Let's Call It Worship

My first introduction into the Lutheran church was in college. Up to that time, I had been an active member of a Congregational church with my family back home in Royal Oak, Michigan. When I went away to Central Michigan University, there were no Congregational churches near campus. So my high school friend invited me to go to church with him. Chip was a life-long Lutheran, and had received a letter from the pastor at the Lutheran chapel on campus inviting him to worship. The first Sunday, even before classes started, we attended the 11 a.m. service (talk about catering to college students!). What caught my attention that first day in this new denomination was the liturgy and flow of the service. The pastor knew there had to be many like me in the pews not familiar with the service and flow, so he took time to explain a different part of the service each week. Being a person who likes structure, I was sold!

After a few weeks of attending this church, Chip and I were invited to a hayride and party with the New Song Folk Group. This was a student-led group that led worship once a month or so at the chapel, as well as travel to churches around the state of Michigan about once a month to lead worship. We decided to give it a try. We were soon heavily involved in the group, and to this day, we have several friends from that group. In fact, it was in this group that I met my wife! But that is another story for another blog.

In this folk group, we used a couple of different liturgies, including the Chicago Folk Service and others that were created by members of the group. I remember one of the settings used song tunes from Peter, Paul and Mary. We had guitars and piano and an occasional flute or violin. We also would, from time to time, lead a "Clown Service." That is ALSO another story for another blog. Yes, back in 1981, we were "cutting edge" to say the least! Yet the thing that drew me into the Lutheran church was still there - the flow and the structure.

I remember back in my previous church when we started the conversation of adding an alternative service to our two traditional offerings. I invited any and all who wished to be a part of the conversation to come to a jam session and bring their music and instruments. Several showed up, including a teenage member of the church and his two friends with their electric guitars and drums and speakers - when they played, the stained glass windows shook! On the other side of the circle was June, the retired organist with her auto-harp. My comment? Can we find something in between? Over time, we did.

We find ourselves in the church still seeking and trying different ways of offering worship. Technology, worship slides and projection, more instruments and recorded tracks continue to come along and evolve. In some churches, it is quite a production, with fog machines, bright lights and special effects. For other churches, it may be a couple of guitars and a singer. We also are blessed with a rich history of music and hymnody, liturgy and song in the Lutheran church. We are blessed to be able to offer a variety of worship styles.

So what do we call it? Do we call the hymns and organ service "Traditional Worship" and the guitar, pianos and drum service "Contemporary Worship?" What happens when the songs we sing in the contemporary service are older than some of the hymns we sing in the traditional worship? Should it be called "formal" and "casual?" Does that mean there is a dress code for one and not the other? How about calling the guitar, piano, drum service a Praise service? Well, that is all well and good, but we are told in Ecclesiastes that there is a time to mourn and a time to dance. So do we cancel the praise worship on those days of mourning?

Here's my thought: let's just call it worship. Maybe we can designate it by the time of the service, or the instruments used, or the location it is being held (outdoor worship this summer was not a good title, was it? So many rain days.) No matter the title, it is still worship. In the newsletter article for this week, I share my vision for the Praise/Contemporary/Casual worship service at Epiphany. What I believe is important is the distinct flow and structure to worship, no matter the style or the place.

Worship is about coming into the presence of God, with the people of God. We gather, confessing our sins, and are assured of God's forgiveness. We hear the Word of God in the Scriptures and the sermon and in the words of the music we sing. We sing together as the people of God as an offering to God (I remember the story of a parishioner telling the pastor that he didn't care for one of the hymns for that Sunday. The pastor said, "That's alright. We weren't singing it for you!"). We confess together as the body of Christ gathered in one place our faith in the words of the Creed. We offer our prayers to God, and listen for God's will to be spoken to us. In response to God's great gifts for us, we offer these gifts back to God for God's service. And then we receive the greatest gift of all - the gift of God himself in the meal - given and shed for you, for the forgiveness of your sins. Fed and nourished, we are sent out to face the week to come, ready to serve as we have been so equipped. That is what worship is all about. And what we strive to do is to offer God our very best.

So let's call it worship. One service may draw you in more than another, and that is okay. What a blessing it is that we can offer a variety, so that more people may be drawn to be a part of the community. May we give to God our worship and praise. May our worship be a sweet, sweet sound unto His ear!

Peace,
Pastor Charlie