An invitation to worship...
Preparing Our Hearts for Worship
Good afternoon friends!
(Pastor Joel here) Has it ever happened to you that, while out for a walk on a path, or a hike in the woods, or a run on the trail, you discover that you're the first one there? If it's happened to you, then you know exactly what I'm referring to: you walk face-first into spiderwebs. It's a sure sign that no one has cleared the way, and while you're wiping the fine threads off you hope everyone else is grateful that you went first! Cobwebs and dust bunnies are a classic indication of spaces that have gone untouched for too long.
Our rhythm of worship, which we share with countless congregations throughout the world, is to hear from the Scriptures according to a schedule called The Revised Common Lectionary. On the three year cycle we are scheduled to the majority of the story of the Bible, and nearly all of the life of Jesus. (If you also read the plan for The Daily Office, printed in the bulletin in the "READ" section, then you'd read almost the whole Bible every three years). We will begin with Psalm 149, which extols us to praise the Lord in song and dance. Our brother the Apostle Paul will remind us of the debt of love in Romans 13:8-14. Finally we will hear directly from our Lord in Matthew 18:1-20.
Even though we read a lot of Scripture in our worship, some passages of the Bible might feel like a web-covered path; we don't go there very often. This week we are invited to listen to an important teaching of Jesus. There are times in which Jesus has a hard word for us, but it is always to lift us up and draw us in.
As your week comes to a close, the activities of the weekend fill your time, would you also take a moment to prepare your heart for worship? We are gathered together by our God who delights in our praise. Oh, and while you're thinking about Sunday, I wonder if you know someone for whom it might do some good if they sat next to you in church. Would you invite them to come along?
Joel Heald
Student Ministries Pastor
(Pastor Joel here) Has it ever happened to you that, while out for a walk on a path, or a hike in the woods, or a run on the trail, you discover that you're the first one there? If it's happened to you, then you know exactly what I'm referring to: you walk face-first into spiderwebs. It's a sure sign that no one has cleared the way, and while you're wiping the fine threads off you hope everyone else is grateful that you went first! Cobwebs and dust bunnies are a classic indication of spaces that have gone untouched for too long.
Our rhythm of worship, which we share with countless congregations throughout the world, is to hear from the Scriptures according to a schedule called The Revised Common Lectionary. On the three year cycle we are scheduled to the majority of the story of the Bible, and nearly all of the life of Jesus. (If you also read the plan for The Daily Office, printed in the bulletin in the "READ" section, then you'd read almost the whole Bible every three years). We will begin with Psalm 149, which extols us to praise the Lord in song and dance. Our brother the Apostle Paul will remind us of the debt of love in Romans 13:8-14. Finally we will hear directly from our Lord in Matthew 18:1-20.
Even though we read a lot of Scripture in our worship, some passages of the Bible might feel like a web-covered path; we don't go there very often. This week we are invited to listen to an important teaching of Jesus. There are times in which Jesus has a hard word for us, but it is always to lift us up and draw us in.
As your week comes to a close, the activities of the weekend fill your time, would you also take a moment to prepare your heart for worship? We are gathered together by our God who delights in our praise. Oh, and while you're thinking about Sunday, I wonder if you know someone for whom it might do some good if they sat next to you in church. Would you invite them to come along?
Joel Heald
Student Ministries Pastor