I’m not sure how many years back I would have to go through to count up eleven worship services that I have attended while not leading. Most of the worship services I am a part of I am there leading something: preaching, praying, reading, speaking, announcing, benedicting, etc. Most years, if I attend three or four worship services where I am present as a congregant only I count myself fortunate. But over the past three weeks in my time away from May Memorial (I counted up this morning) I attended eleven worship services.
Nine of those eleven included a sermon.
One of those worship services had a mission team report from a small group who went from Virginia and partnered with a Baptist church in Austria.
One was made up of all hymns and short reflections, no sermon.
The Lord’s Supper was celebrated in three of the eleven.
One was in a darkened worship center with spotlights and screens.
Two were in a traditional “Baptist” sanctuary.
One was led by a band, guitars, keyboard, drums, and a praise team.
Eight were led by organ.
And three were in spaces that are air-conditioned.
I could continue to name idiosyncrasies from all of the worship experiences I have had over the past couple of weeks, but the primary thing I want to convey is how blessed I have been to be able to have a short time away and to have been in worship eleven times.
Worship provides space to listen, to be quiet, and to imagine.
Worship provides opportunities to sing, to listen to others sing and play, and to hear music that is outside of what we would normally expect (or even like).
Worship provides time to dream, to allow our minds to wander, and to reflect.
Worship gives space to hear scripture, to hear God’s living Word, and to hear the still small voice of God.
Worship gives an opportunity to hear things that I may not like, that I may disagree with, to hear perspectives that I may not have previously considered.
Worship provides a time to reset, refocus, and realign our hearts and minds.
Worship leads me to confess my sins, to be reminded that I am forgiven, and to pray for my needs and the needs of others.
Worship does all of this, and so much more, and I am grateful for the time that I have been able to be in worship over the past three weeks. It has been soul-nourishing, challenging, comforting, and renewing.