The combination of singing and reading scripture through worship emphasizes the importance of God's Word to us when we gather as a community of faith. It's been said that singing is like praying twice. Music has effects on us that are experienced in ways different than listening to the spoken Word. Singing in participation or listening to music awakens us to God's presence and is a critical way that we learn the theology of our faith. Scripture and music combine to evoke, edify, enhance and expand our consciousness of God's reality and God's grace and mercy.
Join us as we read, sing, listen, and remember the story of the the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ, in worship this Sunday (Dec 9) at 10:30a.m. at Trinity
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Shelley
Showing posts with label Worship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Worship. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Why Do We Worship?
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
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
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