by Graham Mol
Over the last two weeks we have been able to include a session of worship in our Sunday Service live stream. I’d like to share with you something that really stood out to me from the experience.
When we did the first worship session with Themba I handled the technical stuff of cameras and sound. In setting up the sound Themba asked if I could turn up the volume on the main speakers so that there would be full sound in the Church, just like there would be during a normal service. Then he started to play and sing. Within in moments I was struck by how great it felt to hear worship in the Church building again! I also realised just how much I missed it.
Fast forward to the next week with Steph and Luke doing the worship and after running through one song for a quick sound check both of them expressed the exact same thing that I had felt the previous week. It felt good, it felt right for voices to be raised in praise and worship in Church again. We actually find much the same conclusion expressed in one of the Psalms.
“Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him!” (Psalm 147:1 NIV)
This experience has come with a bitter-sweet element since we cannot yet share in lifting our voices together as a Church family gathered together. But oh how wonderful and joyous it will be when we can finally do so!
Until then we can still experience how good it is, and pleasant and fitting, to sing praises to God. You do not have to be at Church to praise the Lord. In Jesus’ discussion with the Samaritan woman at the well, she raised the debate of where the correct place was to worship God. He responded with the following words:
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”(John 4:21-24 NIV)
That time is now. It is not about the place that you worship but rather about the position of your heart, the authenticity of your praise. We can lift up praise to our God no matter where we are, together or apart. It is still good, it is still pleasant and fitting to sing praises to our God.
God Bless
Graham
Thank you Graham. Lovely, unifying post. We miss you too.😊
Thanks for all the extra you do to bring us live worship. It is truly a blessing
Thanks to the worship team for bringing us “together again” for worship. Ditto, Sandy and Caryl’s comments. Graham, your efforts are greatly appreciated 🤗