22 June 2009

first thougts on the Directory for Worship

I started reading the Directory for Worship out of the Book of Order (PCUSA) and writing down my thoughts. I couldn't get past the first two little outline sections without writing an entire page. Here's what the directory said and what I wrote in response:

Christian worship joyfully ascribes all praise and honor, glory and power to the triune God. In worship the people of God acknowledge God present in the world and in their lives. As they respond to God's claim and redemptive action in Jesus Christ, believers are transformed and renewed. In worship the faithful offer themselves to God and are equipped for God's service in the world.
a. The Spirit of God quickens people to an awareness of God's grace and claim upon their lives. The Spirit moves them to respond by naming and calling upon God, by remembering and proclaiming God's acts of self-revelation in word and deed, and by committing their lives to God's reign in the world.

Whew! That's some dense stuff!

The Book of Order says that worship is first of all focused on the Trinity, and acknowledgement of and response to God's work in the world, particularly Jesus' sacrifice and his presence in our lives today. It seems very focused on the present with a healthy dose of remembering as well. It is also a time of offering and equipping.
It seems a very simple formula: 1, proclaim all the good things God has done. I see this happening through scripture readings and also through personal stories of what God is doing right now in the world. I see the sacraments of baptism and communion coming in here as well; after all, Paul said that when we take communion we "proclaim the Lord's death until He comes again." 2, Thank God for what he has done and is doing--and will do, too. Most of what we usually label as "worship" (ie music and occasionally other arts) comes in here. 3, Offer ourselves to join with God in what he is doing in the world. I love the commitment statement we've begun reading together at the end of the service because it does this. 4, Equip ourselves to go out and join with God. Some of this would fall upon the sermon, I suppose, but in general I think the Holy Spirit does this through our act of worshiping in addition to any concerted effort we make on our own behalf.

That's it for now. We'll see if I get inspired by the rest of it.

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