THE MAIN OR HIGH ALTAR AT FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH

The altar is the most important article of furniture of the church. It is the focal point of every service, and for that reason it is placed on the highest level of the church proper. Indeed the altar represents the REASON for the church in which it stands. The use of altars goes back to prehistoric times, and was apparently ordained of God because of its universal use in religious rites.

The Lutheran altar has a deep and solemn meaning. It is symbolic of the extreme sacrifice of Christ upon the Cross for the atonement of our sins. It is representative of the Throne of God. It is before the altar that God renews his covenant of the atonement and the forgiveness of sins when we truly partake of the precious body and blood of Christ in the Sacrament of the Holy Communion.

From the Revelation of St. John we derive this interpretation: “And I saw a Golden Altar standing before the Throne by whom and through whom the gifts of the faithful are made acceptable to God the Father.”

At the time of the crucifixion when Christ said “It is finished,” he meant the redemption of man. He then cried with a loud voice “Father, into thy hands I com mend my spirit.” Immediately there was a great earth quake, graves were opened, and saints arose and walked about. The fire which had been burning continuously on the altar of the Temple, went out. The veil which separated the Holy of Holies from the people was torn in two from top to bottom. At that moment the doctrine of the universal priesthood of all believers came into being. Christ himself was the victim and the priest and became the sacrifice once for all time and for all men. Thus, the Gospel of Jesus Christ became the “eternal fire” to replace the burnt offerings upon the altar.

Now, as we look from the central portal of the narthex toward the chancel, we see no obstruction between us and the altar. We can go directly to God with our prayers, supplications and thanks without the mediation of a priest. The center aisle, the wide open chancel arch and the open section of the communion rail are all symbolical of this doctrine. (Note—The communion rail is closed at time of communion for no other reason than to provide more space for the communicants. It is immediately opened after all have communed.)

The top of the altar is called the mensa. In it are incised five Greek crosses, one in the center and one in each of the four corners. They denote the five wounds of Christ.

Traditionally, the altar is covered with three cloths. One the exact size of the mensa, a protection cloth; another to which the frontlets are attached; and the third and most important, the fair linen which covers the entire top and extends over the ends well toward the floor. The fair linen is symbolical of the mantel, or sindona, in which the body of Christ was wrapped for burial. It is embroidered with five Greek crosses to conform to those incised in the mensa.

The shelf extending across the rear of the altar is the retable or gradine. Upon it are placed the flower vases and all altar candles except the communion lights. The use and meaning of flowers and candles will be explained later.

The right of the altar is called the “Epistle Side,” and the left of the altar is called the “Gospel Side.” The platform upon which the altar rests is called the “predella.” Its purpose is to elevate the altar above all other church floor levels.

The sacramental parts of the service are those which are addressed to God. At such times the pastor, with the congregation including the choir, always faces the altar. In the sacrificial parts, the pastor faces the congregation. The congregation should always face the altar, or the pastor when he is speaking, during the entire worship period.

Candles and Flowers

Two lighted candles on the retable, one on either side of the cross, symbolize “Jesus, the Light of the World.” Additional lights, commonly referred to as office lights, emphasize this meaning. “Thy Word is a Lamp to my feet and a Light unto my path.”

When the six lights on the retable are arranged in groups of three, they also denote the Blessed Trinity. When evenly spaced; they recall the six hours of Christ upon the Cross. This latter arrangement is appropriate for the Passion Season. The six lights also remind us of our imperfect worship.

On the great feast days of Christmas, Easter and Whitsunday, and on Saints’ days, still more candles may be used in candlesticks resting upon the sanctuary floor flanking the altar. They may be single, or arranged in groups of three, five or seven. The idea is to make the services as glorious and impressive as possible. Special chancel decorations should be arranged under the super vision of the pastor or delegated to someone familiar with liturgical rules.

During communion, two smaller candles are placed directly upon the altar, one at either end of the mensa. They are not lighted at other times. They ate strictly communion lights.

At some future time, a paschal candle may be added. It is a rather large candle supported by a candlestick resting upon the sanctuary floor on the Gospel side of the altar. It is to be kept burning continuously from Easter to Ascension day, commemorating the forty days Christ remained on earth after the resurrection.

Real flowers in the flower vases symbolize the resurrection, the pivotal fact of our Christian belief.  As seed had to die to make it possible for these glorious blooms to come forth, so our Lord had to take upon him the nature of man and die upon the cross that we, through him, may come forth to life eternal.

The sanctuary lamp, directly in front of the cross, symbolizes one of the chief doctrines of our Lutheran faith, the Divine Presence of God in his Temple, and the Real Presence of our Lord’s body and blood in the Eucharist. This is the central point of the devotional picture which would not be complete without it. It is perhaps the most potent reminder of the scriptural pas sage in Habakkuk: “The Lord is in his Holy Temple. Let all the earth keep silence before him.” This lamp burns continuously as a constant reminder of our duties to God and man.

Candlesticks without lighted candles, and flower vases containing no real flowers, have no symbolical significance, and should not be on the altar or retable during service. The only exception is Good Friday when all altar appointments should be in place with candles extinguished, and the entire altar and appointments covered with a black veil. Unlighted candles and empty flower vases may, of course, be left on the altar and retable when no service is in progress.