In its origins, the Evangelical Free Church sharply rejected the practice of the Christian year as part of the rigid structures of the state church. Congregations today usually recognize Advent, Christmas, and Holy Week in some fashion, but formal adherence to the liturgical calendar remains almost nonexistent. A recent renewal of emphasis on worship in general, however, may bring about new attention to the Christian year.
The Evangelical Free Church of America has historically been very good at evangelism and discipleship but somewhat weak in worship. For the most part of the churches of the Evangelical Free Church of America pay virtually no attention to the formal liturgical calendar. However, most do observe some traditional practices and hold special services during Christmas and Easter seasons.
Repudiation of Liturgical Forms
The free-church movement was born out of a desire both to worship freely (that is, free from the state-controlled church of the Scandinavian countries from which they came) and to evangelize the lost. At its inception in America, the movement was primarily under lay leadership, and a great deal more emphasis was placed on studying the Word and evangelizing the world than on worshiping God. Christian societies were formed in the churches for the sole purpose of supporting missionaries.
Rejection of the rigid structure of the state church entailed a radical turn away from the traditional rituals of the liturgical worship, and even anything that would hint at such forms. In years past, it was viewed as almost “sinful” even to print an order of worship. Congregations wanted the Spirit to lead worship and did not want it pre-planned. Of course, the irony of this situation was that even though there was no printed order of worship, the order of worship proceeded with little change from week to week: an opening song, prayer, two more songs, the offering, the sermon, and a closing song.
One factor which keeps free churches in America from observing the Christian church year is the preaching style to which many of our congregations are accustomed. The vast majority of pastors preach in the expository style, taking one book of the Bible at a time and preaching through that book to its conclusion. The theme of the worship service is determined each week not by the church year but rather by the theme of that particular morning’s message. Often these series, which last two or more years, will be interrupted by a special Advent series or Lenten series. Usually, the message is simply adapted to the occasion, and themes are drawn from the biblical book being used which lend themselves to the particular season.
Christmas and Easter Traditions
Christmas and Easter have always been a part of our worship traditions. The Advent wreath, with its Scandinavian roots, has become a very key part of the Christmas worship celebration. Thus, the four Sundays in Advent begin to take on a clearer focus. Christmas Eve and even Christmas day services (the Swedish “Jolotta”) are common. Many congregations “pray in the new year” on New Year’s Eve, often in conjunction with an observance of the Lord’s Supper.
Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten season passes each year barely noticed by members of the Evangelical Free churches. It is not until Easter Week approaches that attention is drawn to this significant season of worship. Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday represent virtually the totality of our Lenten season. Palm Sunday lends itself as a great victory celebration. Many of our churches will observe Communion on either Maundy Thursday or Good Friday and conclude the week with a great celebration of Christ’s victorious resurrection on Easter Sunday. Elaborate musical presentations are often a part of both the Easter and Christmas celebrations and have become a major focus of ministry for our church musicians.
Thanksgiving also provides a thematic setting for worship as many congregations offer a Thanksgiving Eve or Thanksgiving day service. These services often consist of personal testimonies of God’s faithfulness through the year and the observance of the Lord’s Supper.
Worship Renewal and the Church Year
An awakening to the importance of worship has emerged in the Evangelical Free Church of America. As our congregations have grown, they have been able to bring worship leaders and musicians on to their paid ministry staff. These men and women have been able to focus their attention more on worship and thus complement the discipling and evangelizing that the church has always done well.
The current Christian music scene contributes to this heightened sensitivity to worship. The great influx of new praise-and-worship choruses is finding their way into worship services. Church members who for years have enjoyed singing the great hymns of faith about God are now enjoying singing the praise and worship songs to God.
One can only speculate as to how this renewal in worship will affect the practice of the Christian year. Because each congregation is independent, the direction each takes in the matters will be strongly influenced by its worship leader. My sense is that while we will never abandon our free worship tradition, we will develop a greater awareness of the different seasons of the church year.