As followers of our Lord Christ, Who is High Priest and Celebrant, we, the people of the Advent, are called to proclaim the Gospel as our primary reason for being through our worship, our preaching and our personal witness in the world.
The
Episcopal Church is known for many things, but what I wish we were
mostly known for is the care and devotion that encompasses our
worship of God. Generally speaking, Episcopal churches spend more
time, effort and resources on liturgy and music than most other
denominations. This is both a good thing and a questionable thing.
Perhaps an article on some of the questionable aspects of this
reality will be forthcoming.
From
the publication of the bulletin, to the choir rehearsals, to the
sermon preparation, to the altar guild set up, many hours are spent
each week in anticipation of our worship on Sundays. Most of you
prepare ahead of time to get to church on Sundays as well. So why is
it that when you get here, you don't find yourself getting more out
of the worship experience on Sunday morning?
Perhaps
the first place to look for an answer is not at the church or those
leading or serving in the liturgy and music. Instead, maybe we need
to look at ourselves. Am I preparing myself spiritually to enter into
a time of worship and devotion or am I just showing up? Is my act of
worship an effort to grow closer to God through the offering of "a
sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving?"
Maybe,
instead of asking "How can I get more out of worship?" we should
be asking, "How can I put more into worship?" As with most
anything else, this principle holds true with worship: the more you
put into it, the more you will get out of it.
One
of the best ways to enhance your experience of worship is to get
to
church 5-10 minutes before the service begins.
I grew up in a family where we thought getting to church on time to
hear the Gospel reading was doing well. This did not help my chances
of experiencing the whole benefit of worship.
Getting
to church early allows you to pray silently in preparation for
worship, read the service bulletin and find the hymn and/or page of
the Prayer Book, not to mention the chance to sit in the pew you
really like. Having the Hymnal or Prayer Book opened before the
liturgy begins helps you participate more fully. Always looking ahead
in the bulletin to what comes next is a great way to anticipate which
book and what page you need to be on. Use the bulletin and/or the
inserts as bookmarks.
When
singing a hymn, pay attention to the words. You can do this even if
you prefer not to sing. Hymns are usually chosen with the intent of
following the theme of the scripture readings or the liturgical
season we are observing. In addition to this connection, many hymns
are written with beautiful words
Listen
closely or follow along with the scripture readings printed on the
insert. Often, there is a theme connecting the two or three lessons
we read (and with the Psalm, too). Ask yourself what the Holy Spirit
might be saying to you through these readings.
Of
course, I would be remiss if I did not encourage you to pay close
attention to the sermon. Even if you aren't being inspired as you
might hope or expect to be, usually there is something to learn and
connect with in just about any sermon.
Throughout
the liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer, try to think of the words
as if they address you personally. Don't get distracted by the
person near you who may look completely disinterested. Although we
call it our "corporate worship," the experience is ultimately
yours. Make an effort to hear the words of the Collect of the Day,
the Nicene Creed, Prayers of the People (and Confession), and of
course the Eucharistic Prayer, as if they were your own prayers and
expressions of praise and devotion to God.
These
are just a few suggestions that I hope and pray may enrich our
experience of worshiping God together. It really is a privilege to
gather in the name of the Lord.
