Reflections of Worship through Prayer & Scripture - 'Essentials Red'

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Red Online Worship History Course with Dan Wilt

Until now I have never really given much thought or even have considered corporate worship to God as being more than singing songs of praise and adoration with instruments and voice. I am beginning to understand that acts of worship to God can be seen in every aspect of the Christian life through acts of service, confession, song, tithing and giving, prayer, reading, meditation, adoration, work, remembrance, and anything and everything that glorifies God and Christ. The more I think about worship the more I am recognizing that music and song are simply one form of worship amongst many other forms of worship.

I have been thinking of how much prayer and scripture reading was imbedded into the early Jewish and Christian believers’ lives. It is amazing to me how the early Christians would set aside seven times in a day for short times of prayer and remembrance to God and to Jesus, when today I am struggling to set aside just one time. I was also reflecting on how the Jews will bind certain scriptures on the arms, wrists and foreheads so that when they would pray the word of God would not be far from their physical bodies. It makes me realize how much they cherish even the physical written word of God.

I can only say that I am impressed with the devotion of the early church and with those that still maintain these acts of worship to God. I must admit that knowing more about these practices does leave me saddened because these have not been my experiences of worship, or those probably of the post-modern Christian church. As saddened as I am, I really do feel inspired to devote myself more these acts of worship. I really believe that prayer and scripture reading is an essential worship devotion that should practiced both on a personal and corporate level. It will draw us closer to knowing and hearing God and also experiencing His magnificent presence.

“Oh Lord, bind every God breathed word on our hearts and in our minds and help us to remember your unceasing love that never foresakes us”

Reflections of Worship Through Time & Space - 'Essentials Red'

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Red Online Worship History Course with Dan Wilt


After listening to Dan Wilt's teaching on The Language of Time and Space, I was struck by the reality that time, as it is measured to us, has come and gone, it is the here and now and it passed again. It is given to us and my question to myself is 'how well am I using it to glorify and worship God'

Until now, I hadn't really thought about how essential time and space is for helping us focus on the remembrance and worship to God. I was impressed at how the early Jewish and Christian church set out time daily, weekly, monthly and on a yearly basis to remember and worship God. I hadn't given much time or thought to how our Christian calendar remembers God and reveals his gift of redemption through Christ. The ancients have established a yearly calendar to help us remember God and our faith and remembrance of Christ. From Advent to The Great Triduum, we have been given a roadmap of times and events that helps us to establish worship to God and Christ. The ancients of our faith, through their worship, their remembrance, their devotion, their story, their time spent, and in their space allow us to continue the ever unfolding story of life and redemption in Christ. It leaves me with the question 'How will I continue'?

I thought about how spaces have been instrumental in the worship of God. Being brought up in England, I remember visiting many different spaces of worship, ancient cathedrals, churches, monasteries, and reflection gardens. I think I am beginning to understanding why they were created. I feel that God has given us spaces to worship and that he wants’ us to continue to create spaces of worship; for our benefit and others. To help us focus on him, and to not be distracted with the physical world. Throughout the bible we read that people retreated to spaces to engage with God. Moses going up a mountain, Jesus retreated to a quiet space to draw close and to commune with God. Temples and Synagogues were built to bring God's people together to corporately teach, and celebrate their community and worship to God. The early Christian beleivers met in homes and in time established gathering places and buildings to continue the celebration of faith and worship of God and Christ. It seems that all throughout the ages people have used space both natural and human built to draw closer to God.

I realize that I have a part to play in my time and space. One day they will call me and my generation the 'ancients' and my hope is that they will look to us as call us the keepers of the faith, the true worshipers of God.