Changing Terminology

Should I say I’m going to church on Sundays — OR should I be saying I’m going to worship?

Going to Church

• go to be entertained
• passive participant
• go away feeling proud — I was in church today

Going to Worship

• Go to praise God – thru
• song
• prayer
• tithing
• Go to be in communion with God — thru
• prayer
• Holy Communion
• song
• Go to support God’s work — thru
• missions
• tithing
• Active participant
• Go away
• Humble
• know own faults
• know only God can change me
• Hungry
• to learn more by reading the Bible and listening for God to speak
• to be in community by participating in a small group and/or Bible study
• to be in worship again next week

Lord, I want to worship You today.

Being Anonymous

In a recent conversation with a pastor, the issue of declining worship attendance was brought up. Having attended all sizes of churches, I believe one of the factors behind declining worship attendance is the lack of community in the larger church. In a large church both my presence and my absence can go unnoticed — I’m just anonymous. Thus, it is easy to be a drop-in worshiper — attending at my convenience. However, in a small church, I’m not anonymous — I’m known by name and people genuinely care about both my absence and my presence. For someone somewhat shy like me, it is hard to make a personal connection with those around me during the passing of the peace. In a small church, not only do I get the chance to know others by name but I’m not allowed to remain anonymous. I believe that somehow, this sense of  ‘small church community’ needs to be developed within worship services at large churches. Unfortunately, I don’t know how to develop that sense of community.