of coffee, God, and us

On Worship (creative arts insert for Meadowland Community Church annual meeting)

Three women sat in a coffee house wondering what to drink.  You may find that odd considering where they were.  One woman shared your sentiments, but she was alone in her simplicity of thought.  Her closest friend, sitting on her right, was used to gourmet lattes, toppings, and condiments all mixed up just right.  Her friends would attest that without that special brew she would be an unbearable wretch.  Of course they all laugh about it as they secretly pity her husband who is the unwitting victim of her wretchedness.  Across the table was a woman she had known for several years, but never really taken the time to really get to know her.  She found her to be a bit of an annoyance as she was so undecisive.  She was the one who would always make the waiter come back 5 times, and on the 5^th time would volunteer to go last because ‘she would probably know by then’.  Sitting in this coffee house was no different.  Somehow she would make picking coffee a stressful chore.  She, on the other hand knew exactly what she wanted, coffee.  She walked up to the counter, and said “just give me coffee”.  Confused, the barista began to question her decision.  He said, hang on I’ll have to make some.  We don’t get many orders for just coffee.  He walked to the back counter past all of the fancy dispensers and crèmes and began to brew the coffee.  When he had finished, he poured it in a cup, and served her.  She sat in the booth, warmed her hands on the outside of the cup, and allowed the warmth and the aroma of ‘coffee’ to envelope her senses.  She was pleased.

We serve this body of believers by leading the way into the throne room of God’s presence every Sunday morning.  We aren’t a group of highly skilled musicians who are committed to pleasing those we are leading.  We are a group of broken men and women who have come together, made whole through the saving grace of our Savior, unified through His Spirit, who long to worship and declare His worth.  God is pleased with the hearts of His worshippers (all of us).  He just wants some coffee.  Keep it simple and pure, and lay it before His feet in service to your King.

There have been several opportunities this year for us to look at one another and scratch our heads in confusion.  It is undeniable that God has been at work in our leadership, in our ministry teams, and in each one of us.  He has been molding and shaping our hearts to serve and please Him and Him alone.  He longs for our pure dependence and leaning on His strong arms. 

Will you ‘go limp’ in the arms of your Savior year?  Will you embrace the pain and hurt that is brought on by your needs, your failures, your inadequacies, and failed expectations?  When we embrace our brokenness, and see ourselves for who we are – fragile people; we will feel and experience the embrace of Christ.  We will respond by lifting up His name, worshipping Him in joyful praise for all that He is.  We will communicate to a hurting and broken world, the worth and splendor that is our Savior.  He will be pleased.

May you join us in this journey of seeking God’s face and dependence on His grace.

John Barnett and Meadowland’s team of worship leaders