That's at least close to what was said on Sunday morning as the pastor finished the announcements and prepared to continue with the rest of the worship service. My question is this ...
Why aren't our announcements part of our worship? Why do we consider them to be something completely separate?
It makes sense to me if worship is just about the hour we spend in music, Scripture readings and teaching. If that's what worship is, then clearly the announcements are not part of that. Even if we're announcing some other time of worship, it makes sense that the announcements are separate if worship is only a few very specific set of activities.
But, is that really what worship is?
If worship is about something more, perhaps the announcements aren't separate from but are actually another expression of worship.
If worship is descriptive of the way we live our whole lives, then the announcements are reminders for prayer, times to celebrate as a community or even opportunities for worship by using our hands and feet to serve.
If I'm being consistent, I also need to think about what I say as I introduce the worship in song time at the beginning of the service. I normally say something about "preparing for worship." That also implies that worship is only what happens in that one hour time block.
If I want my words to match what I believe then I should be saying something like "preparing for our time of corporate worship" since that is a set apart time when we worship in community rather than implying that we're about to do something different than how we should be living our daily lives as a continual expression of worship; a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.
We think worship is a thing. It is not. It is an expression; a verb;
an attitude; a way to show love. Basically saying “What is Worship?”
is the same as “What is Love?”
Gerrard Fess
