Worship renewal

This morning I looked through Robert Webber's "The Renewal of Sunday Worship," which is volume III in 'The Complete Library of Christian Worship.' It's the only volume I have out of at least seven in the series. I had to buy it for a class when I attended seminary.

The reason I picked it off the shelf today is because our Sunday worship gathering has been a chore for me lately. I feel like I am basically just going through the motions for the most part. Some of what I say and do - I'm not sure how much I really believe at the moment. Not necessarily because it's not true, but honestly, I don't "feel" like it's all that true right now. And to make matters worse... Normally I am not able to look out at the congregation a lot when I lead singing, because to both play and sing is difficult for me without looking at the music. But lately I have caught some glances, and... it is depressing. I never realized so many people don't participate in the singing part of our worship gatherings. I mean, I figured some people just mouthed the words, but I couldn't believe how many aren't even doing that! They were just standing there with blank stares. I know it's not their job to pump me up, but... man... if they lack passion, and I lack passion... somethin's gotta give. And soon.

In chapter two of this book, titled "What Is Worship Renewal?," Webber lists these:
SIGNS OF A WORSHIP IN NEED OF RENEWAL
The fourteen signs listed below are symptomatic of an apathetic worship and a passive congregation

1. The congregation is passive and lacking in enthusiasm and a spirit of joy.
2. Visitors do not feel welcome or drawn into the community and its worship.
3. Worship is cerebral and oriented almost exclusively toward teaching.
4. Worship is evangelistic and oriented almost exclusively toward conversion.
5. Communication skills in preaching and leading worship are weak.
6. Sermons tend to be long, didactic, and lacking in application.
7. Communion is celebrated infrequently and when celebrated seems to be tacked on to the end of the service, often bearing the characteristics of a funeral.
8. People sit in a typical classroom formation with the back of another person's head as a major obstacle of sight.
9. Singing lacks life, and the range of music is limited.
10. There is no sense in which the order of worship moves the congregation in a pattern that rehearses their faith and thus establishes, maintains, or repairs a relationship with God.
11. The Christian year is not practiced, or if it is practiced, it is not characterized by a sense of its gospel nature or used effectively as a means of ordering congregational spirituality.
12. The use of arts is shunned except on special occasions such as Christmas or Easter.
13. The people are not involved in responses, antiphons, prayer, ministry to each other, or the passing of the peace.
14. The senses are not adequately engaged in touch, smell, sight, or hearing.

Hmm. Yip. We don't fit all fourteen of those signs, but enough of them. Webber says "...a key to renewal is the awareness of worship as both a divine action and a human response." He then lists several definitions of worship, but the one I like best is Jack Hayford's. He says:

A Bible-centered approach to worship clearly reveals that worship is definitely not a God-built device to somehow get man to stroke a heavenly Ego. Neither is it a summons to a weekly reaffirmation of one's expertise in precision-cut declarations of doctrinaire posturing. Instead, the Scriptures consistently show God calling His creatures to worship in His presence that He might release, redeem, renew, and restore them.

I like the thought of that. I don't really know what I can do at this point, but I know this... we need some of that divine action.... and some serious releasin', redeemin', renewin', and restorin'. Come, Lord Jesus, Come.