wfn.org | Church's Mission Is Worship, Worshipers Told

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16-June-1998 
GA98045 
 
 
Church's Mission Is Worship, Worshipers Told 
 
by Jerry Van Marter 
 
CHARLOTTE, N.C.--The mission of the church is the worship of God, the Rev. 
Pablo Rivera-Madera told the 210th General Assembly during his morning 
worship sermon June 16. 
    Speaking to the third Great End of the Church -- "The maintenance of 
divine worship" -- Rivera, a chaplain at Fort Buchanan in Puerto Rico and a 
member of San Juan Presbytery said, "Divine worship is the relationship of 
God with the people and the response of the people to God." 
    The initiative in worship is with God, Rivera said.  "Worship is from 
God and to God." 
    Preaching from the woman at the well story in John 4, Rivera said what 
is required of people in response to God is honesty and faithfulness. 
"Jesus accepted the woman just as she was and because she communicated 
honestly, she was made aware of the presence of God -- that's what worship 
is: fellowship with God," he said. 
    Further, Rivera continued, "to worship God in truth is to take action 
in the manner of Jesus, with acts of justice, love and compassion." 
    Rivera said we "affirm the vitality of divine worship" when we "make 
God the priority...when we listen to the people...when we embrace our 
differences...when we work for peace and justice...when we respond to the 
needs of others..." 

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