Role of Prayer

I am coming to believe that a deep and passionate prayer life is essential for any worship leader: presider, preacher, lector, assisting minister, acolyte, crucifer, everyone.

I find when my spiritual roots are well watered and fed, my effectiveness in worship leadership is enhanced.

It is tempting for me to believe this is true only for clergy, but I believe prayer would enhance the worship life of any congregation in many ways–not least of which being an encounter with God. Reading the lessons, for example, is more than reading. It is a spiritual exercise (or at least it should be). Reading the prayers is deeply spiritual and takes preparation ahead of time. Being an usher is spiritual. All these gifts contribute to the body of Christ on the sacred day of worship.

There are certainly other elements in worship preparation and practice, but it seems to start with prayer.

Imagine a congregation praying every week for what happens on Sunday morning? I think we would be amazed!

Sabbath Rest

I believe Americans are a deeply fatigued people. One of my learnings on my Sabbatical is that congregations where the Sabbath rest is observed seem to be quite vibrant (despite what I would call “dismal theology”).

A United Methodist pastor who is also a medical doctor has written about fatigue and Sabbath rest. Interesting. Check it out (follow the “Keeping Sabbath” in the Blogroll link on the right).

Senator Joseph Lieberman has written a new book on observing the Sabbath. Here is part of what he says: “The Sabbath is a gift from God for all people,” he writes. “In our time, I believe, it is a gift that is desperately needed.”

The senator’s book is one of several published in recent years extolling the virtues of the Sabbath observance. Lieberman says that’s no accident: Despite — or perhaps because of — the demands of the modern world, with its relentlessly chirping electronic devices and 24/7 news cycle, people crave downtime.

“Even though in the book I am essentially escorting the reader through a traditional Sabbath according to Jewish practice, I am really writing the book not just for Jewish people but for people of all faiths or no particular faith in the hope that the book may encourage the reader to put some more Sabbath into their own lives,” he said. “I think we all need it. We’re working very hard and we tend not to make distinctions between one day and another. We never get away from our Blackberries and cellphones and iPads.”

I strongly encourage the reader to observe God’s command to “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.” “The Sabbath,” Jesus observes, “was given to humankind, not humankind for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27) It is, as the Senator says, “a gift from God.” I believe many lives could be happier, less stressful, more productive, and that the Christian church in this land would be revived, if we did as God invites us to do: “Observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy.”