A Merthodist Way of Life

We continue with our exploration of worship using Rev’d Norman Walwork’s words regarding worship as thanksgiving. At the heart of worship is the unreserved response of thanksgiving. Nature, heaven and humanity worship in unison by blessing God the Father who has created all things, by giving thanks to God the Son who has redeemed all things, and by praising God the Holy Spirit who has given life to all things. Gratitude and worship are expressed in acts of adoring praise where the Church’s language is often at its most extravagant, in acts of penitence and confession for failing to love and serve God and neighbour, in the announcing the good news of forgiveness to those whose healing requires it, in the recital of God’s mighty acts of creation and new creation in Christ, and in prayers and petitions for the Church in its mission and the world in its need.

The Revd Prebendary Norman Wallwork is a retired Methodist minister who is also a prebendary (or canon) of Wells Cathedral. He is a member of the Methodist Sacramental Fellowship, affirming within Methodism a catholic Christianity rooted in the doctrine of the Trinity.

             

There are a number of Bible verses that take up this theme,

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 103:1-4

Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all His benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.

Colossians 2:6-7

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

Heavenly Father, my day-to-day routine is so busy. So much so that I sometimes forget to stop to thank you for all that is good in my life. My blessings are many and my heart is filled with gratefulness for the gift of living, for the ability to love and be loved, for the opportunity to see the everyday wonders of creation. I want to thank you, for those things in my life that are less than I would hope them to be. Sometimes life is very hard, and it’s a struggle to keep my head above water. Things that seem challenging, unfair, or difficult often hurts. When my heart feels stretched and empty, and pools of tears form in my weary eyes, still I will rejoice that You are as near to me as my next breath and that in the midst of turbulence, I am growing and learning. In the silence of my soul, I thank you most of all for Your unconditional love.