The Pulpit
The Pulpit, sometimes called the Ambo, is the other Table of the Lord. The late Mr. Blaise Drayton, of The Guild in Worcester designed our Pulpit and our Altar of Sacrifice and they were installed in 1982. Our intention was clearly to teach the vital meaning of the Liturgy of the Word visually in this special piece of liturgical furniture.
Upon close inspection the Pulpit has the very same polychrome and gold decorations on the capitals of the supports as the Altar. Indeed, it has also the same style of supports as the Altar. It becomes obvious that both the Altar and the Pulpit are tables for nourishment. The Pulpit is the place where the Word of God is proclaimed and explained. The Altar is the place where the Sacrifice of Jesus Passion and Death is celebrated. We worshippers are nourished at both places - by the Word of God and the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Jesus.
As on the Altar, the decorations are clusters of grapes and grape leaves taken from the motif in the Christ Window above the Altar. They derive from Jesus teaching: I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. (John 15, 5)
At worship we find ourselves in prayer with Jesus our High Priest. We hope to be immersed in His Word and open to His teachings and gospel values in our daily lives. We Catholics have found rich meaning in the Scriptures since the Second Vatican Council in 1962 1965. Over the years, the parishioners of St. Agnes Parish have enjoyed many Bible Studies and times of reflection on the Word and have thus become attuned to the Word of God. The Scriptures have also become a familiar source of private prayer.
In our liturgical celebrations the Word has a very prominent place. At Marriages, Baptisms, Funerals and the celebration of the Eucharist the Word is always proclaimed and then commented on by the Priest at the homily. The three-year cycle of Readings at Sunday Mass also affords us a varied exposure to so many of the sacred texts. Thus, over the years we have been served a rich banquet of the Word of God to our delight and instruction.
The Word of God proclaimed at Liturgy opens the mind and heart and soul to the movement of the Spirit at that moment and later in ones life experience. We are thus better able to enter into worship and communion with God. How blessed we are in having such a fruitful and life-giving gift!
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path.
(Psalm 119:105)