The word “worship” comes to us from the old English “worthscype,” which also gives us the words “worth” and “worthy.” God, being God, does not need our worship. However, the Triune God -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit (or creator, savior and sanctifier) – is worthy of our praise as an act of gratitude for what God has done for us.
We are gathered by the Holy Spirit, fed by Word and Sacrament, and sent out into the world to serve. This pattern of worship has existed for the entire history of the Christian Church. The sacraments can be found in the Bible, most notably at the beginning and end of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), praising god with “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” is mentioned in Colossians 3:16. A skeletal version of worship was described by Justin Martyr in about 155 a.d.
Two words are used to describe worship. The word “Liturgy” comes from the Greek word leitourgia, which means “work of the people.” The other word describing worship is Gottesdienst, which is German for “God’s service (to us).” God’s service to us is in Word, Sacrament, and forgiveness. Our “work” is prayer and praise, and the giving of time and talents.
Our worship is Biblical: almost all of the words of worship come directly from the Bible. We have two songs of praise near the beginning of the rite: the “Glory to God in the Highest,” or Gloria is an extension of the angels’ song of praise at Luke 2:13-14; “This Is the Feast” is a recent addition and is based on the song of the angels at Revelation 5:11-14.
Our worship is historical: beyond the skeleton laid out by Justin Martyr, perhaps the oldest part of our worship is the “Lord, have mercy” (Kyrie/Christe eleison), which comes to us from the Greek. The creeds, or statements of belief, come from early times and were codified in the fourth century. The order of worship we use (the “ordo”) has had its current shape since the time of Gregory the Great (about 600 a.d.). This connects us to the great “cloud of witnesses” described first in Hebrews 11 and 12.
We are gathered by the Holy Spirit, fed by Word and Sacrament, and sent out into the world to serve. This pattern of worship has existed for the entire history of the Christian Church. The sacraments can be found in the Bible, most notably at the beginning and end of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), praising god with “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” is mentioned in Colossians 3:16. A skeletal version of worship was described by Justin Martyr in about 155 a.d.
Two words are used to describe worship. The word “Liturgy” comes from the Greek word leitourgia, which means “work of the people.” The other word describing worship is Gottesdienst, which is German for “God’s service (to us).” God’s service to us is in Word, Sacrament, and forgiveness. Our “work” is prayer and praise, and the giving of time and talents.
Our worship is Biblical: almost all of the words of worship come directly from the Bible. We have two songs of praise near the beginning of the rite: the “Glory to God in the Highest,” or Gloria is an extension of the angels’ song of praise at Luke 2:13-14; “This Is the Feast” is a recent addition and is based on the song of the angels at Revelation 5:11-14.
Our worship is historical: beyond the skeleton laid out by Justin Martyr, perhaps the oldest part of our worship is the “Lord, have mercy” (Kyrie/Christe eleison), which comes to us from the Greek. The creeds, or statements of belief, come from early times and were codified in the fourth century. The order of worship we use (the “ordo”) has had its current shape since the time of Gregory the Great (about 600 a.d.). This connects us to the great “cloud of witnesses” described first in Hebrews 11 and 12.
