What if worship has nothing to do with hymns or contemporary songs or pianos or guitars or organs or even if we sing at all?
What if worship has nothing to do with the candles or the visuals or incense or the sermon?
What if worship has nothing to do with warm feelings or hands in the air or "Praise the Lord" or dance?
What if worship has nothing to do with the orchestration or the volume or the light shows or the drum solos or time frames or silence or four part harmony?
What if worship has nothing to do with liturgy or glossolalia or bowed heads or a capella or simplicity or stained glass windows or even the Lord's Prayer?
What if worship has everything to do with the grace we offer when children fuss or wrong notes are played or the service goes overtime?
What if worship has everything to do with the kindness offered when a sister needs a car or a brother is hospitalized or a casserole is called for?
What if worship has everything to do with soup cans and 5 gallon buckets and warm blankets?
What if worship has everything to do with rubbing shoulders with brothers and sisters who look and think differently than you or recognizing the handiwork of the Creator in strangers?
What if worship has everything to do with shared bread, laughter, and thankful hearts?
What if worship has everything to do with smiles in grocery stores, a cup of coffee shared with the homeless man, listening to each other's journeys, eye contact, and umbrellas?
What if worship has everything to do with smiles in grocery stores, a cup of coffee shared with the homeless man, listening to each other's journeys, eye contact, and umbrellas?
What if worship has everything to do with hospitality, generosity, and congeniality?
What if worship has everything to do with attitudes, actions, and advocacy?
What if worship has everything to do with what I'm doing now, at this moment, and in 23 minutes, and tonight, and in the morning, and the day after, and the day after that.What if worship is as simple and difficult as acknowledging God's presence in each other and in our midst at every moment for all time? Just what I've been wondering this week...
Brother Mick's message this week continues exploring the passage in Luke 4 where Jesus is preaching in his hometown, and his friends and neighbors become furious with his message of God's generous love and mercy to those outside the community.
If you are reading this, you are invited to the Amish Wedding Feast Fundraiser for the Senior High Youth Group immediately following the service at 11:30am (ish.) The menu is turkey/dressing, mashed potatoes, veggies, and lots of pie! There are 23 youth and advisers travelling to Phoenix in July for the Mennonite Youth Convention where we will be challenged, inspired, sweat, and grow in Jesus. Please join us and give generously! (If you can.) ;) My prayer for today:
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them; human beings that you care for them? O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8
Without question or doubt, you are loved by God, and I love you too. Call/text/email if you'd like to chat or have a specific prayer concern.
Love and Light,
Carol
http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/
"Always remember who you are, whose you are, where you are going, and what you believe, because it does make a difference! Oh, and don't forget to attend a church of your choice this weekend." jd
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