Last week I spent one week at a retreat asking the age old question…Why do we do what we do in worship?  Why do we say the prayer of confession, sing hymns, and pray?  What is the purpose of taking an offering, listening to sermons and participating in baptisms and communion?  Basically asking the question, what is the point? 

As a worship leader, I can tell you that each individual piece of liturgy is significant for a reason.  For example, we sing to hear the story of our faith and say Thank You Lord.  We listen to a sermon so we can hear the words of God proclaimed to us.  We give our offering because we recognize all that God gives us and we respond with a gift back.  I could go on, but you get the picture each piece of worship has a purpose in helping us to be in relationship with God.

But what was interesting about asking this question again while reading some of the theological greats of our tradition is what John Calvin said about the point of worship.  He said that worship is a public gathering and what happens in it (the prayer of confession, sermon, prayers, sacraments etc.) concerns the whole nation.  This is an intriguing point about worship because it is says that we show up to worship each Sunday not only for our relationship with God to grow or for our relationships with church family to be nourished.  The point of worship is that it changes the whole world. 

This seems like an unbelievable purpose, to think that our particular presence at worship this coming Sunday is going to change the world.  Think about it for a second.  Calvin is saying that your prayer of confession, your voice as we sing together, your prayers, your listening, responding, and giving in worship will change the world.

I have been marveling about how we changed the world because of our attendance in worship this past Sunday.  Did we change the world because we chose to forgive the person were we angry at, because God chose to forgive us?  Was it was when we recognized the sunset as gift from God and gave thanks.  Or perhaps it was the smile and kind words given to the cashier in grocery store, the hug we gave to a friend, and the prayer we prayed when we sent our kids off at school.  Or possibly it was when we heard God’s voice speaking and we were comforted, compelled and challenged to do His work.  Or maybe it was the moment we listened for God’s answer to our dilemma whether small or large.

We change the world when we worship, because it is in worship that we hear God speak, we remember God’s presence and we live as God’s beloved children wherever we go.  I don’t think I will ever see the simple pieces of worship the same.  Thanks be to God!

As Wes, Frank and I stood in front of the sea of candles held high singing Silent Night I couldn’t help but think about how wonderful it was to begin our ministry together with the sign of the light of Christ surrounding us. As the light twinkled around us illuminating the glass windows, pews, walls, and faces it was as is if we were in the midst of the ocean made of light and everything came alive because of it. 

Since I was a child I have always loved this portion of the Christmas Eve service. The way Christ’s light goes from one person to the next is beautiful uniting young or old, single or married, new to church or a seasoned member. The moment we share the light of Christ with your loved one, a friend or maybe a stranger is the beautiful symbol of the way Christ light spreads through us. As the light gets brighter the words from John 1 seem to come alive, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.”  

The light of Christ is always spreading though conversations, smiles, hugs, and relationships we have with others. It moves through us and around us lighting up the dark world but too often we miss it. We are surrounded by the shadows of darkness found in war, hurt, and loss and the light becomes distant. This is why we celebrate with the simple candles at Christmas Eve, to once again cast out darkness and recognize the signs of light in us.   

Together we stood with Christ before us as the light was passed down the rows of people until everyone’s candle was lit. The light enveloped each person not only lighting the wick of the candle but lighting up each person’s face. And before us was a sea of God’s family. It was a beautiful night of worship, praise, and celebration of Christ’s birth and a wonderful way for us to begin this New Year.

As we begin 2014, let us begin remembering the light of Christ that lives in each of us. I can’t wait to see the light of Christ working in each of you. May this year begin with the light of Christ surrounding you!