September 9, 2012:

Worship Belongs To All Of Us

     Sunday worship is the most important activity in any church.  But I am afraid many of us come to the Sunday service in the same way we go to a restaurant.  We would be astonished if someone met us at the door of the restaurant and asked us to plan the menu, perhaps even expecting us to help prepare the food and serve it.  Most of us (All of us?) would probably turn around and go somewhere else for dinner.  Why should we do their job for them?

          But a church is not a restaurant. Those who attend are not customers but a congregation. Worship belongs to all of us. It is up to us to be sure that worship is inspiring to us and the other people who are with us in the sanctuary. We have a right to expect that what is done on Sunday morning meets our spiritual needs.  While some people – clergy, musicians, readers, ushers – will have most of the responsibility for what happens each Sunday, these dedicated people are here to serve us.  They need to hear from you what is meaningful to you.  What parts of the service help or hinder your faith journey?

          I hope that many of you would let me and our other worship leaders know such things as . . .

1. What are your favorite hymns?
2. What kind of music do you want to hear?
3. If you could change one thing in the order of worship, what would it be?
4. What topics would you hope that I and our other preachers would address?
5. ? ? ?                                                                                                                                      

        Your staff and several of our members are making a sincere effort to be sure that our Sunday worship “works” for all of us.  It would be so helpful if you would send me an e-mail (bdmsbrown@comcast.net) or speak personally to me, one of our musicians, or any of our church leaders.  Believe me, we will take very seriously what you say.

Worship really does belong to all of us.

        Love,

        Dave