May 2008 Ordained Servant

From the Editor. As I sing that glorious communion hymn "At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing," I wonder at the greatness of the feast to which we have been invited, and in which we participate. But I also wonder at the decline in appreciation of that feast among the churches in our culture. In Reformed circles, although we may debate the frequency of the supper, the use of wine, or the proper partakers, etc., it is cause for rejoicing that our Lord is teaching us to care about this important subject. This issue of Ordained Servant features two different opinions on the frequency of the Supper, as well as other practical articles and reviews. I hope you find this edifying, especially as you celebrate the Lamb's high feast.

I am also introducing a new feature of the online edition of OS. In response to the desire of officers to be given specific articles on various topics of importance to the ministry, I will be combing the archives for help that already exists in "From the Archives." My goal as editor is to expand the material available, not duplicate it.

From the Archives. ["LORD'S SUPPER"]

http://opc.org/OS/pdf/Subject_Index.pdf

• "Editorial [on the Lord's Supper]" (G. I. Williamson) 3:4 (Oct. 1994): 73-74.
• "Fencing of the Table" (William B. Kessler) 4:2 (Apr. 1995): 38-39.
• "Fencing the Lord's Table" (Jack J. Peterson) 3:4 (Oct. 1994): 78-79.
• "The Lord's Supper—A Key to Reformation and Revival (A Review Article)" (Larry Wilson) 12:2 (Apr. 2003): 37-40.
• "The Lord's Supper Celebration with Calvin" (T. Brienen) 11:3 (July 2002): 62-64.
• "The Lord's Supper: How Often?" (D. G. Hart & John R. Muether) 6:4 (Oct. 1997): 97-98.
• "On a More Adequate Fencing of the Lord's Table" (G. I. Williamson) 3:4 (Oct. 1994): 75-76.
• "Restricted Communion in One OPC Congregation" (William Shishko) 3:4 (Oct. 1994): 76-77.

On another note, Drs. Norman De Jong and Jack Van Der Slik have asked me to direct your attention to their book reviewed in OS by Darryl Hart in May 2007. The book, Separation of Church and State: The Myth Revisited, is available at redeemerbooks.com, or may be requested directly from Dr. De Jong at normandj1@juno.com. In this election year, comparing points of view will help readers to sort out the important relationship between church and state.

Blessings in the Lamb,
Gregory Edward Reynolds

Ordained Servant exists to help encourage, inform, and equip church officers for faithful, effective, and God glorifying ministry in the visible church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Its primary audience is ministers, elders and deacons of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, as well as interested officers from other Presbyterian and Reformed churches. Through high quality editorials, articles, and book reviews we will endeavor to stimulate clear thinking and the consistent practice of historic Presbyterianism.