Joanna Leeds

“If the stars were made to worship so will I...if everything exists to lift You high so will I.”
 
Throughout lockdown I have pondered the impact that being unable to gather as a church is having on Christians across the globe, and within our own church family. Many of us look forward to the time when we can gather together again, and I expect that on some days the waiting feels longer than others. While this is a challenging time for many of us, I believe that in the waiting we have an opportunity to grow in our faith.
 
David Peterson, in his book, Engaging with God, describes worship as a “comprehensive category describing the Christian’s total existence.” In other words, worship ought to define the whole of our lives and is not just for Sundays, a theme which we explored recently through our Whole Life Worship series. I think now is the perfect opportunity for us to revisit that teaching. Granted there are days when our daily lockdown lives don’t feel like ‘worship’, yet the Bible’s teaching on worship is clear: “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31)
 
This verse is very reassuring for us as we navigate being isolated and scattered. I encourage you to make God the focus of your worship, whether that be washing the dishes, reading to your children, cooking for your spouse, eating your dinner, resting with a good book: “do it all to the glory of God.” As you do this, thank him for the opportunity to worship him in everything you do.
 
I am reminded of this beautiful song, So will I, ( a line from which is quoted above) which speaks about the entire purpose of why we are here: to worship our creator God.
 
Lastly, stay connected to church family. Join a homegroup, tune in to the St Stephen’s online service and night prayer, or get involved in the various Zoom shenanigans! Keeping connected can encourage us that while we are not physically together we are still connected as God’s family.
 
Prayer: Father it is a blessing to know you and worship you. Wherever we are and whatever we are doing, may we worship you in all we do today. Amen.
 
Prayer Request:  For those currently not members of a Connect group, that they may stay in contact with the church family and feel connected in other ways.