May 2008

Greetings in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord:

 Recently, while singing as part of the joint choir during the Burlington District Lay Rally, I found myself truly inspired as I joined in worshipping God with several other churches. I sang right beside a man who was the minister of music at his church. I am accustomed to being led by our outstanding music director and singing with our wonderful choir but this man I stood beside was singing the tenor part along with me. Listening to him sing beside me inspired me to sing better each time we practiced a song as I tried to keep up with all my heart, soul, mind, strength and experience in singing. I actually found myself singing stronger than I ever thought I could sing!  

Dr. John Killinger, a great teacher of worship and prayer and preaching, shares a story in his book Bread for the Wilderness and Wine for the Journey about a sophisticated journalist who became a respectful BELIEVER in the POWER of a Christian CONGREGATION to achieve EXTRAORDINARY results in its midst. The analogy he used to describe his experience is memorable. He had once sung in a choir with a remarkable male singer. It had helped his own singing and he told the man so. “If you think that’s something,” the man had said in effect, “then next time sit right in front of me.” Sherrill did. “Now lean into me as we sing. Just put your shoulder against my chest and let’s sing.” The effect, said Sherrill, was unbelievable. He had never sung so well in his life!

The Bible tells us that when we become Christians that it is no longer (JUST) we who live but CHRIST WHO LIVES IN US! Therefore we become INFUSED and we are OVERFLOWING with POWER because we are IN and PART of CHRIST. Although we maintain our individual personalities we become LOST in HIS LOVE and GRACE. Because we are in and part of Christ, I believe God is calling us here at Mt. Hermon to DRAW CLOSER to Himself. The Bible explains how this is always God’s Will, for WE WERE CREATED TO WORSHIP AND GLORIFY God for eternity. I believe that God is calling us to focus particularly on prayer and how prayer affects our worship. Prayer is made up of both individual and congregational prayers. The basic THEME of worship is that it is COMMUNION with God and every part of the worship SERVICE is therefore PRAYER. Prayer is more than praying a prayer. It is centered in focusing on God. By applying ourselves in personal prayer, we can have even more “passionate” and satisfying worship services. Whether we are praying or singing or hearing the word preached – all involves prayer. The Bible tells us much about prayer. We can especially know that God, through the Holy Spirit, brings us together just as a choir comes together with all of its individual members sounding as one singular voice in worship. Our choir is LEADING us in worship and God wants us to join in with our voices and spirits. Do everything in the service with ALL OF YOUR HEART, SOUL, MIND and STRENGTH. The Bible tells us that Jesus is forever in prayer for each of you and for all of His Disciples (past, present and future) and he calls me to be faithful in prayer for you and you to be faithful in prayer for one another and for me. Therefore we can experience our worship services as vibrant with the Spirit flowing back and forth from me to you and to God and back as we sound beautiful in God’s ears just as the choir sounds beautiful in our ears. Frank Laubach writes that “Christianity is doomed unless it somehow rediscovers that the center and power of its divine service is prayer…” It makes a great difference, he noted, if the preacher even asks the members of the congregation to pray for him as he preaches. Well, I requested that you pray for me on April 20^th and I believe God worked in a special way among us. God is calling us to authentic and honest worship, where we can be ourselves and open our hearts before God and one another. 

This month, we will be celebrating Pentecost Sunday - the day we celebrate the birthday of Christ’s CHURCH through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all believers, in order for each individual, each congregation, and all of the CHURCH of Jesus Christ to be FILLED with His Presence. In His Presence we draw close to Him. Our Heavenly Father wants to wrap His loving arms around each of you and all of the lost and needy people of our community. Join me in drawing closer to God and fulfilling our calling as Disciples of Jesus Christ here at Mt. Hermon United Methodist Church!