What's a Narthex?

See anything on our site that you just don't understand? Check here for some of the more commonly used terms. Not finding it here, either? Contact Us, and we'll be glad to add it to the list!

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Advent: A season in The Church during the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. During this season, candles on an Advent wreath are lit in succession, leading up to the white center candle being lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Traditionally, the candles, in order, represent Expectation, Hope, Joy, and Purity. The white candle in the center is the Christ Candle, representing the Light of the World, Jesus Christ. (http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=2501959&ct=3007535 12/10/07)

C

Contemporary Service: Our contemporary services offer more upbeat "praise" music.

E

Easter: The day in the Christian calendar that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter is the most important day in the calendar. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon on or after March 21; therefore, the date varies from March 22 to April 25. (Source: www.umc.org)

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F

Fellowship Hall: Our building has a large gymnasium-style room we call the "Fellowship Hall". This room has a full kitchen, allowing such services to the community as the Friday Morning Cafe. It also serves as our overflow for the Sanctuary during services, and has classrooms in the upper level.

G

Good Friday: The source of our term for the Friday before Easter, "Good Friday," is not clear. It may be a corruption of the English phrase "God's Friday," according to Professor Laurence Hull Stookey in Calendar: Christ's Time for the Church (p. 96). It is the common name for the day among English- and Dutch-speaking people. It is a day that proclaims God's purpose of loving and redeeming the world through the cross of our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is a day that is good because God was drawing the world to God's self in Christ. As seen in John's gospel, particularly, God was in control. God was not making the best of a bad situation, but was working out God's intention for the world — winning salvation for all people. We call it "good" because we look backward at the crucifixion through the lens of Easter!

"Good Friday" is not a universal name for the day. The liturgical title for the day in the Western church was "Friday of Preparation," since the time Jews used the word paraskeue (getting ready) for Friday, meaning the "day of preparation." Popular names for the day are "Holy Friday" among the Latin nations, "Great Friday" among the Slavic peoples, "Friday of Mourning" in Germany, "Long Friday" in Norway, and "Holy Friday" (Viernes Santo) among Hispanic peoples. Provided by www.umc.org

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H

Holy Week: The week of Christian observances leading to Easter Sunday. It begins with Palm Sunday and progresses through Holy or Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. It culminates with the Easter Sunday celebrations. (Source: www.umc.org)

L

Lent: A forty-day period of focus on penitence and preparation for the Resurrection Event of Easter. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and ends at sunset Easter Eve. The liturgical color for this season of the Christian year is purple. (Source: www.umc.org)

Liturgist: A narrator of sorts during the ceremony (or liturgy) of the standard service. Generally responsible for reciting prayers and invocations during the service.

M

Maundy Thursday: Also called Holy Thursday, is a service to commemorate Jesus' Last Supper and the beginning of our sacrament, the Lord's Supper. The word Maundy comes from the Latin mandatum, which means "commandment." At the Last Supper, Jesus gave the disciples a new commandment to love one another as he had loved them (John 13:34). Prior to breaking the bread with the disciples, Jesus washed their feet. Maundy Thursday worship services include Holy Communion and sometimes foot washing as well. Definition provided by www.umc.org.

N

Narthex: When you first enter through the main entrance of our church, you come into a large room designed to be both the central hub of our building, along with a welcoming place for you to be. Think of it as the foyer of our church.

Nicene Creed: In order to unify the Christian Church, the Roman Emperor Constantine convened the council of Nicea in 325AD. This council formed the original version of what is now known as the Nicene Creed. The current version is actually a revised and expanded version made by a second council which met in Constantinople in 381AD. The Presbyterian, Eatern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and most Protestant churches affirm this creed to be a universal statement of belief. (http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=258&GID=238&GMOD=VWD&RT=creed 10/01/07)

S

Sanctuary: This is the main hall (To the left as your enter the main doors), that holds our services.

T

Traditional Service: Some of the old hymns are the best. Our traditional services combine them, along with a few newer songs led by our music department.

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