Northfield Methodist Church

How do you prepare for a worship service?

Prepare?

Yes, when it comes to attending a worship service, what preparation do you go through in anticipation of meeting with God in that time? Do you center your mind as you're driving to Church? Do you say a short prayer as you enter the Sanctuary?

One of the ways I'd like to explore preparation for the 18h30 service is to post some of the thoughts that go through my mind as I prepare the worship set for the coming Sunday evening. This will mean that the worship time is not a lucky-packet for you as you arrive on a Sunday evening, but rather you get to share some of the worship leader's "mind" before hand.

Onto this coming week - 30th September.

The theme for Sunday is Compassion. As I read through the possible scriptures for the evening, I was struck by one of the most beautiful passages I've come across:

Isaiah 58:8-9 (New Living
Translation)

8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,
and the glory of the Lord will protect you from
behind.
9 Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

These verses come after a series call to Holy living - a real challenge for us to live the life God wants us to live - yet, the promise is that our salvation will come like the dawn. It kinda reminds me of the scene from City of Angels where the angels move to the shores each morning and listen to the music of the dawn. It is a source of energy and rejuvenation for the angels.

And so, some of the preparation you can do for Sunday is to consider how your salvation has come like the dawn - what newness has it brought into your life and how has God sustained you as the day moves to noon and evening?

Hope to see you on Sunday evening.