Worship isn't something humanity thought up after living on earth for centuries. In the dim recesses of history, our ancestors knelt, lifted arms, painted religious art in caves, groping after faith long before we'd invented books or buildings. Archaeology shows that "with the birth of human consciousness there was born, like a twin, the impulse to transcend it" (Alan McGlashan).
Consider two rather hifalutin images of worship. Amos Wilder: "Going to worship is like approaching an open volcano, where the world is molten and hearts are sifted. The altar is like a rail that spatters sparks, the sanctuary like the chamber next to an atomic oven; there are invisible rays, and you leave your watch outside." Or Annie Dillard: "We should lash ourselves to the pews and wear crash helmets" if we have "the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke."
But let's be honest: it doesn't feel that way. More and more "spiritual" people feel no need for "organized religion." Worship can be boring, routine, or even fun. But invisible rays?...and you hang on to your watch. Congregations and denominations are flailing about, trying to lure people into the pews, devising catchy new ways to worship, arguing vehemently with one another about how to worship. Stick with the organ? Recruit a band? Do we keep doing what we've always been doing, and grouse about the fools who don't get it? Which age group to target? We are like peddlers hawking wares, or a drama troupe eager to titillate the crowds.
Isn't it confusion to treat potential worshippers as consumers to be entertained? They do "church-shop," but consumers, even if they find what they want in the worship mall, have not worshipped at all, and the successful peddlers haven't worshipped either. Kierkegaard helped us understand worship: while a service looks like performers (minister, choir) on stage before an audience (the congregation), the fact is that we all are the performers (minister, choir, congregation), and God is the audience of One. We are not passive spectators evaluating what's going on up there. We are the actors: we are offering something to God.
To think about worship, we have to change the subject. Worship isn't about me and my religious feelings, or what I like or don't like. Worship isn't like pulling up at the gas pump and getting a refill. Worship is about God; in worship we glorify God. Worship is maybe only time during the week that it's not all about you, it's not all up to you. Worship is the one time you shelve being a consumer. The word "worship" is derived from the Old English weorthscipe, "worth-ship." What has real worth? What gives us worth? What is worthy of our attention? What is worthy of investing your life in? Worship answers these questions: when I worship, I find myself on stage, with others, and together we look out at God and say "Here we are, we've prepared something special for you, we hope it is pleasing to you."
James
james@mpumc.org
PS - for non-Myers Park Methodist folk: here is what we just sent regarding Katrina relief, if you'd like to get involved with us...
Staggered by the news we see coming out of Louisiana and Mississippi, we want to share 5 items at this point for your attention.
Pray Be in constant prayer for everyone involved.
Fundraising We have begun collecting money, and are investigating where we can make the biggest difference. Dr. Howell has been in contact with the offices of the bishops in Louisiana and Mississippi, and we have some other significant connections, and will be discerning some project that will matter; stay tuned.
Health kits UMCOR has sent out an urgent request for health kits for the tens of thousands of refugees from the hurricane. You can make one (or more) and bring it to the church for immediate shipment to the distribution center in Louisiana. A Health Kit contains specific items:
1 hand towel (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27")
1 wash cloth
1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz and up)
1 toothbrush (single brush only in original wrapper; no child-sized brushes)
1 large tube of toothpaste (4.5 or larger, expiration date must be 6 months
or longer in advance of the date of shipment to Sager Brown)
6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages
All items should be placed inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag. No money,
notes, religious or political literature, or other items should be placed in
the kits. The value of a health kit is $12.00, if persons want to contribute the
money. A check payable to MPUMC and Marked "Health Kit" will provide needed funds to provide these items to refugees.
We hope to come up with 5000 of these from Charlotte area Methodists by 5pm on September 5 - and the drop off point is our Church.
Families of the Hospitalized Carolinas Medical Center and Presbyterian Hospital are receiving 100 patients from the Gulf - and we will need places for their families to stay while they are in Charlotte. If you have an interest in hosting someone, email James or our parish nurse, Susan Mobley.
Emergency Response Team You can go (when the time is appropriate) with our team to the disaster area, or you can support them with supplies: contact Rev. James or Elaine.
