Apostolic Greeting?

[jwithnell]

What is the genesis of this practice? I'm encountering it in the OPC presbyterys of the Southeast and Midwest. I understand its place in the scripture letters but don't understand its place in worship. In the SE, the churches seem to have a high view of the RPW. This isn't an effort to call out a wrong, but to meaningfully participate.

 

[TheBoringBaptist]

I got this for OPC and Baptist (because I'm boring Baptist)

“Grace to You, and Peace” - Credo Magazine

The familiar apostolic greeting, “Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (or some close variation), marks all of Paul’s epistles (Rom.1:7; 1Cor.1:3; 2Cor.1:2, 13:14; Gal.1:3; Eph.1:2; Phil.1:2; Col.1:2; 1Thes.1:1; 2Thes.1:2; 1Tim.1:2; 2Tim.1:2; Titus 1:4; Phm.3...

credomag.com

The Beginning and the End of Worship

It is important to say hello and to say goodbye. Words of greeting and farewell are carefully chosen among friends and loved ones. It is no less the ...

www.opc.org

Here's a sermon on it too if you want: https://www.sermonaudio.com/solo/westpresopc/sermons/614152153450/

 

[Contra_Mundum]

This greeting was never an element of the liturgy where I pastored for more than a decade.

More recently I regularly attend services where the greeting is attached in some way to the opening/call to worship.

But a connecting fact is that for most, if not all the services of worship I have presided going back so far (I can't recall when I began), I stood to the pulpit, welcoming the congregation who had assembled and declared to them the apostolic greeting. I did this by habit prior to the call to worship.

I recall filling the pulpit somewhere, noting from the bulletin/order of service at this place the greeting was part of the liturgy I was expected to follow. From nervousness or habit, as soon as I stood up to lead worship I greeted the congregation in my customary manner, not following their order! Oops.

 

[jwithnell]

Thanks y'all. Rev. Buchanan, what you've stated has been closer to what I've encountered.

 

[iainduguid]

In my experience it is more common in the Continental Reformed tradition. Perhaps others can comment.