Worship for me is… living all my life from the core of a prayer we prayed Sunday after Sunday at the end of the worship service in the church where I was baptized and confirmed: “Help us to treasure in our hearts all that our Lord has done for us, and enable us to show our thankfulness by lives that are given wholly to your service.” 

It is a Gathering - to come with others into a church community to hear the Word of God and receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion - to respond with praise and thanksgiving, singing and prayer, and being with one another - to connect my story with God’s story and be given the insight and desire to connect in this Spirit of love with the stories of others.

It is a Scattering - to then go from the church community, called into the living of our lives to respond to this radical message of God’s love in Jesus Christ. It is here where we have points of entry with others in our daily lives - that with this Spirit serving as our lens and inspiration, we create relationships in word and action – relationships of mutual respect, compassion and justice with all people and all creation. 

Within this rhythm, worship is life - for me!

Dick Carlson