Focus on “Worship” – St. Andrew’s new mission statement, “Building God’s Kingdom Through Worship, Outreach, and Fellowship”

The irony is not lost on me that this reflection focuses on worship at precisely the moment in which we are unable to participate in worship as we’ve (almost) always engaged in it before.  While I briefly considered waiting to write this reflection, I realized that now might be the perfect time to examine worship at St. Andrew’s and why it matters enough to be one of only eight words chosen for our new mission statement.

When most of us think of worship, I imagine we associate it with sanctuary, liturgy, ritual and/or music.  A little research indicates that the word originated from the Middle English word worshipe, which meant “worthiness, respect, reverence paid to a divine being.”  That origin suggests that our understanding of worship can be a flexible one provided we emphasize reverence and respect to a divine being.  In other words, while certain images immediately rush to mind when we think of worship at St. Andrew’s, our current inability to live out those specific images does not mean we cannot worship in new ways.

For instance, if you’re following your weekly newsletters, daily emails, the church website, or our Facebook page, you will notice:  opportunities for worship through Anne’s and Marc’s daily reflection videos; a daily Signs of Life Lenten “challenge” and prayer; and musical selections from Brad.  Coming soon will be new chances to engage with different forms of worship through a special Stations of the Cross offering and a live, interactive Palm Sunday service (and perhaps more!)  As our mission statement reminds us, worship– in whatever form it takes – is but one of the ways we at St. Andrew’s will realize our goal of building God’s kingdom. And until we’re back together in our church building, perhaps “being the church” in this moment means, among other things, embracing new forms of worship that might bring us all a little closer to God.  

Lindsey Nicolai