Introduction to next Devotional series

2 Chronicles 6:40-42

“Now, O my God, let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to prayer from this place.
‘Now rise up, O LORD God, and go to your resting-place,
you and the ark of your might.
Let your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation,
and let your faithful rejoice in your goodness.
O LORD God, do not reject your anointed one.
Remember your steadfast love for your servant David.’”

One of the joys of planning Bright Sunday this year with our Confirmation class was taking a step back and talking about the centrality of worship and the elements as being a conversation. First the youth would talk about the ‘theater of worship,’ from Kierkegaard, meaning we would compare and contrast worship to a play. We would sketch out a theater and discuss how in a play there were three central parts of who people were: there was the audience whom the play was for; the actors who were performing; and there was the director who, of course, directed. Worship has similar elements, however, with one key difference. The performers were the congregation and audience, who worship was for is God. Finally, the directors are the pastors, worship leaders, and musicians who lead us through worship. So in shifting the focus of worship from not us, but God being the audience, leads us to understand in a Presbyterian church, worship is thoughtful and different in key ways, most likely, than worship in other churches.

Through this devotional series, we are going to walk through those parts of worship and talk about the history as well as the uniqueness of First Presbyterian’s worship too. It’s part education but also intentionally. If we are more aware of the ‘why’ we can better focus on the who when we come together to worship. Join us, let us worship God together.

Prayer

O Lord, our God, in gathering for worship, we are reminded again that we were created to worship and glorify you. As we walk through the how, may we be grounded in the who; as we ask why, may we hear again the salvific work of your Son; and as we discuss the what, may we rely again on the Holy Spirit to gift us anew. Triune God, holy community in one, draw us in and grace us with your love, Amen.