Why Do We Worship?                                                                    From the Pastor

“Protestant Church traditions—both liberal and conservative—seldom recognize that worship is precisely where the energy, insight, and resolve are generated for an alternative life in the world.”   

Walter Brueggemann,  Reverberations of Faith

“Unless we are perpetually vigilant, we find ourselves asking about everything, “What’s in it for me?”  When that point of view invades our worship attitudes, we complain, “I didn’t get much out of that worship service.”                                                                                  Marva Dawn,  How Shall We Worship?

At 4:45 am, I begin a slow trudge up Priory Hill to reach the morning prayer vigil.  I’ve come to Weston Priory on retreat. The air is misty; the ground damp.  I am not quite awake.  What in the world am I doing here?  No one will ever miss me if I sleep in.  These thoughts cross my mind for a brief second.  I notice the feelings and then let them go.  I am going to worship, I say to myself with each step up the hill, fighting to stifle a yawn that has bubbled to the surface.  When I finally reach the top of the hill, I am out of breath.  I pause for a moment before opening the door to the Priory chapel.  To my dismay, it opens with a loud creak.   I quickly find a seat and lean my head against the wall in the silence. 

In the low light, I see that there are about twenty people or so who have left the comfort of their beds to attend worship. A few are fellow retreatants who are staying at the Priory, but most are residents from the town.  I quietly consider what draws them—and me.  There are no special effects here.  We do not even know one another.  The service itself is simple, yet complete.  At one point during the service, we will anoint ourselves for the day.  The first day, I felt awkward.  But today, during this part, I remember, I am here for God.  It is not that God “needs” my worship.  Worship isn’t about receiving “points” with God for coming, or about proving my devotion or commitment; worship is not a performance or another achievement, or about wanting to see my particular tastes and desires reflected in the liturgy.  No, I remember, I am here because our Creator God is worthy to be praised, not me.  I want to affirm that.  The living God doesn’t need my praise, rather I need to praise and be challenged by God.  

I need to remember that God is sovereign—over my head, over my heart, over my life, over my whims, over my body’s desire to go back to sleep, over my hurts, over my victories, over my desire to control that which is uncontrollable in my life, and over the idols that I am constantly chasing after.  God is sovereign.  The fragrant oil drips down my fingers.  Remember your baptism, I think, as I touch the oil to my forehead.  Remember to whom you belong and for whom you are created.  Remember me, Jesus says.

My fellow believers are moving around me—some returning to their seats; others sitting quietly lost in thought.  A man adjusts the bench as he sits.  A brother reads the scripture for the day, and then another passage.  There is a song and another prayer.  The sun has risen.  A new day begins and I am ready.   

Why do we worship?  As folks return from summer vacation and as our community of believers grows on Sunday morning, let us consider for a moment why we worship.  Is our reason contingent upon circumstance(s) outside of ourselves or has participating in worship become part of who we are, part of our need to praise and be challenged by God?   While our reasons may be diverse, do we recognize that we are ultimately nurturing and preparing ourselves to enact and live out of God’s alternative vision of the world?  Do we have a sense that we are witnesses to God’s kingdom on earth?  “Your Kingdom come,” we pray, “your will be done on earth…” and we are suddenly reminded that it is not our kingdom or our will that we desire.  

How do we prepare ourselves for worship?  I am always amazed at how our preparation for worship as individuals, before coming to service, often influences how we participate in worship as a community of believers.  I know that I listen to God more attentively when I have prepared myself both mentally and physically for worship—both before I arrive and before I enter the sanctuary. 

 Over the summer, we have had the privilege and joy of sharing summer services with the Easthampton Congregational Church.  We are grateful for the opportunity to be in worship with our neighbors and to kindle new friendships.  Our connection to one another continues to grow in God.

Now, September has arrived and the rhythm of the seasons begins to change. As we enter into the fall season, we prepare ourselves anew “to be church” in the world.  Our mission and ministry continues. Our remembrance of Jesus continues.  Our worship continues with renewed vigor.  How have we prepared ourselves to be a part of it?

Blessings,

Rev. Dee