Last night was a profoundly reverent worship service. As I mentioned below, Maundy Thursday is a rich service, with many different components. It is easy to look at worship as something that we do to try and please ourselves. You know the attitude: "If I leave a service feeling like my needs were met, then I'm happy and think the worship was good, but if I was distracted or didn't like something, then the worship was bad." We have to remind ourselves over and over that there is an audience for our worship. An audience of One.. the Holy Other, Jesus Himself.
I believe Jesus was pleased with our worship (as I believe He is Sunday after Sunday as we focus on Him, not ourselves) as we reflected on the Great Commandment, to love one another as He loves us; as we celebrated the first Communion remembering the words of Jesus; as we symbolically witnessed the stripping of His clothes and the casting of lots for His garments; and as we began the long vigil of prayer in the garden. I believe He was pleased because we so intentionally focused on His presence and His call for us to serve and love like He has shown us.
I am only one person, but I left last night changed. And I suspect I am not the only person who had his/her heart touched in a profound way. It makes me look so forward to our Good Friday service tonight (at 7:30 pm) because I know that God will be here. And as I survey the wondrous cross, I will see my sins taken away through His crucifixion. I pray that many people will be here to share this momentous day.
Also, the Passion of the Christ will be shown at 1:00 pm in the Youth Room. Don't forget, if you are under 17 you must have a parental permission slip signed, due to the graphic nature of the film.
May God continue to bless this marvelous congregation and our worship of our Awesome God!
I believe Jesus was pleased with our worship (as I believe He is Sunday after Sunday as we focus on Him, not ourselves) as we reflected on the Great Commandment, to love one another as He loves us; as we celebrated the first Communion remembering the words of Jesus; as we symbolically witnessed the stripping of His clothes and the casting of lots for His garments; and as we began the long vigil of prayer in the garden. I believe He was pleased because we so intentionally focused on His presence and His call for us to serve and love like He has shown us.
I am only one person, but I left last night changed. And I suspect I am not the only person who had his/her heart touched in a profound way. It makes me look so forward to our Good Friday service tonight (at 7:30 pm) because I know that God will be here. And as I survey the wondrous cross, I will see my sins taken away through His crucifixion. I pray that many people will be here to share this momentous day.
Also, the Passion of the Christ will be shown at 1:00 pm in the Youth Room. Don't forget, if you are under 17 you must have a parental permission slip signed, due to the graphic nature of the film.
May God continue to bless this marvelous congregation and our worship of our Awesome God!
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