What do you do in meeting for worship?
This question was put people attending Newcastle Meeting. A selection of the responses is given below.
The selection will be changed from time to time. This is the third selection.
When I am in meeting for worship, I try to compose myself and loosen the hold that all the things I've been fretting about seem to have on me. I try to clear them from my mind, but find it very difficult. I want to empty my mind so that God can come in. I try to get in touch with Him and ask Him to be with me. I try to listen to what He wants to communicate to me. I don't feel that I want to ask Him for things specifically, but just entrust myself to Him along with all those I care about.
I want to be receptive to His influence and take it with me when I leave, so that it will strengthen me and enable me to learn from everything that happens to me, and understand the way that God wants me to go.
Mainly, I greatly appreciate the opportunity to sit quietly and feel wrapped in the safety and security which I remember and associate with meeting for worship in my childhood. I think about my dear husband and all he does and has done for me - and pray that I will not be irriatable with him in future!
When there is ministry, I often find it opens fresh areas of thought which I can relate to experiences of my own; or something I have read is recalled to mind, and this I find helpful.
All in all, I fear that meeting for worship is for me a 'taking' rather than a 'giving' occasion - but you asked us to write honestly and this I have tried to do.
I repeat over and over to myself -
' Be still and know that I am God' (Psalms 46:9, AV).If I become still, really still in myself, I hope to listen to God.
Click to return to the main Meetings for Worship page
Last update: 17 September 2007