Seeing the Face of Christ in Worship--Tuesday March 13th

Romans 8:26-28

²⁶Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. ²⁷And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Often when discussing things of a spiritual nature, words to express our understandings are hard to find, especially ones that encompass the true sentiments of what we are trying to communicate.  Often when a person is describing their faith or a faith experience I will hear, “Pastor, I just cannot put it into words”, yet the powerful nature of their encounter of God still comes across clearly.  Prayer is a two way conversation between God and us that often is beyond words, “but that the very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.”  Worship is also a participatory relationship between God and us.  Through prayer, song, lessons, silence, offerings, forgiveness, confession, sacraments, and a number of other ways to participate in the active relationship we encounter with God.  Living into this knowledge of God’s activity in our daily lives, daily prayers, daily worship, helps us embody the “togetherness;” “oneness” we share with God in faith.  In the encounter of God, the acknowledgement of God’s presence with us, we can conclude with Paul, all the ways God is working for good with and through us. 

~ Pastor Kent

For reflection:

How is your week made different by participating in worship on Sunday morning?

What is it like to “rest in God,” and remain silent as you pray?

In which component of the worship service do you tend to have the most pronounced experience of God’s presence?