(Article Taken from March, 2009 issue of KINDLE Life, written by Scott Rauch.  Scott is the Director of Christian Education at Trinity Lutheran Church in Peoria, IL and is serving as Chaplain for the 2009 Learning Cycle.)

Worship for the KINDLE community is enlivening even as it is calming. It is that special opportunity for the Training Team and Associates to hear from God Himself directly through Word and Sacrament.  It is also THE opportunity for KINDLE’s gathered community of servant leaders to respond back to God with His very Word.

And because it is enlivening, yet calming, the KINDLE community pours itself wholly into the three daily devotional periods.  With every event, God brings us His joy and peace through Jesus Christ as we worship together in the beautiful chapel at the St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, IL.

Worship, of course, is much more than a way to please God.  Worship, as the Scripture suggests, are those moments when God makes His presence known and those worshipping are able to spend intimate time paying attention to who He is, what He does and the blessings He gives.  KINDLE Associates typically have unique responsibilities on weekends in their home congregations.  As a result, one is often not able to focus fully on the presence of God.  Worship at a KINDLE Learning Event is freeing because it comes as a wonderful, non-responsibility time with as few distractions as possible.

One planning challenge is how to best serve a variety of worshippers, who love a variety of worship styles, with appropriate worship experiences.  KINDLE Learning Events give Associates an opportunity to truly benefit from the richness of a variety of styles, not making any judgments, but opening themselves up to how the beauty of each setting guides them into God’s presence.

The liturgies of Morning and Evening Prayer allow all to hear God speak, converse with each other and, in prayer, converse with God.  The “tradition” of Holden Evening Prayer on Tuesday night allows all gathered to sing His Words.  The Eucharist, as administered faithfully by pastors who have served us over the years, gives us the direct physical connection to our Savior through His Body and Blood in, with and under the bread and wine so that we might together know His love and forgiveness in our lives.  And the variety and power of the music impacts the spirits of all those who participate.  There is no “right” style used – just the best of music played and sung to the glory of God.

Finally, it is important to note that worship for KINDLE is all about stewardship – taking care of one’s faith as one worships.  Just as one takes care of his or her body and mind, one can also be in a position to be cared for in worship.  God does this work of giving Associates faith and growing it stronger, as well as helping them live their lives, and seizing opportunities to point others to Him.

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