WEDNESDAY 1 JULY 2020

Good morning, and Praise God for another day!

We’ve been reflecting on different ways to praise and worship God. So far, we have been singing and dancing, today I want to consider how we might worship in stillness and silence.

We read in Psalm 46 : 9 “ Be still and know that I am God”

A Story.

When I was studying at Glasgow University a service was held in the university chapel every Monday at 1pm. Every second Monday, one of the students in the theology department had to conduct the service for fellow students and lecturers.

You might imagine it could for some be quite a daunting experience, and I know myself I was always glad when my turn was over, for I was always worried about what my peers would think of my efforts....................(ahhhh, such vanity.)

One week it was the turn of Alex.

Alex was well into his seventies, but felt a call to study for a BD in theology.

He was a lovely man, and kind of took the younger students under his wing. He would share his notes if any of us missed a lecture, and was always interested in how we were getting on.

He was a very frail man and I remember watching often seeing him heading up the hill towards the uni, having made two train journeys each day to get there.

The day of him leading worship arrived, and we all sat waiting for him to begin.

He opened with a short prayer, and the hymn Just as I am.

Then he said : “ Be still and know that I am God”

“This is what the Lord says, so let’s just do that”

There was a moment of “what?” and at first I thought he was kidding and waited for him to begin speaking again, but he didn’t and so we sat, in silence...............and as we sat still and waited, I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit falling upon the gathered congregation.

After what seemed like a very short time, Alex said,

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all”

Nobody moved, or wanted to move, and when we left the chapel I was surprised to find a whole hour had passed.

I learned a lesson that day about silence and stillness, of how we can worship God, simply by coming quietly before him.

Alex finished his degree, passed his exams with flying colours, but sadly the week before his graduation, he passed away in his sleep.

His family came to collect his degree on his behalf, and as his elderly wife came up onto the stage the applause was deafening, as those who had benefited from Alex’s kindness and wisdom.

A modern Psalm by Edwina Gately.

“Be silent.

Be still

Alone.........empty before your God

Say nothing, ask nothing

Be silent, be still

Let your God look upon you

That is all.

He knows, He understands

He loves you with all His love, an enormous love

He only wants to look upon you

With His love