Worship: Seeking God

My family and I have just moved to South Korea from our home in the States.  In the States we have a beloved church family who worships in a liturgical style with Wesleyan theology.  We love our co-worshippers there and we connect well through the style of worship.  But that particular combination is challenging to find in the States--let alone in a foreign country, especially when we only speak English.

Our first Sunday here we joined a group attending an English-speaking international Catholic mass (the readers and servers were Korean; the preist was Irish).  It was meaningful to connect with the reading of the texts, the Creed, and the reverence of the service.  It seemed odd to find flatscreen monitors hanging from the aged pillars down the isles of the massive cathedral--practical, but odd.  We encounted several theological differences in the service, but were mostly surprised at its pace:  we were in and out of there in about 30 minutes.  The homily was based on the story of Jesus' healing of the deaf and mute man, who went and told everyone everything the Lord had done for him though he was strictly told by Jesus to NOT tell.  Point of the message:  we should do what we are told and not flap our lips whenever we feel like it (my own paraphrase).  Hmm.

Yesterday we joined a group of worshippers gathered at our school building, just across the street from our apartment.  The worship started later in the morning and lasted significantly longer.  The music was led by a full band and charismatic vocalists; it included both remixes of old hymns (with some puzzling lyrical adaptations) and repetitive choruses.  The pastor preached a topical sermon--part 2 of his "Why Church is Boring" series.  Hmmm.  He had some good ideas.  I connected most with the lyrics of a oft-sung hymn, "Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love; Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.  Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away; Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!"  This familiar text (especially the lines italicized) enveloped me with the presence of Almighty God and enabled my heart to truly worship.

We have been 4 long Sundays from our beloved church family, and we long to connect meaningfully with a community of faith for worship of God and mutual encouragement.  In the meantime, I did indeed find in these last, diverse Sundays that as I entered worship with a desire to meet with God, the Spirit enabled my heart to seek and find the Living Christ Present.

Thanks be to God.