Words for Worship

Last Sunday, I got to partake in worship at my church in a way that I never have before; I got to help lead with the worship band. I don’t sing or play any instrument, though. Instead, I got to read.

Now, that may not sound innovative or different or special. I mean, I’ve read scripture before in services… pastors usually read quotes and what not… but this was a little bit different. It was more of a spoken word piece, where the band played music and I read along, integrated into it. For example, I read this piece while the band played the song “Breathe Me” by Sia (and was sung by my wife… which was awesome to get to partake in leading worship with her, btw). Integrating the two just… worked.

What I loved about it is that I was able to take some of my talents (public speaking, writing) and use them to give back a small offering of worship to God. And not only that, but that others were able to embrace that offering and partake in it as well. I’ve taught before and preached before… but this was definitely something different.

It’s strange, to be honest. Growing up in church, but never being musical, thinking that my talents would be relegated to simply teaching… that I could never be a “worship leader.” You musicians have a great gifting that so many of us never get to partake in. Just this bit of a taste of leading in worship makes me hunger for more; not for more performance, but for myself to truly worship God more through the gifts he’s given me. Not being musical at all, I usually just take in the music that’s being played and sung.

My question is… how else can we non-musical types worship? Is there room in today’s “worship set” for poems, paintings or even some prose? Could we make the tithe a true offering of sacrifice again, instead of downplaying it to a giving pitcher in the back? Is there a way to make responsive readings relevant again? And why did we stop dancing?