And also with you

 The late Hoyt Hickman, one of the Deans of modern United Methodist liturgical thought, wrote a book titled Worshiping with United Methodists.¹  In it, he sought to answer the question, “What is Christian worship?” He listed five principles that characterize Christian worship.  His second principle is: Active congregational Participation is crucial.

We have all been in worship experiences where the expectation of the congregation was that the people would sing a couple of hymns and put money in the collection plate.  Everything else that takes place is in the front of the sanctuary, inside the chancel (if the church arranges itself that way).  In these settings the worshipers are passive observers of activity carried on by the few: preacher, liturgist, musician(s), perhaps a few others.  This can be an entertaining stage show.  It has little to recommend it as worship.

Authentic worship involves everyone present.  In its purest form it is dialogical.  That is that there is a call-and-response element to the proceedings.  There might be a call to prayer, and then the people pray.  A service might include a sequence of invitation, confession, absolution and passing of the peace.  A prime example of this idea would be that a leader would read a scripture lesson or lessons, someone would preach a homily or sermon, and then the people would respond with an affirmation of faith, doxology, prayer, offering or some other act of commitment. 

This is to say that genuine worship involves the worshipers throughout the event.  The division is not necessarily 50-50 between leaders and congregation, but that is not a bad goal.  The people of God have come together to worship God, not to view a presentation.

The Lord be with you.

¹Nashville: Abingdon, 1996