St. Matthews Episcopal Church

Episcopal Church in Snellville, GA

 “Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them; I will offer thanks to the Lord..” Psalm 119:19
  • Home
  • About
    • Location & Worship Information
    • Clergy & Staff
    • 2022 Officers and Vestry
    • Parish Information
  • Ministries
    • Children’s Ministries
      • Acolyte Ministry
      • Nursery Care
      • St. Matthews Preschool
      • Sunny’s Kids Sunday School
      • Vacation Bible School
    • Youth
    • Christian Education
    • Fellowship & Parish Life
    • Outreach
    • Liturgical Ministries
    • Stewardship
    • Centering Prayer
    • Other Ministries
  • Resources
    • Realm / Members Connect — Parish Directory
    • Parish Services
    • Inreach
    • Community Outreach Resources
    • Episcopal Church Resources
    • Annual Parish Reports for Last Year (2020)
    • Forms and Documents
  • News
  • Contact

A Word From Mother Pat+: INCENSE – Fun Trivia for the Holy Days

December 22, 2021

The Church has long used incense for special celebrations much as it was used in the Jewish tradition of Jesus’ time. Scripture refers to incense as a sign of the presence of the holy and the smoke goes up like our prayers ascending to God. Incense will only be used at the 11:00 pm service on Christmas Eve. If you have allergies to incense, then please join us for the 5 pm Christmas Eve service.

In the Revelation to John, chapter 8:1-4 we read “the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints.” In the Old Testament we find numerous references to the use of incense as a part of worship. Incense has long been associated with prayer and with special times of celebration. The magi brought fragrant frankincense as one of the gifts for the infant Jesus.

The use of sight, sound and smell in worship have long been used to connect us to each other and to God. We offer our bodies in prayer and thanksgiving – kneeling, bowing, walking, standing, sitting and other postures of praise and prayer. We see and taste the elements of consecrated bread and wine allowing God to fill us. We lift our voices in prayer, praise and song offering our gifts to God; and when we use incense it involves our sense of smell and sight allowing us to experience visually our prayers ascending to the heavens and we smell the fragrance of frankincense reminding us of God’s gift to us in the person of Jesus.

Merry Christmas, Mother Pat+



Share this on your social network:

Filed Under: Advent & Christmas, Christian Education, Worship

Recent Posts

  • A Word from Mother Pat+: The Search
  • HISTORY
  • Easter at St. Matt’s – Photos
  • Current Adult Bible Study — Book of Isaiah
  • New Beginnings 2022!

Categories

  • Advent & Christmas
  • Car Show
  • Children's Ministry
  • Christian Education
  • Easter
  • Global Mission
  • Health and Wellness
  • Lent
  • Ministries
  • Music
  • News
  • Outreach
  • Parish Life
  • Preschool
  • Spotlight on Ministry
  • Stephen Ministry
  • Stewardship
  • Sunday Announcements
  • Worship
  • Youth

At St. Matthew’s, our MISSION is to continue the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, by serving the greater community through loving its children, caring for the unfortunate and witnessing to the healing power of God’s love.

Copyright © 2022 · Log in · St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 1520 Oak Road, Snellville GA 30078 / Phone: 770-979-4210 / Fax: 770-979-4211