A Word From the Pastor (July 2008)

Dear Friends in Christ,

“O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!  O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” -- Psalm 95:1, 6  

Why do we worship?  Who do we worship?  What is worship?  Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary indicates that worship is about expressing reverence and devotion, honor, respect, and admiration, to a divine being or a supernatural power.  In more Christian terms, worship is about giving honor and praise and glory to God.  It is about offering adoration to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in deep reverence and devotion.

Recently, we had a discussion in the Worship Committee about the purpose of having flowers in the sanctuary on Sunday morning.  I suggested to the group that the primary purpose of the flowers in the sanctuary is to glorify God.  The flowers may be given in honor or loving memory of someone special, but the purpose of the flowers, of all that we do in worship, is to give honor to God.  When we beautify our place of worship with simple or abundant expressions of God’s natural world, we give thanks and celebrate the creative power of God.  When we offer something beautiful to God, we acknowledge that “all things bright and beautiful” come from the Lord’s hands.

On Choir Recognition Sunday, I reflected in my homily on the purpose of music in the life of the church.  Certainly music in worship, whether vocal or instrumental, is a gift, an offering, that we make to God.  All our music, whether offered by the whole congregation or by an individual or ensemble, expresses our yearning for God, our gratitude to God, our prayer to God.  Through music, we reach out to God while God draws near to us through the mystical resonance and harmony of song.  Some folks are hesitant about singing because of limited musical knowledge or vocal ability.  However, the voices we have are the voices God gave us.  Surely God is delighted when we share with the Lord what the Lord has given us.  When choirs sing, they sing not to entertain the congregation with their musical prowess, but to glorify God and draw the congregation into a closer communion with the Lord.  When the organ swells or the bells ring, the music is an expression of our wonder and delight in the Lord.  Music in worship is not meant as a performance for human enjoyment, but as an invitation to enter into connection with God through reverence and praise.  All that we do in worship is for God, to give honor to God, to give praise to God, to serve God’s holy realm.

Take time this summer to worship the Lord.  Give God honor and praise in the sanctuary and in other settings that invite wonder and awe.  Do not neglect to give glory to God for all God’s wonderful ways.  Worship is our offering to God in reverence for who God is and in gratitude for all God has done for us.  When we worship, may we be aware of what worship is, of why we do what we do, and for whom we make this offering of heartfelt praise and devotion.

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Peggy Ann Sauerhoff