3rd March 2021 - Lessons in Lent - Worship

​APC 3rd March 2021               Lessons in Lent- ‘Worship’
 
Welcome and Introduction                  
Good morning everyone and welcome to our Midweek worship.  Today we continue with our ‘Lessons in Lent’ as we pause and think about the meaning and importance of worship. But as always let’s begin by talking to God, let’s pray…
 
Opening Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer
 
Living God, we have come together to worship you, to meet here with Christ, not simply because we feel we should do, not because it is expected of us, but because we want to praise you.
 
We have come not just to pass the time or even to find out something new and interesting, but to genuinely encounter you.
Meet with us now, we pray.
 
Help us to bring you our heartfelt worship – to reflect on you and not ourselves, to think about your love rather than our problems, to seek your will for us rather than our expectations of you.
 
Help us to draw close to you, rejoicing in your presence, receiving your love, reviving our faith.
 
Help us to put aside everything that comes between us – our foolish actions, our trivial concerns, our misplaced desires.
Meet with us now, we pray.
 
Living God, there is so much in our lives that is not as it should be, not as it could be, and not as it would be if only we walked more closely with you.
 
Forgive us the unkind words, thoughtless actions, and unworthy thoughts that deny our faith.
 
Forgive us the self-centred lifestyles, half-hearted commitment and careless discipleship that undermine our witness.
Forgive us the lack of devotion, lack of faith and lack of love that demean your name.
Meet with us now, we pray.
 
Living God, we gather together in the name of Christ.  Assure us, as we worship you, of the forgiveness, the guidance, the love and the life you offer us through Him.
 
So may we worship you not just through our words but in our lives, not merely now but always, not simply here but everywhere, to the glory of your name.
 
Join with me as we say the Lord’s Prayer together….
 
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name,
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day, our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil,
For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,
For ever and ever, AMEN.
 
 
Bible Reading         Psalm 95
 
1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
    and extol him with music and song.
3 For the Lord is the great God,
    the great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth,
    and the mountain peaks belong to him.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
    and his hands formed the dry land.
6 Come, let us bow down in worship,
    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
7 for he is our God
    and we are the people of his pasture,
    the flock under his care.
Today, if only you would hear his voice,
8 “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,[a]
    as you did that day at Massah[b] in the wilderness,
9 where your ancestors tested me;
    they tried me, though they had seen what I did.
10 For forty years I was angry with that generation;
    I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray,
    and they have not known my ways.’
11 So I declared on oath in my anger,
    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”
 
 
Reflection       Lessons in Lent- ‘Worship’
 
One of the things we’re all missing most during this Pandemic is not being able to meet together in church.  That’s because while God is always with us, even when we meet online, it’s just not the same.  In some way, that I can’t explain, there is just something very special about joining together to worship.  In those times, God makes His presence felt among us in very precious ways.  So, like you, I’m hoping it won’t be too long before we’re back in church again.
 
I’ve been intrigued and encouraged by how many of you have been telling me that this is something that you are really missing.  As I’ve reflected on that, it has reminded me again that above everything else, the most important thing that we can do as a group of Christian people is worship.  In fact, worship is our primary calling and our greatest privilege.  But what is worship? And why is it the most important thing we can do?
 
The word ‘worship’ originally comes from the Saxon word ‘weorthscipe’ which eventually became known as ‘worthship’- the acknowledgement of worship.  In other words, to worship something means to acknowledge it’s true worth, to give it honour, glory and respect, to express how something actually is in all its specialness and worthiness.
 
As Christians, we choose to worship God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  But why?  What is it about God that makes Him worthy of our worship?
 
Even during the difficulties of this last year, I can think of so many occasions when God has answered that question for me.  An amazing full moon, a spectacular sunset, the crashing of the waves upon the rocks of South Beach, a fox or a pheasant roaming the back field in the morning, the song of birds, the white headed snowdrops, the changing colours of the leaves on the trees.  Every item of food in the fridge, the water flowing from the tap, every kind and good interaction I have had with my family, with a work colleague or someone out walking their dog.  Every comfort and strength I have received in prayer.  In all these things, and in so many other ways, God has continually whispered – “I’m here.  I’m everywhere.  I’m good.  I’m kind.  I’m clever.  I’m creative.  I’m powerful.  I’ve provided.  I love you.”
 
Every morning when I see the picture of the cross in my office, I’m reminded that these are not just empty words.  Because the scripture record explains that God died for me so that I might be forgiven and so He and I could be friends.
 
And as I think about all these things, I realise that I can’t just ignore it.  I’ve got to make some sort of response….and so I worship.
 
In Psalm 95 we discover that sometimes this worship will be expressed in shouts of ‘Hallejujah!  Praise the Lord!’ 
 
Even when I’m driving the car I love nothing better than to put on my favourite worship CD and tell God how special He is and how much I appreciate all He’s done for me.
 
But in Psalm 95, we also find that often worship is expressed by awe and reverence.  ‘Let us bow down and kneel before the Lord our maker.’ 
 
There are times also when I literally get down on my knees on the floor to apologise to God or to cry out to Him for a particular need.  There are times when I sit and reflect on His word or walk in complete silence, listening and thinking.
 
All of these responses are appropriate and necessary when we worship God.
 
But of course, worship is not just about the expressions that arise from our hearts or that emerge from our lips.  Worship is also all about how we live our lives.  True worship will always express itself in a desire to show God our gratitude by living in ways that will reflect Him well.  That’s why Paul writes in Romans 12,
 
“Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy to offer yourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship.” 
 
When we commit ourselves with the help of God’s Spirit to living holy lives that are pleasing to God, then we are worshipping.  All of life is lived in God’s presence.  All of life is spiritual.  All of life can be worship.
 
Worship is putting God at the centre, giving Him the worthiness, the glory and the honour that He deserves.  It is giving of ourselves and our praise to God.  It is first and foremost something that we give to God, not something that we receive from Him.  It is a turning from ourselves and gazing upon God in praise, adoration, confession and penitence, dedication and commitment.
 
The season of Lent is a gift to encourage us to stop and ask ourselves- Do I love God the way He deserves?  Do I spend time thinking about Him, talking to Him, praising Him?  Do I aim to do everything in a way that I know will make Him proud and that will make other people think well of Him?
 
You and I were made to know and worship God.  Above everything else, this is our primary purpose as individuals and as a church community.
 
It is my prayer that God will help each of us to fall in love with Him afresh this Lenten season.  Let us pray…
 
Prayer
 
Loving God, as we come together today we bring you our thanks-
For modern technology that allows us to worship online.
For our church where normally week by week we can come and share fellowship.
For the freedom we enjoy in our country to worship you.
We thank you for everything our church family and our worship together has meant and continues to mean to us.
Lord of the church, unite us through the love of Christ.
 
But we pray today for all those who for a variety of reasons, even under normal circumstances, are unable to join in united worship.
Those confined to their homes, those in hospital, those who have to work on Sundays, those in residential care, those who live in countries where it is illegal to worship you.
Lord of the church, unite us through the love of Christ.
 
We pray too for those who have drifted away from regular church attendance – those who have lost their faith, or moved to a new area among new people.  Those who are really struggling with these times of lockdown and are missing the social interaction with other Christian people.
Lord, help us to find ways of showing our support and expressing our interest in the welfare of one another.
Lord of the church, unite us through the love of Christ.
 
We pray especially for our young people as they return to school.  Lord thank you for all their teachers and the support they have already been providing online.  Please help each one as schools reopen.  May you keep all staff and students safe and well both physically and emotionally.  We remember especially those students who are in important exam years.  Help them to accept their current situation, give them wisdom for difficult choices, and enable each one to still perform to their full potential.
Lord of the church, unite us through the love of Christ.
 
CLOSING WORDS
 
It’s been a joy and privilege to share with you again today. Thanks again for logging on.  I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s reflection.  Please do spend some time in quiet over the next couple of days and ask yourself- do I really love the Lord?
 
I’m afraid we’ve no word yet about when church will be able to reopen but as soon as we get any further information we will let you know.
Please continue to pray for Father Padraig Parish Priest of St Mary and Peter’s who is in hospital.  Please do pray for his recovery at this time and for Fr Dave as he leads the parish in his absence.
Please do pray for Bev who is also in hospital at this time and for his wife Sharon and their family.
As the challenges of Covid continue I’m conscious that this is a very difficult time for us all.  If you are feeling particularly low, then please do reach out and let me know.  I’ll be more than happy to meet and pray with you in a safe and socially distanced way.
 
And let’s keep a special eye out for each other whether that means just picking up the phones and seeing how someone is.
 
But for now, let me lead you in a Benediction after which I invite you as always, to say the grace together…
 
Benediction   
Our worship has not ended it has only just begun for God is with us every moment of every day!  Go then and offer the worship He desires – to act justly, to show kindness and to walk humbly with God every step along the way.  And
 
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and for evermore, Amen.”