A WORD FROM PASTOR ANDREW HOOK

October 19, 2021

I grew up in churches that would be considered “non-liturgical.” Meaning these churches didn’t have a form of worship that formally included people to participate in worship. Here, we have our responsive call to worship. We’re invited to pray the Lord’s Prayer aloud together each week. Our communion liturgy has moments where we are all invited to respond. We affirm our faith aloud with the recitation of a creed on communion Sundays. Other churches, they didn’t have those moments. 

Liturgy simply means a formula for worship. But can a liturgy be adopted or formed for other activities, or can be only used for worship? Or what if we began to approach as many moments in our life as opportunities to worship God. For example, can making coffee each morning become a place where we worship God? (Frankly, I think coffee should be a sacrament.)

In his book “Every Moment Holy,” by Doug McKelvey, we are invited to regard each and every possible moment as a chance to honor God with our lives. He even has a “Liturgy for the Ritual of Morning Coffee,” a prayer to be offered each morning as we prep the coffee and kickstart the day.

“Meet me, O Christ

in this stillness of morning.

Move me, O Spirit,

to quiet my heart.

Mend me, O Father,

from yesterday’s harms.

From the discords of yesterday,

resurrect my peace.

From the discouragement of yesterday,

resurrect my hope.

From the weariness of yesterday,

resurrect my strength.

From the doubts of yesterday,

resurrect my faith.

From the wounds of yesterday,

resurrect my love.

Let me enter this new day,

aware of my need and awake to your grace, O Lord.”

Each week now, I get to the church around 5:45 on Wednesday mornings to open up the sanctuary for whoever would like to come and find space to pray, read, and grab a cup of coffee. And there’s a certain rhythm to how I go about getting everything up and running. It’s become close to a ritual, up to getting the coffee ready. 

Last week, as the coffee brewed and the smell of the promise of caffeine filled the kitchen and sanctuary and lobby, I remembered this prayer. One that I’ll start offering each Wednesday as the coffee brews. I invite you to join me tomorrow morning if you can, either in the sanctuary, or in your home or office, to offer this prayer over your coffee. Because the line that some people want to draw between spiritual and secular, between holy and mundane or profane, is a false one. As the people of God, we’re invited to be aware of God’s presence in each and every moment in our lives. 

We’ll continue our Stuff Happens worship series together. And as COVID cases continue to drop in our community and state, it’s been good to see more people returning to in-person worship and community.  

Sunday is coming! We’ll see you there!

Pastor Andrew