|
| |
Back to
Church Space |
| The Nave and Narthex |
 |
The word nave is from the Latin word for "ship." The nave is the largest section of a church. It is the space where the congregation sits and stands during worship. Many Lutheran churches read the Holy Gospel in the nave on high holidays such as Christmas and Easter. This is done to represent Christ in the midst of the congregation. The Brief Order of Confession and Forgiveness is sometimes read in the nave as a way of proclaiming God's forgiveness in the midst of the faithful. A number of churches place the baptismal font in the space where the nave and narthex meet. This is because baptism is our entry into the church. Consequently, the font placed at the entry to the nave reminds all who enter that it is by the sacrament of baptism that we enter the presence of our God.
The narthex is actually a worship space. Many people simply think of it as a gathering place. However, the narthex is a transitional space from the world into the presence and worship of God. The congregation enters the church through the narthex to receive forgiveness of sins. Then, the congregation leaves worship through the narthex strengthened and
commissioned by Word and Sacrament to go out into the world to live and proclaim the Good News of Christ.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top