This is easier asked than answered.
The origin of the word comes from “worth,” as in to ascribe worth to something. Worship is not a general emotive act, but specifically the act of calling something valuable, worthy. When we worship, we declare Christ worthy.
God does not need us to tell God their worth. What then is the point?
Worship is an act of alignment. By declaring something to be worthy — for instance, Christ’s demonstration of love in his ministry, teaching, and most of all his willing and unconditional sacrifice — we point to that which *ought* to be, that which we long to see reflected in our own individual lives as well as our society and culture.
Thus, worship adjusts our perception: when we see in Christ meekness, gentleness, and kindness, and declare those things worthy, it causes us to look for and cultivate those same attributes in ourselves.
Worship, ultimately, is transformation. It is the process by which the old self dies and our new is born in Christ: death to life, stranger to friend, hatred to love.
Worship does not just happen in a worship service—but a worship service is an opportunity for us to regularly set aside time to seek out that transformation. Our worship service is a discipline by which we continuously transform ourselves into the image of Christ.
Music is one of many ways by which, in worship, we are transformed. Often we may grasp something intellectually, but music moves us to believe that which we know more deeply. Great music-making requires us to be vulnerable, to release our shame and be authentic. Thus both in making and hearing music in worship we imprint our beliefs with profundity, giving them greater depth of feeling and weight of import. In other words, music is a tool that leads directly to faith, to deep-seated trust in how Christ teaches us to live and love one another.
That faith, fostered by music and our singing together, allows us to go about our life outside of the worship service carrying the worship with us, making us worshipful in our behavior, mimicking Christ in the small, ordinary, and mundane.
I am incomparably blessed to find myself a part of this church community with such a rich tradition of choral music-making that glorifies Christ and points the way by which we are called to live in him. I am even more blessed to have a cohort of incredible, talented, and hard-working musicians sitting behind me.
Our vision for the future of music and worship in this church is one of growth and excellence — two attributes that already define our choir. When you give to Trinity, whether in your tithes, gifts, or service, you enable that growth, that excellence to continue to blossom.
To be direct, I intend for the choir of Trinity to become *the best choir* in our region, no contest. Continuing to improve our music program will beget growth in our congregation, as well as increase this church’s capacity to transform our community. We are well on our way, and the commitment of this church will see it happen, sooner than we can imagine.
If we long to see Christ dwell among us, to see our community and culture radically transformed by Love, which is God, we must commit ourselves to continuing to strengthen and improve our corporate worship. You can do that by your gifts of course, but also by your service! If you love to sing, the choir is the place for you, even and especially if you feel under-equipped and unprepared. The choir is a place of learning, silliness, and joy, not hardship and strife, and we want you to join us!
But whether you join the choir or no, I encourage us all to strive to sing as John Wesley compels us: lustily. Put another way, release your inhibitions, fears, and shame, open your mouth, and worship! Knock, and the door will be opened, seek and you will find. If we worship pure Love, intending to be transformed into pure Love, we will be. Believe it. Thank you.
