Reflections on The Lutheran Theological Seminar on Worship and the Sacraments, October 2024 – Petaling Jaya, West Malaysia.
Preacher Ray Soh
From 21 October to 23 October 2024, ten of us from LCS journeyed 350km north to Petaling Jaya to attend a three-day seminar on worship. It was an opportunity not to be let up, chiefly because the main invited guest was acclaimed Australian lecturer and pastor Dr Andrew Pfeiffer. We also got the rare chance to mingle with fellow pastors from our neighbours Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia.
There were altogether 10 sessions over the three days. Besides Dr Andrew, former bishop of the LCS, Rev Terry Kee, and Dr Wilfred John, Lecturer in the Sabah Theological Seminary, also each helmed a session on different aspects of worship and liturgy. It was also good to see representatives from all the different Lutheran Churches – Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia, the Lutheran Church in Malaysia, and the Lutheran Church in Singapore – each leading either the morning or evening devotions for each day. This truly was the “priesthood of all believers” at work!
It was not just a one-way seminar. All participants were put into groups to share with one another their thoughts. It was an eye-opener for me as I was able to hear that while there is a clear understanding from the Bible what biblical worship entails, the understanding and practice of it varies. It is subjected to language, culture and other social factors. Speaking with Malaysian colleagues has helped me to understand and appreciate the challenges each parish may face. Notwithstanding the diversity, I realised that all the participants were keen to know how best to express worship in the Lutheran understanding.
Dr Pfeiffer never failed to impress upon the participants what lies at the heart of worship. Authentic worship facilitates the gifts God has prepared for his people, in the Word and Sacraments. It is the time where the self-giving God pours out his forgiveness, love, grace and mercy to sinful human beings. Dr Pfeiffer suggested that we often do not agree on the non-essential aspects of a worship service – music, liturgical style, language etc. Rarely would any two people who belong to opposite ends of worship styles argue over the essence of worship. And this forms the base from where people having diverse views on worship can begin to have constructive discussions, and together work towards designing a worship where God can serve all who are gathered in God’s name.
All in all, the objectives of the seminar were met. My colleagues from the parish I am serving (LCOR) commented that they have gained a renewed understanding of what Lutheran worship and liturgy entails, and they were left in no doubt that Lutheran worship is one that should revolve around the gospel as its hub and centre.
