CELEBRATING GOD'S PRESENCE AND POWER

Pastoral and Congregational Invitation
Welcome to the twentieth Sunday in Pentecost. Do you remember, from our Easter celebrations, that worship is a celebration of God, an ovation to God, and not a spectator sport? Who remembers? We celebrants are a congregation, not an audience. We are the actors in this celebration. We are here, not to wait for something to happen, but to create together what happens. God alone is the audience, though never a passive audience. God comforts and confronts us throughout all of worship. As active participants, then, I invite us to celebrate with praise and thanksgiving. How will you participate? (Wait for a response; if no response, offer some suggestions, including, if you are up to it, interrupting for clarification,…