In church, my dad sang in a rich baritone…quietly, but with great resolve. He sang every word. He meant every word. He was one of the first to stand and always had the hymnbook open early. My dad was my hero, so I picked up those traits. When I grew in faith beginning at 14, I built on the foundation he laid.
When I became a dad, I realized that my kids are watching me like I watched my dad. What about worship are they learning? [More on my dad here and here.]
Do you have children? What solid lessons are they learning from you about worship? What other lessons are you teaching that you wish you weren’t?
Dr. Stephen J. Ortlip, Jr., or Mr. O as he wanted us to be called, taught me the power of corporate worship. His enthusiasm and passion are contagious. Mr. O was the organist/choirmaster at my church growing up. That’s the equivalent of “worship pastor” today. His boundless energy fired me up to learn how to sing, how to play, and how to enjoy it. I’ll never forget the day he took a few children up into the pipe room for the organ. He showed us how the pipes worked, how they could be tuned/repaired, how they worked together. He explained the meanings behind each song we sang and every hymn we learned. The guy must be passionate about every hymn, but “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” sticks out as one he gushed over.
Mr. O believed in congregational worship. He believed that the power of the congregation worshipping together. Dozens (or hundreds) of voices joining the choir, the instruments, and the acoustics to create a holy sound that honored God. The total is far greater than the sum of the parts.
Do you love the richness of congregational worship? This Sunday, position yourself in a place to see and hear what God does when the entire body is joined in a single purpose.
Todd Murray taught me many lessons about worship. Years ago at one choir rehearsal, he talked about an essay or book he had read which pointed out that one Scandinavian language has two words for music. There is one word for the notes on the printed page. There is another word for the sounds created by voices and/or instruments. He encouraged us to not make noten (black and white notes on the page), but to make true music.
I haven’t spoken to Todd in several months, but something he said years ago echoes in my heart today. Every Wednesday night when I walk into choir practice, I remember his admonition to worship in rehearsal. None of us is promised tomorrow. There’s no guarantee that we will sing on Sunday. Our time on earth may come to an end. While the worship in heaven will be rich and amazing, worship on earth is a gift to be enjoyed now. It’s one of God’s greatest gifts. Worship, really worship, now. Don’t wait till Sunday.
Do you worship in rehearsal?
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