|
800 South Main Street, Findlay, Ohio 45840 |
|
ST. Marks Uited Methodist church |
|
Music and Worship |
|
Ilda’s Mail... |
Special Thanks...· To Hosanna’s Cabana Girls and Jamaica Joe for leading the worship at our recent VBS. Who knew we could have such fun!! Also, to Jim Greer and Josh Hankins for running sound and media. Kudos to All!!
· To the parents and children who took VBS on the road to The Heritage nursing home. The residents were blessed by our visit ! |
|
July 2008 |
Why We Worship |
|
In the busyness of each day, I don’t often step back and take a look at worship as a whole. Have you ever heard of the saying “I can’t see the forest for all the trees!”? The question I think we would ask ourselves is “What do we hope to accomplish in and through our congregational worship?” Well, I would like to take this opportunity to share three aspects of healthy congregational worship. First, worship should contain a vertical component. This is when the worshiper communicates with God...You and God worship. This is the primary purpose for worship...to bless the Lord. Psalm 34 (vs.1-3) reminds us. “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.” Often times, I receive different comments about how a particular worship service did or didn’t go. I welcome constructive criticism...keeping in mind the good of the whole. We want to keep doing what we are doing right but I certainly believe we have room for improvement. I think the real question is not whether the service blessed me...but did it bless God? Was he happy with our offering. Secondly, worship |
|
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers that the father seeks. (John 4:23) |
|
contains a horizontal aspect...You and others. In other words, we as worshipers are to interrelate with one another within the context of congregational praise. As we worship together, we enhance the sense of unity within our body. Psalm 133 expresses God’s pleasure in us living together in unity. I believe there is something special that happens when corporate worship takes place. This is only enhanced when we individually find times of private worship. However, what God does in corporate worship can’t be experienced alone. Singing, praying, and working on projects are examples of how we can become unified in heart, mind and purpose. Lastly, worship should lead us to look introspectively. |
|
What is God doing on the inside of me...Is there anything in my heart hindering me from praising God with my whole self? In other words, am I truly free to praise God from the inside...not just outwardly...where people can see. I believe that God continually makes attempts to touch us in the very deepest parts of our hearts….where we have needs and desires that no one else is aware of. Many of us have trust issues and barriers that He wants to break through. I have experienced and seen what God has done in worship services...He did in a few moments what people had been praying for...for years. What amazes me about God is that he knows what we need even when we don’t. My desire is that we worship in spirit and in truth, that we lift our eyes to where our help comes from...the Lord, that as we worship we reflect God’s glory...that we become less like us and more like Him. May the Lord be blessed by our sacrifice of praise! |
|
ATTENTION! Anyone interested in helping with a worship service at The Heritage please contact Ilda Male 419-422-4236. This would be a good opportunity for a small group to do community outreach. Our next visits are scheduled for August 24th, October 26th, and December 28th. |
|
July Worship Schedule
July 6 Rededication of the Ministry Staff
July 13 Special Music: Vicki Insley 8:15/10:45 Missions: Guest Speaker and Potluck after the service
July 27 Community Service in the Park
|