Naomi's Notes - 01/25/04
Recently, as I was preparing my own heart for worship during the organ prelude, my focus was drawn to the candles on the offertory table. A burning candle is an ancient symbol of the burning presence of God (the Shekinah glory), a reminder that God is with us. How appropriate it is that we, Immanuel Baptist church, use candles in our worship year-round, not just during the Advent season.
As the flames flickered, I remembered a story I read years ago by Robert Bailey in "A Biblical Theology of Worship" in Music in the Worship Experience, by William Anderson. He tells of a temple in rural India where there is no electricity. Hanging from the roof is a large brass work with a hundred niches where little oil lamps - similar to those used in Jesus' time - may be set. As the people come to worship, using their lamps to light their way, the temple is dark. But as each worshiper enters and places his or her lamp in the fixture, gradually the temple grows brighter until the room is aglow with the light of a hundred small flames.
Bailey finds two truths here: "One is that the darkened sanctuary is illumined by the gathering of the worshipers. The other is that the worshipers are bringing something with them to the worship experience. It is not just what God or the worship leaders do that makes the worship event come alive. In order for there to be vital worship, each worshiper must [participate as much] in the celebration as do the worship leaders."
I find a third truth: Our worship services at IBC (as well as our entire church ministry) are unique because of the unique combination of gifts that are brought to our church by individual Immanuelites. Whether our gifts are in preaching or music-making, enhancing sound or making banners, leading in prayer or ushering, we are unlike any other gathering of believers. The flaming presence of God is uniquely aglow in our hearts and in our corporate worship.
See you this Sunday -
Naomi