A controversy has been intensifying in a particular church denomination I live. in the place Anna and Olive, as to whether the worship service ought to be conducted by the presbyter facing the altar or the congregation.
All the traditional main line churches have different altar decorations, often depicting in murals and tinted glasses, the tradition of that congregation.
Those who favour that the presbyter faces the congregation while conducting worship services suggest that there is better symbolisation of the fellowship of all believers currently present in the service, by the presbyter facing the congregation rather than the altar!
Whichever way one might look at, it is God whom we worship in whose presence all differences ought to dissolve and we worship God in truth and in spirit!
Neither the alter view or view of the congregation is what matters, but a Godly view!
The Godly view springs from, 'love, faith and hope', of which love is the greatest of all the three as suggested by St Paul in I Corinthians 13:13.
M C Mathew (text and photo)
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