Perhaps we should start at the beginning – What is Worship?

So if worship isn’t just singing what does it look like and how do we do it?

Our three readings gave us a clue. Romans 12:1 talks of an everyday lived worship. John 4:23-24 tells us that we must do it in Spirit and truth and Hebrews 10:22-25 reminds us that it is important that we come together and do it together.

We can worship God as we go through our daily life, in everything we do – from brushing our teeth, feeding the dogs, going to school and eating our tea. It’s about finding God in the world and expecting him to show up there, not just in church.

This is a change of mindset that enables us to worship God in our everyday life. It’s about creating an awareness that God wants to be involved in all of our lives – not just when we are in church.

So we can worship God in our everyday simply by becoming aware of his presence that is already here with us.

In Spirit and truth.

God knows when we are just paying him lip service. He wants us to be real with him.

At Youth Alpha last Sunday we were looking at prayer and how we do it. Prayer is Worship. And God longs for us to chat with him about the big things and the little things. He knows what’s in our hearts already but he wants us to talk to him about it all the same.

And he wants us to be honest. Truthful. To get behind our masks of pretence that we are all ok – it is there that we will really meet with him.

And he wants us to do it together – in community – like this. Our whole service is an act of Worship, from the singing, our confession, our readings and our prayers.

So, what is worship?

Worship is how we live our lives 24/7. It includes all we do and all we say. When we interact with each other, when we talk to God. All is worship and pleasing to God if done in Spirit and truth for his glory – our part is in cultivating that awareness of his presence.

Living our lives in all it’s fullness, enjoying the good gifts he has given us is worshipping God. As someone long ago once said ‘The glory of God is a person fully alive.’

Let us pray Father, the prophets of old challenge us now as much as when they were first heard. Give us courage to open our eyes and our hearts to your calling, your way of life and to your radical love. Challenge us to live differently so that we can make a difference in our world for your glory. Amen.

Rev’d Kia Pakenham 16th October 2022 Family Praise and Prayer Service

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