Today is popularly known as Fat Tuesday....the last day to really indulge before we begin the solomn preparation time of Lent. Tomorrow, in churches around the world, many will join in some type of Ash Wednesday service as they begin this time of contemplation.
Today in our Chapel Service at the Seminary we were invited to further reflect and prepare by going forward for prayer and to be anointed with oil.
You've likely experienced in worship an invitation to come forward at some point....maybe it was during a prayer hymn, a closing hymn or just at a point in the worship service of quiet reflection. Perhaps it was, as today, an offer to come to pray or be prayed for. Maybe it was to come and offer yourself in contemplation or repentance, or to simply light a candle. Possibly it was an invitation to proceed forward to be baptized, anointed with oil, or, as for many around the world this week, to receive a small symbol of the cross in ash upon one's forehead.
Most have experienced one of these types of invitation in worship. Many times I have received such an invitation of one type or another, and many times I have seen the response of the congregations. At some times the invitation is met with fidgeting and reservation, with perhaps a couple brave souls going forward, while other invitations are met with an vast orderly outpouring of the congregation from the pews.
Today, however, I witnessed a response that I had not yet encountered. Today the invitation was made for those in Chapel to go forward for prayer and anointing, and true, there were a few fidgeters, and a sizeable orderly outpouring, but there was also something else. Today, as the people proceeded forward, I was able to witness multiple persons who boldly climbed over pews, and behind other persons, in answer to this invitation....not out of disrespect, or impatience, but out of a need or desire to personally respond while respecting the worship and reflection of those seated around them.
This led me to reflect, not on the principles of orderly worship, but upon just how strongly do I desire to respond, not only to invitations to go forward during worship but also to God's ongoing invitation to me to move forward in my walk with my Creator and Lord. What a better time than during Lent, as we witness Jesus' procession towards the cross, to contemplate our own procession towards God through our personal walk and witness as Christians in the body of Christ, the Church.
What's your response? Are you a fidgeter, maybe part of the orderly procession, or perhaps responding to boldly and directly to God's invitation upon your life?
What is your response during this Lenten season?
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Half - Awake or Half - Asleep
One interesting thing that I have discovered since beginning Seminary is that wherever there are Korean Christians there are Early Morning Prayer Meetings. Some subscribe more to the schedule of John Wesley, the forefather of the Methodist tradition, and begin at 4:30 or so each morning. I consider it all blessing that at Asbury Seminary the Early Morning Prayer Meeting begins at 6am Monday - Friday.
I began attending this past fall in order to help myself to further develop a regular daily prayer, reflection and quiet time...generally I would just be sleeping at 6am otherwise.
Often times I confess that I was only half awake as I walked from the dorm, joined in singing a Korean Hymn and attempted to draw from the daily Scripture passage and sermon, typically preached in Korean.
This past week, however, a married couple shared the preaching portion of the services. The wife is Korean and the husband a retired American military chaplain. This provided the added blessing that three mornings the sermon was shared in English.
I was unexpectedly asked by the worship leader to pray aloud for the service, message and preacher following the congregational prayer. As I was preparing to speak I realized that I was not only Half - Awake, but as well Half - Asleep. I was suddenly confronted with the idea that while giving less than my full attention, I was also less available to receive what God was speaking to me, even in those early morning hours. It is difficult to speak to the Creator of the new day and to speak on behalf of the Holy Spirit when one is not awakened and prepared with ones' own Spiritual ears.
An older church member, who has attended church for decades and held a range of responsibilities from choir member to Sunday School teacher, recently shared with me that she doesn't think God talks to her, or at least not very often until during this past year or so.
One of the big news stories as of late has been the transition from Analog to High Definition broadcasting for televisions. The tag line has repeatedly been 'Are you ready'. This has drawn me to consider, as God speaks to me daily in Heavenly Definition am I ready to receive the signal or am I still receiving only with Amylog capabilities; am I Half - Awake to my surroundings or Half - Asleep to what God, through study of the scripture, prayer and the Holy Spirit would speak to me today?
Are you ready?
I began attending this past fall in order to help myself to further develop a regular daily prayer, reflection and quiet time...generally I would just be sleeping at 6am otherwise.
Often times I confess that I was only half awake as I walked from the dorm, joined in singing a Korean Hymn and attempted to draw from the daily Scripture passage and sermon, typically preached in Korean.
This past week, however, a married couple shared the preaching portion of the services. The wife is Korean and the husband a retired American military chaplain. This provided the added blessing that three mornings the sermon was shared in English.
I was unexpectedly asked by the worship leader to pray aloud for the service, message and preacher following the congregational prayer. As I was preparing to speak I realized that I was not only Half - Awake, but as well Half - Asleep. I was suddenly confronted with the idea that while giving less than my full attention, I was also less available to receive what God was speaking to me, even in those early morning hours. It is difficult to speak to the Creator of the new day and to speak on behalf of the Holy Spirit when one is not awakened and prepared with ones' own Spiritual ears.
An older church member, who has attended church for decades and held a range of responsibilities from choir member to Sunday School teacher, recently shared with me that she doesn't think God talks to her, or at least not very often until during this past year or so.
One of the big news stories as of late has been the transition from Analog to High Definition broadcasting for televisions. The tag line has repeatedly been 'Are you ready'. This has drawn me to consider, as God speaks to me daily in Heavenly Definition am I ready to receive the signal or am I still receiving only with Amylog capabilities; am I Half - Awake to my surroundings or Half - Asleep to what God, through study of the scripture, prayer and the Holy Spirit would speak to me today?
Are you ready?
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