Guided Worship - Introduction by Derrek Belase

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Worship is who we are!

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Worship is a state (an attitude) of being.
Since it is an internal, individual action, it could/should be demonstrated at all times, regardless of place or situation.
Worship is not simply what we do….

Definitions

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1)“…worship, which comes from the Old English word Weorthscipe, weorth (worthy) and –scipe

(-ship). This literal meaning is the thematic thread which draws this work together… worship: to attribute worth to someone, to esteem another ‘s being.” (H.M. Elkins, Worshiping Women)

2)The event through which a community of faith gathers, enters into a set of rituals and rites intended to provide spiritual formation individually and communally.

Who did you resonate with?

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BUT worship is what we do!

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Acts 2:42-47

⁴²they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
⁴⁴All the believers were together and had everything in common.
⁴⁵They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.
They broke bread in their homes and ate together with
glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and enjoying the favor
of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily
those who were being saved. (NRSV)

Here's a fun way to think about it!

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Chuck Knows Church!

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Guided worship is the first module in our "Deepening Discipleship" series. Other modules will cover Eucharist (Holy Communion), Baptism and prayer.

We are glad you're here!

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You're almost done.

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The Basics

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“In the singular the word ‘liturgy’ denotes an act of worship, more specifically the eucharist. Derived from the Greek leitourgia, it was used in Hellenistic Greek of an act of public service. In the NT it is employed of an act of service or ministry” (Phil. 2:40)

(Horton Davies, ed., The New Westminster Dictionary of Liturgy and Worship, 314)

The Life of Christ

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“Therefore the theological and spiritual origin of Christian liturgy is the life of Christ and our sharing in his life as members of the body of Christ. That is the root of the Christian meaning of liturgy.”

(Patricia Wilson-Kastner, Sacred Drama: A Spirituality of Christian Liturgy, 7-8)

Native American perspective

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“According to one Native America conception, the shaman or medicine man, prepared by visions and ceremonies, becomes a ‘hole through which the power could come.’ In the Christian liturgy, it is the assembly itself, encountering Christ in word and sacrament, that becomes a hole in which the fabric of things, through which life-giving power flows into the world.”

(Gordon W. Lathrop, Holy Things, A Liturgical Theology, 212)

African-American Perspective

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“The most effective demonstration of true liturgy is what we do in obedience to God in Christ with our lives when we gather and when we scatter as a community in the world.”

(Melva Wilson Costen, African American Christian Worship, 127-128.)

The Priesthood of All Believers - it is us all!

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“Liturgy, then, is a work performed by the people for the benefit of others. In other words, it is the quintessence of the priesthood of believers that the whole priestly community of Christians shares. To call a service ‘liturgical’ is to indicate that it was conceived so that all worshipers take an active part in offering their worship together.”

(James F. White, Introduction to Christian Worship, 3rd Edition, 26)

A Final Word

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“Liturgy is certainly a humanly created form that is both powerful and pure. It is the result of a many-centuried process of encounter between God and human communities gathered together again and again in a particular but ever-changing historical context. Because liturgy is the evidence of this living process, it makes claims of truth.”

(Marjorie Procter-Smith, In Her Own Rite,13).

Consider this perspective...

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Now that you have reviewed the definitions of worship and liturgy, please view this video which is from the Native American perspective about the importance of tradition, worship and liturgy.

Why this video?

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This video is included in this portion of our course for a few important reasons.

1) Worship is a primary vehicle through which the Christian traditions are passed from one generation to another, including that of song.

2) For the context of Oklahoma, we live among these and many other tribes, who are worshipping all around us.

3) This is your first introduction to exploring worship in another style, which we will be doing for the remainder of this module.

Here is a link to the shared google page.

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This is the place where you can answer some questions about worship and liturgy.