The Wonders of Worship
By: Meghan Newkirk
I felt the gravel crunch under my feet as I exited my car this past Sunday morning. The parking lot looks different than it did the last time I saw it in the spring. It has been nine months since I set foot inside our church building and this last Sunday was my family’s first time back. Since spring we’ve watched virtual service faithfully and enjoyed the necessary experience of worshipping from home. As our protective bubble has begun to recently grow, church was the next step of opening up for us.
The moment I crossed into the narthex I felt an immediate and familiar recognition in my heart and mind. I felt like I was coming home after a long trip away. Everyone’s faces were only half visible, but no amount of mask coverage could disguise the joy that comes from worshipping together. The new worship construct is less than ideal but being able to actually see other believers in person reignited a special joy I hadn’t experienced in a long while.
My family and I stood to sing the first song and the vibrations from the drums awakened my enjoyment of singing together with other believers. Our collective voices in unified song to the Lord is a glorious sound, even muffled by masks. I heard my own children singing next to me for the first time in a while since singing at home is far too embarrassing, so I’m told. Together we were making a joyful noise. It all felt foreign, yet pleasantly familiar.
The sermon washed over me in waves. My emotions went up and down in a rhythm as I heard the message of the Gospel preached in person for the first time in so long. I have a whole new appreciation for worshiping with my fellow believers. The richness of being together, calling out for God’s presence to meet us through song, confessing sins in unison, and receiving God’s message as one body are priceless experiences I’ve all too often failed to appreciate before. I realize now how much I’ve taken it all for granted over the years, often grumbling as I got ready for the early service back in the pre-Covid days.
I thought about all the people living in foreign countries, not only restricted on how they can worship, but forbidden to. The bravery it takes to worship regardless of the risks of turmoil, punishment, and even death is remarkable. I now see my sinful selfishness in not appreciating public worship as I ought.
The blessings of worshipping virtually through Covid -19 were valuable given the circumstances, but actually worshipping in person is priceless. Our country feels painfully divided right now. The unity of corporate worship provides the medicine needed to heal the hurt that comes with that kind of division. We are God’s people. We can stand together in our differences, our convictions, and our disagreements knowing we are one in Christ, using the Bible as our standard for truth. He is the only bright light in this depraved world and as the church we can shine during these eerily dark times, singing songs of praise to a God who loves us more than we can comprehend.
It won’t be wise for everyone to worship in person yet due to risk, but whenever it is possible, please come. Outdoor or indoor, it is worth it. Invite others who haven’t been in community with other believers. The Holy Spirit has met us in our virtual services and I’m so thankful for the virtual option we’ve had, but being with other believers satisfied the spiritual hunger I was experiencing amidst these challenging times. It can get too easy to keep worshipping at home with that warm cup of coffee and couch, but the benefits that come with stepping out a bit more to worship together again is a massage to the sore soul.