In the name of the LORD I welcome you to this morning’s service at Kistler’s Chapel. Are you glad to be here today? Most of the time I am grateful to be in worship service on Sunday morning. If by chance I have to miss a Sunday, my week feels unfulfilled; as if I have forgotten something vital or maybe missed an important appointment. Do any of you have that feeling? Sunday morning services make me appreciate the rest of the week; they give me the boost I need to get off on the right foot. It is like putting helium in a balloon, it gives me a lift. Some of you may say “hot air” will do the same thing. But, the question still is: Are you glad to be here today?
At this afternoon’s Administrative Board Meeting I am going to propose to change worship service hours to 7:00 a.m. for Sunday School and 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for worship service. Could we all agree to that? After all, we said we were glad to be here so why not extend the hours so we are able to experience more joy? My real question is this: Do each of us allow adequate time for worship?
“While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate, he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men and the women, and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.” To the Jewish community, in the time of Nehemiah and Ezra, early morning would be around 6:00 a.m. So it is feasible Ezra read from the Law of Moses, the Torah, for as many as six hours. I want you to hear this again, “And all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.” Those gathered were there to be led in worship by Ezra; they “listened attentively to the book of the law.”
The Torah, the Law of Moses, was very significant in the lives of Israel. Only when they were attentive to these writings and obedient to God’s will were they in peaceful times. At this time in their history they had just returned from exile and had recently finished rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple. The people of Israel were fully aware of the need to gather as a community in order to celebrate true worship of their God.
Listen, “All the people gathered together at the square in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had given Israel.” This reading was not arranged by the Temple leaders, but by “all the people.” The people asked Ezra to bring out the Holy Scriptures and read to them so they could once again understand God’s call and His will for their lives. It was important to understand these writings, in order for them to continue living in peace.
What does all this mean for us? It is a reminder that our worship of the Holy God is more than a couple of hours on Sunday morning. It means our watches should be left on the vanities and ignored when it comes to our worship time with God. Worshipping God is a 24 hour, seven day a week event; we are never, at least we should never, be on break. While in the Air Force I was officially on call 24/7, even when I was on leave I could be called back at a moments notice to report for duty. As your pastor I am also on call 24/7; crises do not always happen between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., and the majority of them cannot wait until the “next business day.” This being said, does this not place our need to be in contact with God 24/7 in a better perspective? Tragedies can affect our lives at any time, day or night. It would do us well to have God close at hand when they do come. We must set aside sufficient time to be alone with God in order for us to understand what our call is.
“All the people gathered together at the square in front of the Water Gate.” It goes on to say, “before the assembly of the men, women and all who could listen with understanding.” This causes me to look around the sanctuary this morning and raise this question: Where are the rest of our membership? This past week I submitted the end of year report to the Conference. According to our roll book there are 107 members at Kistler’s Chapel. Last Sunday we had 60 present, this Sunday there are _____. Now, I realize there are sicknesses going around and people travel to visit family or take vacations. But, there are almost half of our members absent on any given Sunday. Friends, that is a lot of sickness and vacations, and, unfortunately most often it is the same faces missing every Sunday. Really; what can be more important than being in worship services on Sunday morning? After all, for many this is the only time they will ever have God in their minds all week.
When I was growing up I was taught to stand up when an elderly person or a lady approached me. This was a show of respect for that person’s age or gender and was considered to be proper manners. Sadly, in today’s politically correct world these shows of respect and manners are not looked upon in the same way. Today if we stand in the presence of someone, we are probably offending them by recognizing their age or femininity.
“As he opened it, all the people stood up.” Why do you suppose these people stood when Ezra began reading the scripture? To them it was a show of respect and recognition that the words they were about to hear were important. These words need to be listened to with care and attention. These words of Torah, or biblical Scripture, have the awesome ability to bring us into the presence of our loving God. We can anticipate God’s presence, anytime we hear or read His Word; and standing is another form of worship.
Standing for the reading of God’s Word is also a reminder that the very core of our ministry in this Church is to stand-up for the Gospel. Isn’t this the very essence of our Church? How are we able to stand for the Gospel in our every day lives? When we become involved in community work, donating food to Yokefellow, offering benevolence offerings to those in need, or paying our apportionments to the Conference Fair Share Giving, we are standing against economic injustice in the world. In this sense we are standing for the Gospel. When people of faith stand for the way of righteousness and truth, the joy of the LORD is displayed in our acts of faithfulness. There is no higher calling for us, no more noble work, than to stand for the Gospel, literally and figuratively.
“…and with their hands uplifted all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” It is not a sin to let our emotions be displayed when God is working within us. God wants to hear our voices and see our hands raised in praise to Him. He is the Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth; he deserves to see and hear our praises.
This brings to the forefront not only speaking “Amen’s” during worship service, but also touches upon our singing. When our service begins and the choir is standing beside me the singing is beautiful. But when they come down there something happens; that beautiful music seems to be unusually muted. John Wesley’s brother Charles is credited with writing more than 6500 songs in his lifetime, some claim as many as 9000. Therefore, the Reverend John Wesley had quite a bit to say about singing; his directions are listed on page Roman numeral 6 in your hymnals. But here are just a few of his directions. “Learn these tunes before any others.” It is easy for us to pick up jingles and maybe whole songs from television and radio, but we have a difficult time learning new songs in Church. Either we are unwilling to try or we are afraid those “good old gospel songs” will go by the wayside. He also tells us to “sing it all…If it is a cross to you, take it up, and you will find a blessing.” Sometimes we will skip verses in order to “get out on time”; maybe we should consider more of what Mr. Wesley is telling us. He then tells us to “sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, than when you sung the songs of Satan.” Open your mouth and let your voice fall out. We are also to “sing in time…take care not to sing too slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and it is high time to drive it out from us, and sing all our tunes just as quick as we did at first.” His final direction is this, “Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing Him more than yourself, or any other creature...so shall your singing be such as the LORD will approve here, and reward you when He cometh in the clouds of heaven.” In the United Methodist Church singing is worship; let us worship Him with our whole voices.
“For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.” Ezra told them, “Do not grieve, because your strength comes from rejoicing in the LORD.” God’s Word should bring tears to our eyes; tears of joy. In hearing these Words we are shown the magnificent glory of a God full of grace; a God who understands when we check our watches to see the time during worship service. Let us this morning make a personal vow to be in worship 24/7, then maybe I want have to change our worship hours after all. Scripture reading, attendance, reverence, and singing, these are the ways we are able to worship God.
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT…AMEN.
