Paul’s Imperatives for Worship (Wed. Dec. 7) The word of the day is “order.”  In our reading of 1 Timothy 1:18-20; 2:8-15, St. Paul begins his directives about establishing good order in the church.  He starts with the subject of public worship.  The apostle writes that men should lift up holy hands without “wrath and doubting” (8).   And women should dress in a way that becomes “godliness and good works” (10). The selection of this reading gives the impression that its focus is on women’s behavior in worship.  However, in this epistle, the apostle speaks of kings and civil authorities, men, bishops, deacons, elders (presbyters), older men, older women, widows, elders, bondservants, and the wealthy.  The duties, qualifications, and care of these…