A Reflection on Worship

For several reasons, I am drawn to a bit of reflection on worship — what it is for, what it is meant to do for people in a practical sense. One of these reasons is that we are about to begin the season of Lent (this Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday, and March 5th is Ash Wednesday), a season of solemn reflection on one’s love of God and neighbor, and the quality of those relationships in preparation for Easter. Another reason is that, with the rise of Christian nationalism and the steady decline in church participation among younger Americans, it seems more urgent than ever to be clear about what we believe and do as followers of Jesus Christ. And third, my retirement later this year impels the teacher in me to do all I can to equip the MBPPC congregation for its next chapter.

Presbyterian worship is informed by Scripture, and takes much of its shape from the theology of the Reformation, a 16th century movement significantly driven by Martin Luther and, for Presbyterians, by John Calvin. This is why we refer to our form of worship as Reformed. The hallmarks are the reading and preaching of Scripture, and the administration of the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. About these, John Calvin wrote that, “Whenever we see the Word of God purely preached and heard, and the sacraments administered according to Christ's institution, there, it is not to be doubted, a church of God exists” The heart of our worship is, then, the Scripture reading and the sermon, along with the sacraments. About Holy Communion, it was Calvin’s opinion that this sacrament be celebrated at every worship service.

Another hallmark of Reformed worship is that it is literally “liturgy” a word that means, “The work of the people.” We tend to think that the clergy person is the center of worship, and that “good” worship services deliver inspiring preaching and music that worshippers can receive passively. While preaching and music are important, it is the active participation and leadership of worshippers themselves that makes a worship service. This is not only a matter of using liturgists (who ought to regard their service as a priestly rite), but also recognizing that the prayers, the singing of hymns, passing the peace, and participating meaningfully in the sacraments are everyone’s work. A Presbyterian catchphrase is that “priesthood is a role of all believers.”

The shape of Christian worship generally has originated in the experience of the prophet Isaiah, as recorded in Isaiah 6:1-8. In a mystical experience in the temple in Jerusalem, Isaiah realized he was in the presence of the living God. The movements recorded in Isaiah 6:1-8 comprise:

Praise

Confession

Hearing

Responding

Being Sent.

Of course, worship comprises many details that I am not elaborating on here. However, I hope these basic comments will help you to understand yourself a little better as a worshipper of the God revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

In Christ, 

Lee