Rev. Doug Hollida, Director of Worship Arts

Day One Worshiper
COME TOGETHER

Read Hebrews 10:24-25
Why is it more fun to go to the movies with someone than to go alone, even though you don’t talk to them during the picture? Why is it that when something makes you laugh, you automatically look to the person next to you to see if they are laughing? Why do sports teams play better if they are cheered? Because God, in his wisdom, has fashioned us in such a way that means we need each other.

Paul reminds us of this in the reading from Hebrews, saying that we need to cheer each other on, and keep on meeting together to encourage one another. What if everyone decided to stay home on Easter except you? Even for the best of vocalists, the singing of Christ the Lord is Risen Today would be rather hollow given the knowledge that no one else cared to come and raise their voice.

Your presence at worship is an encouragement to us, and whether you feel it on Sunday or not; our presence in worship is an encouragement to you. We live in a difficult world that seeks to pull us away from Jesus. Coming together in worship reminds us that others believe the truth as we do. Worshipping together is an exercise in faith building.

Next Sunday, take a moment in worship to look at the people around you. They share many things with you—many of the same hopes, struggles, and joys. And the very same Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, lives in their hearts as well. So be encouraged. And keep coming.

Reflect: Do I see myself in Sunday worship as one person among individuals, or as part of the family of God—the Body of Christ?
Pray: Lord, send your Spirit to open my heart and strengthen my faith, that I may take in your love through my church family; and that I may be an encourager to others by my presence in your house. Amen.

Day Two Worshiper
COME FIRST

Read Exodus 20:8
If they don’t have soccer in heaven, I’m not going (so says the t-shirt). O yes you are, too going to heaven! (so says me—the Daddy).

My two sons are adopted from Brazil where soccer reigns. In the United States, our time is divided between 3 or more sports which change with the seasons, but for a Brazilian youth, it’s soccer, every day of the year. So when my son, Jefferson, came here at age 11, he was quite good for his age. I enjoyed the Rec. League games and getting to know the other parents, a large number of whom were church-going Christians… until…things changed when my son hit middle school. While the same players kept up their participation in the rec league, the “really good” players also joined what are called traveling teams. There was a game almost every Sunday, and while the game might be at 1:00 p.m., it could also be 3 hours away. I said no to this but I was in a small minority. For virtually all my church-going acquaintances, ditching church for soccer was done without even batting an eye.

I went to a youth conference many years ago where the issue of schedule conflicts came up, and the leader said, “When parents tell me their child is going to miss a church event for something else, I ask them ‘Which one is going to make a difference in your child’s life 100 years from now?’” And that’s the yardstick we use in our family in deciding what we do on Sundays. Maybe my sons won’t get soccer scholarships to universities. But they know what’s really important. And I know that 100 years from now, I’ll see them with me in heaven.

The commandment tells us that the Sabbath is holy. Holy means that it is set apart for God’s purpose and not to be used for anything else.

Reflect: What do I let get in the way of worship attendance? How will putting worship first make a difference for me now and in the future?
Pray: Lord, give me the strength to put you first, and the faith to know that your way is best. Amen.

Day Three Worshiper
COME UP

Read 2 Corinthian 3:18
I remember a time when I was in middle school, being in my room at night totally engrossed in a book—a rather scary one at that. I was so lost in my reading that I didn’t even hear my father come into the room, so when he turned off the light to get my attention, I nearly lost a year’s growth. But that’s the great thing about the arts, I think—they take us to another world. Whether it’s a book, a movie, a song, or a painting, if it helps you forget your worries for a moment, takes you out of the everyday to another place, and maybe even teaches you something… then that’s time well spent.

We often think of worship as what happens in the church building on Sunday, and we do make use of the arts. We have an artfully done sanctuary with stained-glass windows; we have music, and a sermon. But the great thing is that real worship doesn’t just take you to another world—real worship takes you to God’s world! And yet, an even greater thing is: you don’t need any of these “artful” things to go to God’s world.

Worship happens anytime, anyplace, and in any manner that you choose to turn your heart toward God. The more you contemplate on the Lord’s glory (which is worship), the more you will reflect it. Our word for glory comes from a word that means, to bring light to, or, to show something for what it is. To glorify God means to remind yourself of who God is—Loving Father, Savior, Creator, Friend. No matter what is going on in your life, at any time, you can make your inner world a better place by taking the time to come up to God’s world and worship awhile.

Reflect: Take a moment right now and worship, by picturing the Lord, and tell the Lord what you think and feel about him. Use sentences that start with You are….
Pray: Lord, help me to remember you each day, and to embrace each day with an attitude of worship and awe, that I might reflect your glory. Amen.

Day Four Worshiper
COME IN

Read Psalm 34:3-5 During my time in seminary, I went to a 3 day conference that had very powerful worship. In fact, not a worship time went by without everyone in the large, filled sanctuary rising to their feet and clapping to the music—everyone except one. There was a young man in the row just in front of me, who attended every moment, but never once clapped his hands. In fact, he seemed to be looking on the rest of us with bewilderment. But then at the end of the conference, when we were so excited—everyone clapping their hands above their head, not only did he rise to his feet, but he actually stood up on the pew! “Wow,” I remember thinking, “when this guy finally decides to get into it, he really gets into it!” But he did not use his hands for clapping. Instead, he picked up a video camera and filmed the rest of us. I guess he was thinking something like, “They’ll never believe this back home.”

I share this vignette to make two points: on the one hand, bringing someone to worship is not going to do a thing for them if you haven’t prepared them, or made sure there is something in their background that gives them a frame of reference for the worship experience; but on the other hand, if they don’t see that there is something at least a little different, then they won’t see any point to coming back.

But the difference they need to see is not really in the worship—it’s not in the hand clapping on the pipe organ, or the preacher. The difference they need to see is in you. If you reflect Christ, if you radiate the love of God, that is in fact your best chance of getting them here in the first place. And if they see that in other worshippers, it’s the best chance we have of seeing them return. I don’t want them to come in to hear the organ or guitar. I want them to come in to meet Jesus—through you.

Reflect: Do the non-church-goers in my circle see the love of Christ in me? Do I reflect Christ’s love to the people I don’t know at worship?
Pray: Lord, help me look to you in worship, that I might reflect your glory in a way that will cause others to want what I have in you. Amen.

Day Five Worshiper
COME DOWN

Read Psalm 95:1-7a When was the last time you were on your knees? Now I don’t mean on your knees to clean under the bed or to weed the garden, I mean on your knees before God in worship. You have to get down on your knees to do certain chores, but you don’t have to get on your knees before God—it’s a privilege. But then again, if you really want to worship, you do have to get on your knees, because that’s what worship means—to pay homage to someone by kneeling or prostrating oneself before them. It’s humbling, but that’s a good thing. We often think of humble as meaning low, modest, menial, dirty—a humbling task is something that I would normally think of as “beneath me.” But the best definition I’ve ever heard for “humble,” especially within a Christian context is simply, “knowing your place.” It’s good to know your place before Jesus.

And my place before Jesus is in fact, on my knees. You see, when I forget that, then I’m going along in my own meager strength, forgetting about all the benefits and power of God that are available to me. But when I’m reminded of how great God is compared to me, I’m likewise reminded of the strength and love and joy of God which are mine through Jesus Christ. The attitude that comes with being on my knees before this great God frees me to be lifted up in his strength! It’s all about my attitude towards God.

And worship is about attitude—an attitude that comes with a desire to praise this wonderful God we have. If you come to worship expecting the perfect prelude or the perfect sermon to make your life better, then you will be disappointed. But if you come to worship expecting to meet God, and are open to allowing God to work, you will be blessed. So come down to your knees with an attitude that allows God to be God in your heart.

Reflect: If at all possible, get on your knees right now and lift up God.
Pray: Lord help me to know my place before you—to remember my weakness, that I might seek your strength. Amen.