In Right Paths

Primary Themes: congregational heart song, rest, silence, reflection, renewal, forgiveness, communal confession, contemplation, sung prayer (corporate and personal), forty days, life of Christ, abstinence, pilgrimage

Liturgical Symbols: Altar – purple fabrics from various cultures, water (a quiet waterfall), movement (liturgical dance, corporate),

If plants are included in dressing the altar, they should remind the congregation of the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus spent time praying to God while anticipating crucifixion (i.e. vines, dry stalks, wheat, large rocks. This provides the opportunity for the community to fully experience the contrast when the Easter lilies replace the garden.

Suggested Colors: Shades of Purple

Other Special Days:

Women’s History Month – March
International Women’s History Day – March 8
Death of John Wesley (1791) – March 2
World Day of Prayer – March 6
Scouting Sunday – (Alternate) – March 8 (see 436-437 Book of Worship)
UMCOR Sunday – March 22
Death of Charles Wesley (1788) – March 29

Introduction

During the season of Lent, we are encouraged to engage in a Season of Selahs. Throughout the Book of Psalms, we encounter this Hebrew term at least seventy-one times. It even appears three times in Habakkuk. While the word has not been definitively defined in scripture, the placement of the word suggests a shift, pause, break, or interruption; it suggests exhaling or resting from routine activities. It is thought that the “Selah” functions much like a musical rest. This describes how we should understand our posture throughout the forty days of Lent. Christians are urged to refrain from business as usual in order to attend to the body, spirit, mind, soul, and heart. It is a time set aside for worshipers to connect their faith walk with the ways in which they live, move, and have their being throughout daily life. Thus, the trajectory for the Lenten journey is a renewed spirit and a genuine desire to become an incarnational presence in the world.

The Book of Psalms provides myriad examples of how these connections are made. Similarly, the African American Spiritual follows patterns that begin with suffering and end with positive, faith-filled notes of Glory, Hallelujah!! How is this possible? The African ancestors posit, “The Spirit will not descend without a song.” Song has always played a vital role in human life. In every part of history and/or cultural context, communities have depended upon a unique soundtrack; songs in the key of life that express a full range of human emotion:

• Lament/Joy
• Trust/Lack of Trust
• Thanksgiving/Unforgiveness
• Praise/Regret
• Complaint/Empathy
• Cries for Help, Love, Support
• Contemplation/Anxiety
• Hope/Hopelessness

The apostle Paul encourages followers of Christ to . . . be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the [Creator} at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 5:18-20, NRSV).

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God (Col 3:16, NRSV).

How important is song in your faith community?
How does song function in worship celebrations?
How does song serve to promote Selah-moments in worship?
What are the heart-songs of your faith community?
What songs best express or affect your relationship with God?
What songs help your corporate community pray?
Whose songs are missing from your community?
What songs help to promote the ethos of the beloved community?
Has the soundtrack of your congregation reached the ears of those beyond your sanctuary?
What role has song played in your local church’s discipleship efforts?

Season of Selahs

Throughout this Lenten season, seek ways to invite your congregation into conversations around the list of questions above.

Consider creating a congregational survey of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs that represent the heart songs of your community. Using the top forty, invite members to use the list to help frame their forty-day’s journey through meditation, prayer, contemplation, conversation, silence, or song.

Fourth Week in Lent

Call to Worship

The Lord Is My Shepherd
(Psalm 23)

One: The world offers busy schedules and more stuff to do, but God offers rest.

Many: The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not be in want!

One: The world offers faster cars and bigger houses, but God offers comfort.

Many: The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not be in want!

One: The world offers war and terror, but God offers protection.

Many: The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not be in want!

One: The world offers cheap love and cheap thrills, but God offers goodness and mercy.

Many: The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not be in want!

ALL: Come now and let us dwell in the house of the Lord!

Junius Dotson. The Africana Worship Book: Year A. Copyright 2006 (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2006), 57.