Templer Record - Templesociety.com

Page 14 Templer Record 739 – June 2011
AGAPE SERVICE – Thursday 23 rd April
Twelve of us sat down around the table in the Chapel fellowship room, ready
to enjoy another Agape service and some time out in the oft-frantic days
before Easter.
Helga Jürgensen led us in the service, with Renate Weber once again
stepping up to do the catering.
The Agape service has become an eagerly anticipated event for some
regulars and attracts some newcomers every year. Agape is a Greek word for
compassionate or ‘brotherly’ love (Jesus’ love) and the underlying theme of
this special reflection time is born from the three G’s in German: Gebet,
Gedenken and Gemeinschaft, or prayer, reflection and togetherness. The
ideas of nourishment and unity (found in community) are central to the
evening, hence the simple meal taken together as part of the service. This
meal also serves as a reminder of the last meal Jesus shared with his
disciples before being nailed to the cross on Good Friday.
The notion of love is explored through prayer, readings, singing and music,
and light becomes an important part of the experience.
The Chapel at nighttime is a lovely place to be and transforms itself into an
even more special place when lit with candles after the sun has gone down.
The fellowship room was adorned with tealights and taper candles and,
when the lights were turned off, these magical flames reflected themselves in
every glass surface of the Chapel.
As we sat listening to music, the whole Chapel seemed to twinkle. I saw
flames in the glass display cabinet in the foyer, reflected in the front Chapel
doors, glowing seemingly from within the Sunday school room, emitting
from Elizabeth St, lighting up the little square windows out to the
playground, going down the driveway, gleaming from within the Chapel
body and, most spectacularly of all, mirrored down on to us from the glass
ceiling under which we were sitting. I have never seen the Chapel more
beautiful!
The following words come from a reading shared at Agape:
The Light of Love
lift it up, hold it high,
write it clear across the sky,
burn it deep within your soul,
live it well and live it whole.
Nothing more is needed, nothing less will do,
For nothing else can take the place of love.
Scott Kearns