A couple days ago I wrote up a blog titled "Four-Part Worship Service," but when I went to publish it an error occurred, and I lost it all. I had put quite a bit of time into the post, so naturally I was a bit frustrated. Maybe it wasn't time for me to share it, so I'll try again in the future. For now, the gist of it was:

Our church uses the historical four-part structure of worship in our services (Gathering/Word/Table/Dismissal). Then I listed a couple reasons why we do so: 1) The burden of transitional flow rests on the order of service itself and not on any man, and 2) Full church participation is encouraged and better facilitated.

We aim for the church to "be the church" instead of "being churched." We are entertained everywhere else in our culture. Church is not another place to be entertained. Rather, it is an opportunity for us to function as the body of Christ; meaning, we are called to actively participate in our worship services. The four-part structure enables us to do this. The Contemporary Church model (Praise & Worship/Announcements/Sermon), for the most part, does not give the people such an opportunity to participate.

Now, on a lighter note, a couple weeks ago I read Romans 1-2 and prayed this prayer-turned-song on my way to the bus stop in the morning:

Show Your kindness to me
Bring me to repentance
Give Your righteousness to me
Take me faith to faith

To believe in Your work
See the law's fulfillment
Christ the Final Sacrifice
Pardoning my sin

O Lord I need Your mercy
Today more now than ever

For I am one more day a sinner
But I am one more day forgiven

I have found myself praying this prayer daily. I also put a upbeat melody to these words and we sang it on Sunday morning.