February 2023 Rector’s Message
Have you ever thought about why we gather for worship? Your ideas about why may be that people are seeking comfort, connection to friends, a sense of peace and purpose, or a multitude of other needs. The church prioritizes worship to practice the sacramental life as a mystery of grace, and to teach/form/shape the life of faith. There are religions where the primary intention of worship is kinetic – it is bodies moving in a routine and lips uttering syllables whether or not they are comprehended. This activity does meet spiritual needs in those traditions, and it meets parts of the goal in ours. In Christian-ness worship is intended to shape ethics and practices, and inspire the ways of God in the very enactment of life day in and day out: it is instruction and sacrament shared for the transformation of self and the world. This commitment is one of learning; and how we learn and grow must shape our choices in how we worship.
Good research shows that adults learn best in a layering of repetition and newness. Saying the same words and making the same ritual gestures brings comfort like greeting an old friend, and it connects ideas to an embodiment with less focus. Good revelations can come in contexts of unfocused comfort, but they also take root in moments of utter confusing newness. The same repetitiveness that writes God’s words on our hearts, can lead to inattention, to a sense that it doesn’t matter or mean anything (especially if the words or motions contradict what we promise). And, like only eating the same food all the time, no complexity or diversity in our worship practices can lead to a lack of health and imbalance. New words, carefully discerned, connected to the mission of God and what the Spirit is doing to reshape us, these texts, and motions, and songs move us to the place of paying more attention and therefore learning.
This understanding of adult learning and faith formation shapes the choices we make – a layering of repetition and freshness to both nourish and to grow. God desires our growth, our love, and our commitment to the journey, in the moments that are as cozy as old friends snuggled on a sofa and in the times when it feels like we are having to drive and read the map at the same time. Yes, our worship isn’t exactly the same all the time and it isn’t random, we promise. It is rooted in knowing how we know and how we grow. The grace of Jesus conveyed in the sacrament is a mystery, but it is present. Not because we said the magic words or made the perfect gesture, but because of his promise. When something is new and it gives you pause – lean in, not away. Wonder what God is showing you at that moment? Is it love, is it challenge? Both are of Jesus, both are supposed to be what we experience in worship. I hope you will continue to say the old words and sing the old songs, and dig into the fresh ones as well. Christ is calling us this month, this year, and this lifetime, to lifelong learning, growth, and faithfulness. Come, pray, study, and grow in your love of him and all he holds dear.