Rev. Janet P. Salbert Bishop Cho’s Convocation on Prayer, March 2014 www.janetsalbert.com

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Bishop Cho’s Convocation on Prayer

March 29, 2014

Introducing Silence in Worship

There is one theological assumption about practicing silence:

God is lovingly present.

Therefore, silence becomes a holy space, a sanctuary for our encounter with

God.

Scripture tells us that silence is an appropriate

response to God’s presence.

I) Habakkuk 2:20"But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep

silence before him."

Habakkuk was speaking to the community dealing with tyranny and encouraging

the community to trust God whose just rule is the only power that endures.

Silence is an expression of awe before God. We can learn and gain from the

silence of the earth. Think of the times when the stillness of nature captured your

attention making you aware of the fullness of God’s presence.

Worship Opportunities

1) Slow reading or echo reading of For the Beauty of the Earth or Psalm 8.

2) When the weather is good, begin worship with the congregation gathered

outdoors, walking silently around the church property before entering the

sanctuary.

3) Once in a while, post “Enter the Sanctuary in Silence,” on each door before

worship begins. Have candles or other focal points on the altar to invite silent

prayer.

II) Zephaniah 1:7 “Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is

at hand; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, he has consecrated his guests.”

Zephaniah invites the congregation to be silent, not to be complacent, but for just

the opposite. Zephaniah gives them an opportunity to stop and silently take a

courageous look at what is going on in their community. Silence can call upon us

to address both God’s presence as well as addressing our human condition.

Silence can help us to see our failures and weaknesses objectively giving us the

Rev. Janet P. Salbert Bishop Cho’s Convocation on Prayer, March 2014 www.janetsalbert.com

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ability to change our attitudes and perceptions about what is happening or what

lies ahead.

Worship Opportunities

1) Use a singing bowl to call for a time of silence. As a time of confession:

During Lent, silence can be used during prayers of confession.

2) A contemplative Eucharist is one where the words are kept to a minimum

and the focus is on the elements as they are celebrated. Serving is done

silently from one person to the next. This is particularly effective with small

groups. The link below has good instruction for preparing for

contemplative Eucharist.

http://www.shalem.org/index.php/resources/publications/articles-written-

by-shalem-staff/contemplative-possibilities-in-worship-by-tilden-edwards

III) Zechariah 2:13 “Be silent, all people, before the Lord: for he has roused

himself from his holy dwelling.”

Zechariah proposes a need to be still to take notice that God has taken initiative

and is moving. Moving in the temple, moving in heaven, or moving in the

presence of the congregation, silence provides an opportunity to take note of all

that God is doing.

Worship Opportunities:

1) Silence that punctuates the worship service invites the congregation to

address the movement of the Spirit. Using silence after a choral anthem

invites further reflection on what has been heard. The same goes for after

a liturgical dance, sermon or any testimony coming from the congregation.

Silent applause can be a wonderful way to recognize the gifts of the Spirit

shared in worship.

2) Silence is an expression of praise for all that God is doing. What big thing

has your church accomplished that could be lifted up in silent praise?

IV) Luke 20:26 “And they were no longer able in the presence of the people

to trap him by what he said; and being amazed by his answer, they became

silent.”

Jesus answers the questions about paying taxes and the people submit through

their silence. Silence can be a way to submit to God. When the hard questions

arise, when the answers are not what we wanted or expected, silence helps us to

submit to the almighty power and wisdom of God.

Rev. Janet P. Salbert Bishop Cho’s Convocation on Prayer, March 2014 www.janetsalbert.com

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Worship Opportunities:

1) Dealing with difficult questions, through a sermon, a healing service,

answer the questions of our youth. Sometimes the best answer to a

question is to simply be still and let the question be heard more deeply.

2) Invite the congregation to come to the altar to bring their deeper

questions.

V) Mark 2:8 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them

orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen

from the dead.

Sometimes all we hear is the noise of this world and silence helps us clear away

the confusion and reconnect with God. Silence might bring us to a glimpse of

God’s dazzling glory as on the mount of transfiguration. Spending quiet time with

God helps us discern the true meaning of events in our lives.

Worship Opportunities

1) Be careful not to rush worship. After the sacraments, either baptism or the

Lord’s Supper, have clergy and laity take their seats, sit for a silent minute to

allow the fullness of unity to be experienced.

2) Taize chants or sung contemporary refrains have a way of inviting further

reflection on the fullness of God’s Presence.

VI) Mark 4:39 “And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea,

"Hush, be still." And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.”

The benefits of the life of faith are the increasing fruits of the Spirit, love, joy,

peace, patience, gentleness, kindness and self control. Practicing silence stills

our lives and brings us further fruit.

Worship Opportunities

1) Every worship service can be the still place for our lives to become calm.

Other Considerations

Being silent is countercultural. Our culture endorses not only a work ethic which

defines success but also a reactive climate toward crisis and tragedy. We tend to

be quiet and still only when reacting to something difficult. The gospel is a

contemplative path toward unity with God and one another that invites us to

respond rather than react. Practicing silence is one avenue which helps us

discern our faithful response.

Rev. Janet P. Salbert Bishop Cho’s Convocation on Prayer, March 2014 www.janetsalbert.com

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It is important to start out small when using silence in worship, begin with just 10-

30 seconds of silence. Initially, you will hear lots of papers rustling. After a few

weeks, it becomes clear that the congregation is using this silence to attend to

God’s presence, to address God. When the congregation is comfortable with

silence, longer periods can be introduced.

Not all people have a spirituality that is oriented to contemplative practices. Read

Discover your Spiritual Type by Corinne Ware. Sensitivity to those who are less

able to relate to God using silence is important when leading worship. An

invitation rather than prescription for times of silence is best.

A word about children:

Children can learn silence. Montessori schools teach a practice of silence.

Research has shown that children even at the ages of 3-4 can sit in silence for

five-six minutes with benefits to their development and learning.

Use a singing bowl to begin chapel with your preschool. Have the children hold

their hands open and listen for God. The Worship and Song Hymnal has a song

to the tune of Frere Jacques called “God is Speaking.” #3025

Suggestions for use of silence beyond Sunday worship. Committee meetings are still worship.

1) Carry and light a candle in your committee meetings 2) Open with a time of silence. 3) Use a singing bowl to call for silence for discernment.

Intercessory prayer using silent body prayer for worship. ________________________________________________________________

Additional Resources for exploring the use of silence in worship and prayer. Please see the bibliography for the Bishop’s Convocation on Prayer. www.shaleminstitute

http://www.contemplativeoutreach.org

www.ionacommunity.com

www.worshipdesignstudio.com

www.carlmccolman