chora Istanbul

Oh my. I lost track of time and almost neglected to post this link to Sunday’s service. And it is a bit ironic, given a theme weaving through the service is to be ‘time’!

‘For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven …’
‘A thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past …’
‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and for ever’

If you stand in the very centre of the great Byzantine sanctuary of the Coptic church in Chora, Istanbul and look up, you gaze upon this amazing mosaic of Jesus the Christ. He holds the scriptures that point to himself, the Living Word. The orb of light that surrounds his head includes portions of his cross, empty, pointing to his defeat of sin and death. His hand is raised in a very particular benediction – thumb and two fingers joined to remind us of the Community of Love that is the Triune God, two fingers pointing to the eternal character of Jesus who brought the Holy One to us but also took our humanity into the Divine Life.

Jesus, at the centre of time and meaning … and life.

‘Immortal, invisible, God only wise … the Ancient of Days  …’
‘I danced in the morning when the world was begun … I am the dance, and I still go on …’
‘Let Christian faith and hope dispel … Christ loved us from the first of time, Christ loves us to the last’
‘Christ is the King … Christ through all ages is the same’

We invite you to join us in prayer and praise by live-stream at  https://youtu.be/FP70mBepSA8 Organ preludes will begin around 10:25 a.m. and the service will commence at 10:30 a.m. Previous services can be found on the St. Andrew’s Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/StAndrewsPresbyterianChurchKingston 

Have a look at the Order of Service and hymn lyrics and announcements below – we invite you to join us in worship, study and service as you are able.

During the service Holly will highlight one of the mission initiatives we support in addition to Presbyterians Sharing. It is called SAT-7, a satellite network that offers Christian programming through the Middle East. Have a look at the wonderful 2 minute video introduction – https://youtu.be/WxHDg8-6_gI

Download (PDF, 697KB)

Download (PDF, 149KB)

 

 

Comments are closed.

Post Navigation