Cross Bearer
In 1855 Thomas Shepherd wrote these words to a now famous hymn of the church: “Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free? No, there’s a cross for everyone, and there’s a cross for me.”
A few weeks ago, prior to the start of the 9:45 service, I was carrying in our processional cross. After I had placed it on the wall in the front of the sanctuary a young couple stopped me asked what I was doing and why I was bringing that cross into the sanctuary. Not every United Methodist Church has a processional cross. Several years ago now a small group from Wright’s Chapel got together and had the one we use designed and created. The artist who designed it wanted to include the cross of Christ and the flame of the Holy Spirit, our United Methodist symbol, and she had it mounted on a simple wooden pole in order to be carried in and out of the sanctuary. The symbolism behind a processional cross is that as we gather to worship and come in from our work in the world, we carry the cross of Christ as a symbol that Christ comes into worship with us from the world, and Christ is the focus of our worship. After the benediction at the end of the service, the cross is carried out of the sanctuary, and it is meant to symbolize that Christ goes with us to our work in the world. Those who attend our 8:30 service experience this symbolism each week as our children serve as the “crucifer” (cross bearer) and in a formal way we carry the cross in at the beginning of worship and out at the end of worship. We aren’t nearly as formal at our other two services and so sometimes that cross doesn’t get brought into worship, or if the cross gets brought in, it might not get taken out at the end.
I do like the symbolism of the processional cross and so if there are those at 9:45 and 11:00 who would like to serve as a “crucifer” just let me know. It is not just a job for children.
More than the symbolism though is my hope is that we would all live with that “in and out movement” of Christ in our lives. If we truly desire to be a disciple of Jesus then we want Christ as our leader. As disciples we want to follow Christ whereever we are and as disciples we are to carry the cross of Christ before us. We are all meant to serve as crucifers, and not just on Sunday. For most of us though, I know for me, it seems easier to do that when we follow Christ into worship. It is in worship that I feel the presence of Christ most fully. In the prayers, in the songs, in the reading of scripture and the sermon, my focus almost naturally turns to Jesus and how he would want me to live. It is easy to be a disciple in church on Sunday. I know for me, however, the struggle comes in following Christ into the world on Monday. Sometimes it is hard for me to let Christ go with me into my place of work (and I work in the church). It is hard for me to let Christ shape my reaction and my words to the people who frustrate me. Our current political climate is one where I often find myself asking, “With the rhetoric I hear and new policies being enacted what does it mean to be a Christian and how am I called to respond?” When people come to Wright’s Chapel and visit us in worship, it is easy for me to invite them to keep coming. Out in the world, at the Food Lion, it is harder for me to share my faith and to invite someone to come to church for the first time. When I’m out in the community and someone is annoying me or when I’m angry at something I’ve read on Facebook, when I’ve been challenged to do or to say something that may cause others to not like me, that is when it is hard to carry the cross of Christ into the world.
To truly be a “crucifer” is a challenging profession. I thank our children who volunteer and take on that task each Sunday morning at our 8:30 service. I have no doubt that Jesus is looking for some more volunteers. Anyone? Anyone?
