If you were to answer the question, "Why do you worship?" what would you say? If you read Isaiah 61: 10 - 62: 3, you hear prophet Isaiah, answer the question with his description of his joy in God, his appreciation for God's creation, and his gratitude for God's saving grace and God's delight in him. Isaiah says, "I sing for joy in God...[and] I can't keep my mouth shut." (61:10; 62: 1)
Psalm 148 is one long ALLELUIA! for God. For the psalmist, worship is praising God.
Luke 2: 22-40 is the story of senior citizens Simeon and Anna who have worshiped their whole lives while waiting for the birth of the babe. As each takes Jesus into his/her arms, they praise God for allowing them to live long enough to realize he is their salvation and the light of the world, who will bring God's glory to God's people.
It's all about worship. A life of faith begins and ends with worship. Franciscan priest, Richard Rohr writes, "Every day we must make a deep choice for gratitude, abundance ("there is enough"), and appreciation, which always de-centers the self and its cravings. It is the core meaning of worship. Your life is pure gift, and it must be based in an attitude of gratitude" (R. Rohr, Center for Action and Contemplation daily meditation, 2011).
In our January sermon series on Worship, we begin with the question about why we worship and then explore what it means to gather together as a family to worship and why one of the earliest elements of worship is to confess our sins, ask for forgiveness, and celebrate with alleluias God's grace and mercy.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Shelley
To experience grace and the consequent thankfulness is worship ... this brings peace ... to self, to community, to the world.
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