Is it Worship?

The stained glass church
Wooden pews, perfectly aligned,
Padded for comfort.
Liturgy.
Robed ministers processing.
Choir members standing in rows,
Singing four-part harmony.
Attentive children sitting on the floor
Facing the pastor.
Well dressed ushers.
Well dressed congregation.
Offering collected in red lined wooden plates
Sermon, benediction

Is it worship?
Sometimes not.
At times their priority is lunch after church,
Or planning for the next week.
The "worship" can be flat
When the people fail to bring their adoration.
There are times when tradition,
The beauty of the room
The uprightness of the members
Becomes more important than
Praising God
More important than God himself, it seems.

Sometimes,
The spirit of God is palpable
Worship breathes in the room
And the people give God their love
Their everything.
They dance in the aisles,
Or in their souls.
Rather than only worshipping with their lips,
The spirit in them flies to God
And back again,
And God is pleased.

The Social Hall church.
Tables, scattered hither and yon,
Surrounded by haphazard chairs.
Filled with people.
Some of them without homes,
Some of them without hope.
The music is live – lively.
Sung by the band and sung by the crowd.
A meal is served to feed the body,
Prayers are sent to God
Read from small white cards,
Sermon, benediction.

Is it worship?
Sometimes not.
At times the people come only to be fed,
And while that is ministry,
It might not be worship.
The crowd can talk too loud,
Ignoring the message.
Some take too much food,
Leaving nothing for those who are still hungry.
There are times when the food,
The table conversation,
The addictions and distractions,
Become more important than
Praising God.
Sometimes more important than God himself, it seems.

Sometimes,
The spirit of God walks among them,
Prayers are read for those
Who have never felt the comfort of prayer before.
Children are held and loved.
Psalms are read that touch the heart
Of the unintended.
A touch planned by God all along.
God is praised in song and word.
The spirit in them flies to God
And back again,
And God is pleased.