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| Stain Glass Basel Cathedral |
'Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.' Isaiah 6:5.
The prophet Isaiah saw the Lord God Almighty seated on a throne, high and exalted. A train of angels attended the Lord, worshiping and calling to one another, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." At the sight of the majesty and grandeur in encountering God, Isaiah shuddered and uttered, "Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." Isaiah 6:5. Isaiah recognised the sanctity of the moment.
The Rev (Dr) Ben Witherington at the Singapore Aldersgate Convention (Ref 1) observed that an encounter with God in true worship simultaneously and paradoxically widens and narrows the gap between God and us. Worship happens when we realise the distance and distinction between the creator and the creation. This revelation smacked in Isaiah's face as he exclaimed, "Woe is me. I am a man of unclean lips yet I see the Lord." "Such encounter will make clear that God is God and we are so not god" said Dr Witherington, "and worship happens when the creature realizes he is not the creator and bows down to the One who is."
Is this happening in our worship services? Today, our attitude to worship is to treat it as a consumer's product. The modern worship services are in danger of becoming more and more a show for man, directed to man, with man-pleasing songs, entertaining musical performances and speeches which tickle the ears of listeners. We come to church to consume, not to worship. It is all about ourselves, we need to be inspired, we need to learn, we need to feel good, we need to enjoy the singing, we need to enjoy the music. We approached worship as a consumer but we failed to be consumed by the presence of God.
We have failed to recognise the sanctity of the moment, the hour that is hallowed and sacred. Perhaps this maybe the reason we are forced to reboot, to reconsider our worship at this time of restrictions due to the pandemic.
The 2020 Easter Season was perhaps the least celebratory we have witnessed for many decades. In his sermon on Palm Sunday, Bishop Emeritus Robert Solomon shared that while we cannot enjoy the whole festivity of Palm Sunday, "I suspect it has forced us not just to join a crowd but to experience the Lord Jesus Christ riding into our hearts. The limitation we have today does not stop us from worshipping. lifting our hearts in praise of Jesus. It is as if the Lord has chosen to ride into our hearts so that we can focus our hearts on Jesus." (Ref 2)
These words from the Bishop inspired our niece-in-law, Angela Goh, to write the lyrics and music of this lovely, inspiring song, 'Hosanna.'
I sing Hosanna when at home
I sing Hosanna though alone
No palm to palm greeting we give
Confined to home so we can live
I sing Hosanna from the heart
From friends and family far apart
Uncertain times, when fears arise
Look at the world, God hears our cries
Hosanna, we lift our voice in praise
Hosanna, our prayers to you we raise
In trials, give us joy
This sickness, you destroy
Hosanna, we lift our voice in praise
Hosanna, our hearts to you we raise
Set our hearts ablaze
Hosanna till the end of our days
We sing Hosanna in one accord
From home to home to our Lord
United together, one spirit, strong
Distanced, not forlorn
We sing Hosanna loud and proud
Spirit united, we are a crowd
Bless the Lord oh my soul
Hosanna we extol
Lionel
Ref 1 Methodist Message 110(7) Jul 08
Ref 2: The Methodist Message June 2020
Lionel - you put it so well, thank you for the post. That is why I cannot understand why the congregation claps after the choir had sung as though it is a performance. I cannot understand why the congregation leave the sanctuary after taking holy communionas though it is the end of the worship service.
ReplyDeleteThanks Edwin. Leaving the sanctuary after taking the Holy Communion but before the end of service degrades the sanctity of the Holy Communion. I think that our pastor has been quite successful in educating against this and very gently too I observe. She also did well in introducing quiet singing as the members take out turn to receive the elements, thus reducing the chatter that was so audible when one should be contemplative.
ReplyDeleteI have often wondered too about when does ministry turn to perfomance? There are no easy answers. Only the preacher knows when he switches from preaching God’s truth to titilating the ears of the congregation. Only the choir knows when they are singing for the Lord or singing for their reputation. When you clap after the choir sang are you clapping and appreciating and acknowledging that in that singing you are inspired, you are brought nearer to appreciating God or you are clapping like an appreciative audience acknowledging good music and entertainment?
Remember the scene from Sister Act, when the congregation was so stunned by the choir performance that there was a dead silence? Then we hear one clap that of the bishop seating in his seat in the loft? Sometimes I feel that when the choir sings exceptionally well or the organ and piano pieces played to an inspirational quality, and no one claps, there is an appreciative silence and in silence one should hear the hands of God clapping. When does offering becomes performing, when does minstry becomes entertainment? It is difficult to tell.
👍🏼🙏🏼❤️🌺
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