I listened to her story, as she told me how she was searching for something more, something deeper, a style or form of worship that would set her free.
Worship, what is it? Often when the subject is discussed at Church Councils/ meetings we are discussing what we do in one hour set aside during the week, usually on a Sunday morning. These meetings and discussions can become quite heated and emotional, or should I say these meetings usually become quite heated and emotional...
So often we as individuals and groups spend time and energy defending our traditions and dare I suggest preferences and somehow miss the underlying issue, and the unasked question... we should not be asking so much where and how but why....
Jesus had the question of where posed to him by the Samaritan woman when he met her at the well, it came in the form of a statement....
Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." ( John 4: 19-20)
A statement to draw Jesus away from the original topic of discussion- herself.... when Jesus had touched on painful and difficult aspects of life she shielded herself with a discussion about worship, flattering him by calling him a prophet.
How often do our discussions about worship, what where and how belie a deeper cry from a parched place within our souls, a place where we know ourselves disconnected from God and are inwardly weeping and raging against this harsh reality?
How often do we look for solutions in form and practise rather than in relationship?
How often does God come close offering us living water that we dare not drink for to drink it would entail owning our dryness and allowing it to show?
These are questions I live with on a daily basis, questions that need more than systematic answers, questions that require us to draw close to Jesus whose promise is that streams of living water will flow from within us as we draw closer to him....
Drawing close to God in the daily things of life, recognising that although we bring our worship to him, it is only real if we can grasp the truth that it originates in him and flows back to him, that we become channels for his glory.
Back to my conversation again C is a busy young mum, who works 3 days each week in a professional job, her life is hectic, and she is often tired. She needs Sunday morning to be an oasis where she can come and drink freely from the well of life, but the form and structure of the Methodist service we offer is not meeting her needs.
I understand- I am a member of the staff team and yet I often feel that way myself, it is easy, and lazy to produce a 5 hymn prayer sandwich which satisfies the majority of the congregation, or at least that is how it seems on the surface.
So, is another meeting called for where we discuss where and how we should be worshipping God, or would it perhaps be better to refocus on why?
What might the question why achieve?
As I think this through I am aware that for me it would wake me up to the wealth and depth of the message I preach, to draw close to God in prayer, to draw living water from his abundant wells and to pour out this water on thirsty ground.
For others in might mean a re-engagement with familiar words, a fresh understanding of the Scriptures and a sense of adventure and expectancy as we come together.
Is this an excuse to maintain the status quo? No I don't believe it is, I believe that it is a re-awakening to the possibilities offered ever day to worship, and how to celebrate those possibilities when we meet to encourage one another on a Sunday (?) morning.
Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth."
The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he." ( John 4 21-26)
This declaration triggers an open-eyed, open hearted recognition in the Samaritan woman, and she runs into the town calling out to her neighbours, no longer afraid of their criticisms she has been set free by the one who pours living water onto barren land and brings forth life.
Back again to my conversation with C- she is embarrassed as she and her family have been attending another church in the town that more fully meets their needs as a young family. They have not left, they have simply moved on, and have found a place where they are able to worship in spirit and in truth. I find I can rejoice with them, but I am aware that the problem od spiritual thirst may run deeper than she is currently aware of, and may be more to do with relationship with God than lack of lively music.... but as I said, for now I rejoice.....
... for me a question remains; am I worshipping in the flow of God given living water, or am I simply paddling in stagnant pools of tradition? I have a lot to think about.

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