Today, I am in Utica at a retreat for the American Baptist Minister's Council, where the theme is Reinventing Worship. Brad Bergland is the presenter; and also the author of two books: Reinventing Sundays and Reinventing Worship.
Brad suggests that there are six key componants to real and authentic worship. Today, we covered the first three...
1. Worship is a journey... a pilgrimage into the mystery and majesty of God. As such, there are three primary componants: i) Evocation - we invite God in, and we draw out of ourselves to meet Him. ii) Intimate - We hold nothing back, offering all we are to God. iii) Transparent - allowing God's light to shine through us, allowing God to easily see into us.
2. Worship is a pilgrimage... Three componants here also: i) Intentional Preperation - we come prepared to worship, prepared to enter God's presence. ii)Tranformational experience - We are changed by our time with God. iii) Purposeful integration - how do we integrate that experence? How do we re-enter life after transformation?
3. Worship is a verb... It is what the gathered people have come to do for God. Everyone needs to be involved with meaningful activities, it is for everyone. There are no spectators, everyone is involved.
A final thought: Why do we actually come together to worship? Why do we do it? Because God is so awesome and so excellant that being in His presence draws praise out of us.
No comments:
Post a Comment