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what is worship when our psalms are living?

This needs some good kicking around. From here

Is our Jesus fully human as well as fully divine? Are we fully human with Jesus? She used an analogy for worship of going to have coffee with Jesus – “If you had coffee with Jesus do you think he would want you to be real with him? Or would he want you to sit across the table saying ‘Jesus you’re high and lifted up. I glorify you. I love you. You are great.'” Would Jesus take delight in having his ego stroked? Or would he prefer that we were real with him, sharing our joy and pain, troubles, fears and victories with him? Donna used the analogy of parents with their children. Taking your child for a fluffy, do you want your kid saying ‘I love you mummy and daddy. You’re so awesome. I love you so much.’ Or do you do you want to see your children loving the fluffly, enjoying life, talking with you about the great things of life, sharing their worries and concerns, even sharing when they’re angry at someone or even you their parent!’ She used the quote from Irenaeus – “The glory of God is humanity fully alive” What does it mean to be fully alive? And what are the implications for worship?

For me, one implication for worship was kicked around and grounded here at Opawa on Sunday evening. We were looking at God’s Big Story (6 part series) and so it was time to explore the Psalms. They can be grouped into 3; as happy, grumpy, surprising.

I had set out 3 stations, with different coloured cloths (yellow, black, unexpectedly patterned purple). Each station had different symbols (globe and Bible, salted water, happy face) and different Psalms as examples (Psalm 8 and 1, Psalm 13 and 137, Psalm 40 and 118).

I talked about how Psalms were living (used the Carpe Diem clip from Dead Poets Society – can we lean forward and hear the whisper of people/psalm writers long dead)?) and so they have shaped worship for over 3,000 years.

So, as part of shaping our living worship, we took some time to name things we were happy and grumpy about. Some people were willing to have them read aloud, so we mixed their experiences with a line take from a Michael W. Smith song. So here was our living Psalm, mixing our worship today with a psalm and with communion.

Verse 1: (Some phrases from Psalm 118)
Give thanks to the Lord,
ALL CHANT: His love endures forever
When hard pressed I cried to the Lord,
ALL CHANT: His love endures forever
The Lord is with me,
ALL CHANT: His love endures forever
The Lord is my strength and salvation.
ALL CHANT: His love endures forever

Verse 2: (Naming some “happy lines” from among us)
Sunny days playing cricket in Hanmer
ALL CHANT: His love endures forever
Our families
ALL CHANT: His love endures forever
Not walking alone, for God is always with me
ALL CHANT: His love endures forever
Good weather, healthy family, lots of fun
ALL CHANT: His love endures forever

Verse 3: (Naming some “grumpy lines” from among us)
Why do you let men continue to kill each other in wars and terrorist bombings
ALL CHANT: His love endures forever
Why do you not seem to be walking with me
ALL CHANT: His love endures forever
I am afraid of life and not knowing what the next day brings
ALL CHANT: His love endures forever

Verse 4: (Moving toward communion)
Eat, this is Christ’s body
ALL CHANT: His love endures forever
Broken for you
ALL CHANT: His love endures forever
Drink, this is Jesus cup
ALL CHANT: His love endures forever
Remember Christ’s suffering
ALL CHANT: His love endures forever

For more posts on thinking about worship today try:
tell me how singing worship works for you?
7 things I learnt from Bono about worship leading