Welcome to Elmhurst CRC’s Daily Dose of the Word of God. It’s Friday, June 28, and Sunday is coming! I’m Erin Pacheco, Director of Worship here at ECRC. This Sunday is our Fifth Sunday Serve, which means instead of gathering for our regular worship service, we’ll use the time to go out and serve our community. Which has me thinking about the link between worship and service. Have you ever wondered why we call Sunday mornings a “worship service”? A lot of people think of “worship” as just the songs we sing. But throughout the Bible, worship is often linked with service. It has less to do with music – although that can certainly be part of it – and more to do with laying our whole selves down in surrender to God.
Erin Pacheco 1:10
Here’s Romans 12:1-2, in the New Living Translation: And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Erin Pacheco 1:55
Paul in Romans goes on to describe what this looks like – using our gifts and abilities to bless others, and showing God’s love through all kinds of actions and words. Things like praying for others, showing hospitality, rejoicing with those who rejoice, and weeping with those who weep. All of this is worship. It doesn’t need music. And it doesn’t even have to happen at church. So I wonder what your worship service will look like on Sunday? I wonder how God will meet you there?
Erin Pacheco 2:35
Let’s pray. Gracious God, we thank you for all you have done for us. Thank you for calling us just as we are, and showing us your mercy and grace. And thank you for slowly transforming us into the kind of people who know and do your will. Help us to worship and serve you, not just with our voices but with all of our bodies and minds and hearts as well. Show us how we can be your hands and feet to our neighbors this weekend, so they can see Jesus through us. Amen.
