Liturgy - A Retrospective

Communion, 2022.

My weekly liturgy begins every Sunday with church, calling my dad, and going grocery shopping with Esme. Listening to NPR’s “Planet Money” on my half-awake, coffee-fueled drive to church felt like as much as a spiritual rhythm as taking communion on First Sundays.

I go to church because I work at church. After many stints of bivocational ministry, I suppose most of my faith can be credited to my employment (and Nana’s prayers, no doubt). I’d prefer to sleep in and not risk getting yelled at for misspelling someone’s name in ProPresenter or taking photos during worship… but I got up and went because it’s my job and when I’m there, I’m reminded that I like church.

Women of Praise, 2022.

Brotherhood Chorus, 2022.

I used to hate dressing up on Sundays. I fell in love with the idea of a barefoot, craft-coffee drinking, “anyway, here’s Wonderwall” kind of Jesus. Life has been so uncertain these last few years that my mind has changed subconsciously. Lately, I’ve found comfort in the Sunday best, tasteless communion, “I shall not be, I shall not be moved” Jesus.

Worship I, 2022.

Worship II, 2022.

Church work has put a lot of miles on my faith— most Sundays, church is “just church.” But there are Sundays like this one where old songs sound new again. Those are the good Sundays.

Esme loves to dance right now. We’ll put Fatboy Slim’s “Praise You” on and have a family dance party. So when I consider the things I want to teach her, ‘having fun’ might be second only to unconditional love.

Vessels of Praise, 2022.

Originally shared as a series of Instagram posts in 2022.