March 3, 2013:

Let’s All Get To Work

Did you know that when the earliest church leaders described Christian worship, they used the Greek word “liturgy?” These days, if we use the word liturgy at all, we probably mean “worship service.” Worship services are something we attend. We join in hymns and prayers, give our gifts, and hear a sermon. We often describe this experience as “attending church.”

But to say that those who come to church on Sunday are merely “attending” worship seems to suggest that we are like spectators at an artistic or sporting event. Spectators are not expected to be involved in the event.

Worship is different altogether. The word “liturgy” means (from the Greek), the “work of the people.” Think Amish barn raising. I recall in the movie “witness” that the entire community was involved one way or another in building the barn. To be a proper worshiper means that each of us feels a deep involvement in what goes on. If worship “happens” for us it will mean we had a part in making it so.

To help us make that happen, the Council has established a Worship and Music Committee under the leadership of Vanessa Robbs. We need your input and suggestions of what helps you to worship. Be aware, though, that Pilgrim is made up of people from different worship backgrounds. Yet even if we can’t please all of the people all the time (to misquote Lincoln), we can always improve or change how we worship.

Some have mentioned that singing familiar hymns would help. When we took the Music Survey last summer (Thanks, Christy and your committee!) we found that about 150 hymns in our Black or Red hymnals were either familiar or popular for some people in our congregation. I and the others who prepare worship will use this survey as a guide to selecting Sunday morning hymns. But if a particular hymn favorite of yours would be meaningful, let Vanessa or me know. Just be sure you’re in worship the day we sing it!

Working together on worship will create a structure not only appealing to us but, most important, pleasing to God.

Love,
Dave