worship celebrates Jesus Christ
During Tuesday evening worship team and Wednesday evening choir rehearsals, we have been discussing worship related issues: topics for the following Sunday worship service, music, (of course.) We have also been reading through and discussing the book, “Worship is a Verb,” by Dr. Robert Webber. It seems that in every week’s discussion so far, the topic of the chapter has tied in somehow with what would be occurring during the following Sunday’s worship service.
First of all, I want to thank all involved for taking extra time during rehearsal for these discussions. I am enjoying these discussions, and hope that you consider them a worthwhile addition to your already full schedules.
In the book, “Worship is a Verb,” Dr. Webber outlines his eight principles of worship renewal: the first being “worship celebrates Jesus Christ.” Our discussions have revealed the fact that our ideas of “celebration” differ greatly among one another. For instance, Linda Buzard considers a quiet service at Ashland following weeks of fasting to have been a significant celebration of Christ. Darrell Proctor shared with us a similar experience following a time of fasting. Marilyn Ford remembers a quiet celebration among friends in a college dorm. Megan Tahan mentioned a completely different kind of celebration during which she felt free to worship accompanied by a full band playing in full volume.
I am hoping that this blog will serve as an opportunity to learn of more experiences of the celebration of our Lord and his saving work. Please share with us.
My wife and I were raised Roman Catholic and until recently (2 yrs or so), that was my reality. I was truly inspired, especially on the bigger holidays like Christmas and Easter, with the experience of worshiping and receiving communion with large numbers of people who all believed as I do that Christ is our savior and that without the ideals he endowed in us with 2008 years ago the world as we know it would most likely not exist or at least it would be a much crueler and more brutal place than it is. But through all or my time as a Roman Catholic, I never really felt that the faithfuls participation in the musical elements of worship could help them to abandon themselves freely to the Holy Spirit until I attended an African Methodist service. The music was truly infectious and the people all were freely worshiping, participating, and abandoning themselves to the Lord. This was one of the reasons that when I started coming to Ashland Church and had the opportunity to fill in with the worship team doing something I’ve done since childhood (playing and singing) but had never before done in church, I was very willing to give it a try. I could expound for an hour regarding just how rewarding/inspiring playing and singing music that praises Jesus Christ, which I hope helps the congregation to open themselves up to Christ, has been for me but to get back to the point of this… I feel that any environmental component to worship: music, preaching, reading the gospel, receiving communion, praying, fasting, dancing in your seat, falling to your knees, etc. that opens people’s hearts and minds to the Grace and Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ is great and should be pursued. Joe
Sometimes when I’m celebrating Christ’s work, I am bubbling over with energy and joy. It is at these times I want to clap, sing at the top of my lungs, and get everyone all excited with me. Other times, also in celebration, I am tearful and broken, so thankful He saved me - so thankful he forgave me - wretch that I am. That is why I appreciate both Praise and Worship type music and the old, old Hymns. Both serve as conduits for my worship.
Great comments - I an amazed at how worship can be fresh every week especially when mixed with Scripture truth, heartfelt prayer and congrgational participation.