Sunday Mornings
Our weekly worship is led by a band with vocals, guitars, bass, keyboard, drums, etc. They encourage our church family in prayer and songs of praise, and prepare us to hear the Word of God with an open heart and mind. Because the Psalms repeatedly call us to "sing a new song" to the Lord, our desire is to make our worship a contemporary reflection of our own personalities and expressions. Most of our songs are contemporary (though we enjoy the occassional classic song set to a contemporary arrangement), and we're always seeking fresh ways to share our love for the Lord.
But worship is far more than singing songs together on Sundays. At Hope, worship is a way of life.
Worship In Surrender
Perhaps the greatest example of pure worship in the Bible is found in the simple statement of the prophet Isaiah. He had come to the temple to seek God during a time of national unrest following the death of the king. But he never expected what the Lord had waiting for him. He entered the temple and found himself in the presence of God. Angelic creatures hovered about as God's presence filled the place, and they shouted out declaring God's holiness again and again. As Isaiah saw the Lord revealed, he broke down in utter humility. And when God asked whom he might send as his representative, Isaiah uttered such a pure and beautiful statement of real worship: "Here I am." (Isaiah 6:8)
Ultimately, worship is recognizing the worth and wonder of God, and it leads us to offering all of who we are to him. We worship when we honor God with our choices and priorities. We worship when we pause and sit silently in his presence, allowing his Spirit to lead us. We worship when we we ponder his marvelous faithfulness and power. We worship when we dance and sing like delighted children in the presence of their Father.
The emphasis is not really on how we worship but who we worship. And our greatest desire — wherever we are and whatever we do — is to bring delight to our Creator and Savior.
For more information, contact our Worship Team Leader, Carlton Yelle, or call the church office.