Worship as Worth-Shaping
February 4, 2023 § 6 Comments
worship, from Old English weorth worthy, worth, and scieppan to shape.
Etymologically, at its root, worshipping is worth-shaping. It is giving shape to that which we deem of extraordinary, or even of ultimate, value.
What is it we Quakers value? And how do we give it shape with our worship? Let’s start with the latter question first. And here I am speaking of silent waiting worship.
The silence and the waiting. These would seem to be rather passive ways to give shape to something of value. But they are not.
They are open doors, through which we actively invite the spirit of the christ* to enter. And we do not just hang a sign above the door saying “Welcome!”. We call out, from our hearts, with our prayers, in our expectant attention: “Please! Come!”
Like the bridesmaids, our lamps are lit and we wait with full attention; we actively keep watch (Matthew 25:1–13). The silence allows us to hear when the bridegroom approaches. And when the Holy Spirit knocks on our door, as we expect it will, we usher the Presence in, and together we sup (Revelation 2:30).
This banquet is of ultimate worth. This communion with the spirit of anointing is our treasure.
Like Mary, we sit at the Spirit’s feet, listening for its revelation, its healing and forgiveness, its strengthening and encouragement, its peace and renewal, its inspiration and guidance.
And like Martha, we serve, like waiters at the banquet. We are ready to pour out the living water, to offer the fruits of the spirit, in vocal ministry or vocal prayer, in silent holding in the Light and in prayers spoken inwardly.
We do not give this visitation and this revelation shape so much as we look and listen for the spirit-shape in which it has been given to us. We settle into the presence, exulting in the joy it brings. We pass on the revelation, in our vocal ministry, in our leadings to service, in our lives lived according to its guidance, accepting that our handling of it will alter its form but seeking also to be faithful to its Truth.
And thus we ultimately give shape to the spirit-worth when we walk through William Taber’s fourth door into worship, with how we live our lives, with the love and the integrity and the service that we bring into the world from that hour on first day. And that makes the rest of the week our worship, as well.
* Christos, in New Testament Greek, means anoint, as with oil. For me, the spirit of the christ is the spirit that anointed Jesus—that christed him—at the beginning of his ministry, as recounted in Luke 4:18: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has anointed me [christed me] to proclaim good news to the poor.”
Through the Flaming Sword 
I also can be reached at dhfinke@gmail.com – which I prefer and check more frequently. Glad to be participating, and thanks for everyone’s contribution.
See:
Sorry my email is ggirelandoz@gmail.com
Dear Friend, It pains me to say it but I’m afraid you’ve got the etymology of worship disastrously wrong: see .
I’m interested to see what Friend Gerard had to say. It hasn’t successfully come through yet.
Expectantly, -DHF
Friend Gerard has not posted the comment that would apparently follow his “See:”