God's Gifts in the LIturgy

Create in Me a Clean Heart

Even a cursory exploration of the historic liturgy reveals how thoroughly our worship is infused with Scripture. The liturgy drips with Scriptural references everywhere, which is by design: as Christians, we believe faith is created through the operation of the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament, so we use every opportunity to include the Word in our services.

Remember worship is about what God does for us, not the other way around. Certainly we are to respond with praise and thanksgiving, but that response is always secondary to the God working through the Holy Spirit through the Word and Sacrament. A well-constructed worship service relies heavily on the means of grace.

One of my favorite Scriptural references (Psalm 51) that's set to Music in the Offertory:

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

blogroll

social