HISTORY

MISSION

MEANING

LEADERSHIP

 

  Reflections from Pastor Patricia A. Sealy

 

Reflection on Worship

Last July (2006) we held our eighth annual summer conference and the focus was on worship; going to a new level in worship.  We had a wonderful time in the Lord and we experienced the abiding Presence of God for the entire weekend.  As I have reflected on our week-end, and our preparation for the 2007 conference, several thoughts have come to mind.  What did we gain from our weekend in the Presence of the Lord?  Did we really learn what worship is all about; and what will we learn from the July 2007 conference? How have we changed the way that we worship God?  What impact did the teaching and workshops have on our lives?  Who have we shared our new learning’s with?  Did we really come away understanding what God wants from our worship or have we gone back to business as usual?  If we have gone back to business as usual, all of our time, work, money, and sacrifices will have been expended for nothing. 

The goal for last year’s conference was to realize transformation in the worship lifestyle of the people.  Questions continue to flood my mind.  How are we worshipping God in our daily living?  Did we really get the message that worship is so much more than what we do on Sunday morning?  Worship is more than singing, lifting our hands, dancing and attending a church service.  These elements are the outward expression of worship.  But the question is did we really get the understanding that worship is demonstrated in how we live in relation to one another that translate into how we live in relation to the Almighty God?

 Worship is reflected in how we care for each other, how we express our love for and to one another, how we sacrifice on behalf of others, and what we are willing to do to make life better for someone else. Worship is verified in the time we take to listen, the time we take to visit, the time we take to help.  Worship is a kind word, a loving hug, a tender smile.  Worship is a small quiet thank you, a silent word that says “I’m here for you”.  Worship is the manifestation of the fruits of the spirit – it’s embraced in the spirit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

When we worship in these ways, we give God exactly what He wants.  He wants us to be a mirror reflection of who He is.  He wants us to dwell in peace and harmony with our brethren.  God commands that he, who loves God, loves his brother also.  This is how we worship God, by giving Him what He wants; and He wants us to love one another as He loves us. 

As I look ahead to the theme for the July 2007 conference, “Oh, The Glory of Your Presence”; I begin to ponder exactly how we will live out the teachings and preaching we  will receive from the mighty men and women who will bring forth the Word of God.  If we are to truly experience the glory of God’s Presence, we must have practiced the worship that God desire to receive.  It is my sincere prayer that as we plan and move forward to conference 2007, the principles of worship that we learned will have taken root during these past seven months; and we will be prepared and ready to experience the glory of the Presence of the Lord.