Sunday worship

Part of the enjoyment in watching the Tour de France has been the fantastic views from the helicopter as they sweep over the countryside. The views have been breath taking. In particular, I’ve enjoyed the focusing in on some of the spectacular buildings, but as the camera has shared its views of the cities, towns and villages it has illustrated that prominence of the church as the central and dominating structure throughout the country.

It illustrates the fact that at one point in the countries history the church was at the center of the lives of the people. It has caused me to begin to wonder what transpired, in their history, to cause the church to move from being central and important to little more than an afterthought. These magnificent structures cost the villagers dearly to build, but now are practically empty Sunday after Sunday. The priest or minister is called upon basically to fulfill the role of the one to baptize them, marry them and bury them … other than those functions he or she will be little considered … and the “normal” activities for a Sunday seldom includes worship unless it is Christmas or Easter.

What happened in their history to cause this shift? And, more importantly, is that shift happening here in America? The percentage of our population who find themselves in worship on any particular Sunday is on the decrease and has been decreasing over the last 30 or 40 years. The question is why … and how can we change the growing trend? Do you have any thoughts or ideas on this subject?

Quote for today: Barclay quotes William Temple, the renowned archbishop of Canterbury, as defining worship as quickening the conscience by the holiness of God, feeding the mind with the truth of God, purging the imagination by the beauty of God, opening the heart to the love of God, and devoting the will to the purpose of God. Matthew R. Mounce