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.