Worship

Saying sorry to God

“What do you want to say sorry for?”
I asked the children this question during a session on “Saying Sorry to God” at the Children in Worship programme run by Methodist School of Music last year.

How can hymns speak more directly to the realities of life?

The prophet Amos was a man of uncompromising integrity, deeply concerned with justice and righteousness. His message was clear: worship that is full of praise but devoid of justice does not please the Lord. Amos declared, “Away with the noise of your songs, but let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never- failing stream” (Amos 5:23-24 NIV).

From crib to cross: Love came down, love so amazing

The world was weary, hoping for a Messiah—a Saviour to bring peace to the chaos. Yet, when God answered, he did so in a way no one expected: not with royal splendour, but in a humble manger. Love arrived unnoticed, wrapped in the vulnerability of a newborn child.

Dealing with mental health through worship

When I first heard the song I Speak Jesus, the lyrics struck me for their novelty. Words like “addiction”, “anxiety” and “depression” usually do not appear in contemporary worship songs. Most of the time, we would sing about God’s greatness, goodness and sovereignty over our trials. Mental health issues do not get specific mention.

The worship service requires your active participation

Week after week, we gather for worship. We listen again to the Word of God proclaimed in Scripture readings and sermons. We sing, we pray, we respond to the Word with our gifts and we come to the table to commune with the Lord—not as individuals—but as a whole community of faith. Why do we do this?

Worship leadership – learning from biblical and secular wisdom

Leadership is not just a title; it is an attitude and a commitment to serving others. In the context of worship, everyone takes a leadership role wherever they are placed. This means taking the initiative without being told. This includes the choir, musicians, ushers and even the flower arrangers, each contributing to the collective worship experience.

Using art to balance technology’s dominance in worship

Technology is an inescapable part of life. Zoom conferences, artificial intelligence, image generation—much has been said about its merits and drawbacks, questioning whether technologies intended to make our lives more connected and convenient are stunting our hearts and minds.

When prayer for healing is not what is needed

In the book My Body Is Not A Prayer Request: Disability Justice In The Church, author Dr Amy Kenny writes, “Disability acts as a method for revealing the living God to the community, not something that always needs to be prayed away to showcase God’s power.”

Going forth in the Lord’s name

In our journey of faith, it is important to recognise that worship extends far beyond the walls of our churches. As Christians, we can also find divine purpose and worship God through our secular work.

The hands of Jesus

Just before we turned in for the night on Christmas Eve, my husband asked: “How was your year?” The question caught me off guard, as he would typically ask about my day, and not an entire year’s worth of days. I could not answer immediately, but upon further reflection, I realised that much of my 2023 was spent scurrying from one small task to another in a somewhat endless cycle.

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