I’ve been making an effort lately to pray and worship God several times per day, not with the occasional thought, but with clear, sustained focus. I did not want to fill my time with reading Scripture and singing hymns and leave no room for actually talking with God. The first few days went well, but then the silence quickly became awkward because I couldn’t think of much to say. During the silence one morning, I decided to thank God for 10 people, things, or situations in my life.  All of a sudden, prayer time became rich and full and passed quickly. Soon I welcomed the arrival of a few quiet moments so I could spend more time praying.

Many people are uncomfortable with silence during a church service because they are not used to praying and worshiping by themselves. They may need a little coaching about how they could use their time. Like, “Thank God or pray for 10 people, things, or situations in your life.” Three minutes of silence passes very quickly when reviewing 10 gifts of God to your life.

So here is how worship began at Oakhurst Baptist Church on Reformation Sunday…

Greetings and Announcements

Time of Silence

Call to Worship
One: Let us worship God!
Many: Let us worship God together!

Hymn: A Mighty Fortress is our God  Ein’ Feste Burg

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

These were great moments in worship for me. I loved having the Time of Silence early and then singing A Mighty Fortress with the stirring strains of the organ raising the roof.

Oakhurst Baptist Church, Decatur, Georgia on October 27, 2013.

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