The Variety of Roles within the Body

​Written by Jill Loegering, Council Member

CtK’s Values Statements include a big idea: Engaging Worship, which our member listening group sessions described as: “We value worship as vital to our growth as the Body of Christ, and seek ways to share in a variety of roles within the Body.”

To me, one word is a neon light.  Which word, you ask?  “Variety.”  Another word in the statement is both a beacon and a reminder, “Body.”  It makes sense.  All my body parts need to work together regularly at just the right time to be and stay healthy. If one part, just one, internal or external, takes a break, other body parts know about it before my brain recognizes and notifies me there’s a problem.

Variety.  Worship has a lot of moving parts.  It needs a variety of people to be active. Over the years I’ve done quite a few things as part of the Body in worship. I’ve sung, read scripture (lector), prepared communion, served communion, ushered, been a member of the Worship & Music Team, helped plan worship services with the pastors, and a variety of other stuff I can barely remember.

As many members mentioned, I like a variety of music styles in church, and I appreciate a variety of members being active participants in Sunday leadership. Wait a sec! Here’s an idea that struck me upside the head: I most need and appreciate the time to quiet my heart to pay attention to what God is telling me. We stop to pray – not as a remote, routine thing we always do - but as a heart and soul requirement. Thoughtful prayer and focused worship mean I need to engage my brain and my heart during worship. (Note to self, that includes no wandering thoughts.) Huh. Turn concerns off, and be busy keeping both personal and congregational body parts active in learning and praising God every day. That is a challenge, isn’t it, remembering it’s God’s vision that counts the most.

​“Say Amen, everybody!”