Living Before God, Worshiping Together
There is an old Christian phrase in Latin, Coram Deo, which means “before the face of God,” or simply, “in the presence of God.” It reminds us that we live before God at all times—not only when we are in church, but also when we are at home, at work, driving, eating, resting, serving others, and going about our ordinary daily lives.
When we live with this awareness, our daily lives can become worship. Paul writes, “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1). Worship is not limited to an hour on Sunday
morning. When we remember that we live in God’s presence, love God and our neighbors, faithfully do the work entrusted to us, serve others, and offer our lives to God, our everyday lives can become an offering of worship.
But the fact that our whole life can become worship does not mean that gathering for worship is unnecessary.
Sometimes we hear, “God is everywhere, so I don’t need to go to church to worship God.” It is certainly true that God is everywhere. That is part of what Coram Deo reminds us. But God’s presence everywhere does not make gathering as the church and worshiping together any less important. The same God who is with us wherever we are also calls us to come together as a community of faith and worship Him together.
Jesus said, “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18), and Paul calls the church “the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27). The church is not simply a building we enter on Sunday morning. It is a community Christ has called together and loves. If the church is precious to Christ, it should also be precious to us.
There is something special that we experience when we worship together. When the church gathers, we come before God not simply as individuals, but as the body of Christ. We sing together, pray together, and hear God’s Word together. We bring our joys and sorrows, our gratitude and burdens. We receive Holy Communion together. And sometimes, when our own faith is weak, we are strengthened by the faith, prayers, and presence of those around us.
There is a spiritual life that grows within each of us personally, but there is also a shared spiritual life that grows among us as we worship together. We need both. Our personal walk with God leads us into community, and our worshiping community strengthens us to live faithfully before God throughout the week.
On October 11, as we celebrate Laity Sunday, our three churches will come together for worship. On this special Sunday, our laypeople will prepare and lead the worship service and take part in its various ministries. This is more than simply having laypeople do what the pastor usually does. It is an opportunity to see and experience that we are the body of Christ and worship belongs to all the people
of God.
There is also something meaningful about our three congregations gathering in one place. Although we usually worship in different churches, we are one community of faith in Christ. As we sing, pray, hear the Word, and share our gifts together, we are reminded that we do not walk this journey of faith alone. We
are God’s people, called together.
After worship, we will also share a potluck meal and enjoy fellowship around the table. Sharing food, conversation, and time with one another is another simple but meaningful way of experiencing that we are one family of faith. I hope the fellowship that begins in worship will continue around the table and help our three congregations grow closer together in Christ.
And when we leave the church, our worship does not end. We return to our homes, workplaces, farms, schools, and communities to continue living Coram Deo—in the
presence of God.
May our worship together strengthen us to live faithfully before God throughout the week, and may our daily lives lead us back each Sunday to gather again as the body of Christ and worship God together.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Hyuntae Kim, Ph.D.
