THE WORSHIP ADVANTAGE
For the next several blogs, I want to focus on the practice of worship as an anti-racist strategy. We are so accustomed to the practice of weekly worship, that we forget how radically the practice of worship can be in challenging the racist mindset of our society and world.
Whatever else is happening in your life and society, every seven days some portion of the community steps outside the pressures and mindset that shape our lives. In the Judeo-Christian community, the faithful are asked (directed to) step outside the daily demands of living and refocus on the purpose of their entire lives.
COMMUNITY ON BEHALF OF COMMUNITY
Yes, I am well aware of the fact that a great number of those who are at least nominally Christians choose not to worship on a regular basis. This is where you are invited to remember that the Christian faith is an act of community and not just that of individuals. Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I will be also.”(Matthew 18:20)
As a community, we act on behalf of others as well as ourselves. When you gather in Jesus’ name, you are acting not only as an individual but on behalf of the community of believers. Jesus not only took on the sins of the world, but also, reached out to touch and heal others and gather with them as a community.
When you step outside the world of commerce, power, and greed and, for a moment step inside the context of worship, you are reflecting the world of believers, and in some ways the entire world, before God.
Turning ROUTINE INTO LIBERATION
Far too often we move through the liturgy of a worship service waiting for an anthem, a hymn, or the sermon to address our needs for spiritual nourishment. We forget that the service of worship is structured to incorporate our true self into the nurturing relationship with the God who created us in the Divine image.
I think we need to re-evaluate our understanding of salvation in a society that is obsessed with individualism. From the beginning of time, humans were meant to be in relationship with others. Even those desert monks who chose to leave society, still focused on their relationship with God. As 1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “And now abide faith, hope, and love and the greatest of these is love.” That which separates us from God and neighbor is called sin.
When Jesus began his ministry, one of his first acts was to call others to be his disciples. Those disciples built the church. We are saved as part of a community of faith. As is clear in both the Hebrew scriptures and the New Testament, our communities of faith are not made up of the super-intelligent or the super pious. God chooses to work with imperfect communities to reveal the kingdom toward which we are moving.
When we seek to participate in anti-racism ministry, we need to revitalize our participation in the parts of worship that can give us courage and vision.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Both the PRELUDE and the CALL TO WORSHIP are an invitation to leave daily routine behind and spend some time renewing our relationship with God who created us and loves us into a future that reflects God’s intention for all of creation. Jesus often refers to this as the Kingdom of God. Frequently we pray the Lord’s Prayer and petition God that “God’s Kingdom Come and God’s WILL BE DONE ON EARTH as it is in Heaven.” For a brief period of time, we are to focus our attention and our whole being on participation in God’s answer to that prayer. While it is not the only focus, it would be good if the pastor occasionally structured the Call to Worship to draw attention to the anti-racism aspect of our spiritual journey. What does it mean for us to focus on God’s will with respect to the consequences of racism in God’s beloved world.
PRAYERS OF PRAISE
Our Prayers of Praise offer us to step beyond the finite and often damaged reality of our world. Here we can affirm the rich diversity of our world that is a mirror reflecting God’s infinite love. The last five Psalms, with slight adaptation, are a rich resource to stimulate our imagination. They speak of snow, grass, hills, fruit trees, monsters, birds, stars, trumpets, and clanging symbols. It also speaks of humans who are brokenhearted, prisoners, the
stranger, the orphan, and all who are bowed down. As we are invited to let a spark of eternity into our lives, we can let the diversity of God’s creation reflect God’s beauty. Our very acts of praise are a challenge to the division, prejudice, and systemic oppression that distorts God’s image in creation.
Here is my attempt to offer some corporate prayers for our worship services. You have my permission to copy or adapt them. Allow these samples to spark your imagination and allow the Spirit to work.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Adapted from Psalm 140-142
Leader: We call upon you, O Lord; . . . Let our prayers be counted as incense before you. (141:1-2)
People: Do not turn our hearts to any evil that separates us from the beauty of your diverse humanity.
Leader: Bring us out of the prison of racism so that we may give thanks to your name. (142:7)People: Let us join you in maintaining the cause of the needy and executing justice for the poor and those divided by race. (140:12)
