Unified Worship

Today a remarkable thing happened. Something that should not have been unusual, but was. Something happened that was beautiful in its simplicity, and exhilarating in its obvious rightness. Today was one of those days where you look at those around you and wonder why it took so long for this to happen.

Today, four area congregations, all with different affiliations, different styles, and different cultures, but who worship the same God, the same Lord and Savior, came together to worship together as one church. 

What a crazy idea...

And it was wonderful!

I kept hearing in the days leading up to this event and even at the service itself, how unusual it was that congregations in the same community would join together for worship on a Sunday morning. Each time I heard it said I found it unsettling. How did we get to this place, where local churches are in competition with one another and refuse to work together, to fellowship together and to worship together? Isn’t it an incredibly sad statement about where we are in the church when it is considered strange to have local congregations join together to do one of the most basic actions of our faith? The more I thought about it, the more astounded I was. But after today, I am also hopeful and I am excited about my hope.

Today the congregations worshipped together and relished the time together. For the first time, for most of us, we joined with Christian neighbors, who just happen to attend services at a different building, and we worshipped with them. When the service was finished, we shared a meal and fellowshipped with them. I have neighbors just six houses away from me, that I saw for the first time in the context of “church.” I have talked with them before and knew of their faith, but in the many years of knowing them, I have never worshipped with them. Doesn’t that seem odd? But that was corrected today and I have no doubt today will not be the last time.

Today was so obviously right. Worshipping with neighbors, with brothers and sisters from other congregations, was an incredible blessing. Seeing our pastors humbly join together was inspirational. Setting aside differences was refreshing. And knowing, beyond any reasonable doubt, that God like what he saw, was satisfying to the soul. It was a touch of how things ought to be. Not that our churches should all merge as one, but that we should welcome opportunities to be together and enjoy our common bond in Christ. 

Today was a greater taste of unity in the church, and I liked it!