By Former Lay Minister for Worship and Arts Rebecca Benner
Worship is a big word. Sometimes it is even an intimidating word. Often worship is associated with a deity, with God. For some Unitarian Universalists, our Sunday morning time together is indeed focused on God, on the central power and mystery that gives us life and gives our life meaning. For others, however, religious faith and practice isn’t focused on God or any other spiritual being. We might wonder: Is what we are doing on Sunday morning when we gather with one another really worship?
I believe so. I believe that worship is a big enough word, a big enough idea, a big enough practice for all of us, however we understand our religious faith. I hope that for all of us, our worship time is a time that calls us to something larger than ourselves. Perhaps that is God. Perhaps it is the natural world. Perhaps it is Love. Perhaps it is the interdependence of the human community. Whatever it is, it is a reminder that we are connected. That our lives matter, but also that our lives are not the only things that matter.
We can experience this sense of something more in many different ways during our worship services. For many people, it comes during the music, either while listening to musical gifts of others or while singing in community together. Sometimes the words of the sermon or the story or the prayer lift us out of ourselves, reminding us of how we are called to be in the world. For some it might be the announcements and the opportunity they give to be active in the world, to make a difference.
I have discovered for myself a new moment of worship in the past couple of weeks at UUCF. You may have noticed that the ritual candles are now in the center of the Sanctuary rather than along the back wall. We made this change primarily for the sake of better accessibility, but many of you have commented on how it seems to bring our concerns into the center of the community, giving us a sense of holding them and being held.
From my vantage point, which is usually in the front row since that is where my children like to sit, I have noticed something that has become a moment of deep worship for me. As people finish lighting the candle to mark whatever is on their hearts, they turn to pass the lit candle to the person behind them in line. Almost always, there is a brief moment of eye contact, as the candle, the light from our chalice, is passed from one member of our community to another. Sometimes that eye contact is between friends but more often the eye contact is simply a reflection of our common humanity. Of the fact that we are all carrying a great deal in our own lives. Of the awareness that our community is a place where we can share our burdens, and where we know ourselves to be part of something more.
I want to thank you all for bringing yourselves to our worship – even those of you worshipping online, whose presence is not as apparent but who are still very much part of the community that holds us and that calls us onward. I would love to hear from you about how you understand worship, and where at UUCF you find it. Feel free to drop me a note if you want to share something of your experience.
May the spirit of worship hold you and guide you and remind you that you are a part of so much more.