Csquared Thoughts

worshipping again

I was reflecting yesterday on how happy I am to be back in church, participating in the worship, hearing the Word, partaking in (and assisting with) the Meal. Looking back, I'm sad to have missed out on Advent and Christmas (as part of the Assembly, anyway), but I'm back, and look ahead to Lent and Holy Week and Easter. It's a good feeling.

worship

Having left Good Shepherd, I don't have a place to worship. Last Sunday, while it was nice to sleep in, I felt at loose ends. Something was missing. I'm used to experiencing the Word and the Meal. It wasn't there. I was away for four weeks last summer, but that was different. I knew I was returning. Now I've cut my ties (probably, perhaps, I think, maybe).

I thought, based on what I described in my update, I might be able to return soon to worship without being involved in the church council. But I'm told that Tuesday's church council meeting was quite contentious. I don't want to walk back into that, even if I'm not involved directly.

A former Good Shepherd member, who left last summer, told me that God is everywhere, so not being in church is not a problem. Yes, God is everywhere, but it's not the same as being in a worship service.

Tahoe Mom had a marvelous post about keeping sabbath in which she said that after leaving her church she used Sundays to reflect, meditate, walk, hike, or sit by the fire or on her deck. I fully understand and appreciate that.

Yet there is an ancient Christian tradition that is as old as the church itself in which the in which the Assembly comes together to hear the Word and share in the Bread and the Wine. That has been a cornerstone of my week since I found liturgical Christianity in 1996.

I miss it. I need to find a way to return to it. 

a call to worship

From [ hold :: this space ], a blog from Australia.

a call to worship, based on mark 1:21-28

we come afraid in search of hope that is stronger than evil we come bewildered in search of truth that will bring us to life we come trusting there is a love that will cast out our demons holy one in this space and moment still the voices that betray our hopes and calm the chaos that denies our peace gather us into your love. amen.

send us forth

Since we've been using Evangelical Lutheran Worship in the past year, we've learned several new songs. One of our Communion songs a week ago Sunday was "The Lord Now Sends Us Forth." It says:

The angels are not sent into our world of pain to do what we were meant to do in Jesus' name; that falls to you and me and all who were made free. Help us, O Lord, to do your will today

To me, doing God's will is found in Micah 6:8:

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
   and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
   and to walk humbly with your God?