Last Sunday, I had the opportunity to serve without the guidance of Father Nick. And to be transparent with you all, I was nervous. Even though in my previous call, I had led worship by myself plenty of times, I was still nervous for this Sunday. I was nervous because I did not have Nick there to whisper directions to me, when I do not know what I am doing. I was nervous for leading all three services while in a walking boot (I sprained my ankle two weeks ago). And I was particularly nervous about the 9 a.m. outdoor service since it is a unique and different worship.

Despite it all, all three services were beautiful and worshipful. Even though I messed up here and there, it did not matter. It did not matter because worship is not about being perfect, just like the Christian life is not about trying to be perfect. Service should never be a production. And this past Sunday was a great example of that. Even though I know this. This is the advice I always give to acolytes, that we are not putting on a perfect production, so go ahead, it is okay to mess up, God still loves you.

And that is exactly what happens when two or three people come together to call on God. Although we certainly have more than that in worship every Sunday. It is important to worship reverently but little things go wrong or when we get distracted. And all of that is okay as long as we are trying to be present to God in just a few moments every week.

I think a great example of being present to God happened this past Sunday at the 9 am outdoor service. There were three young ones who wanted to come up to the makeshift altar during the Eucharist. They wanted to help me out up there. So, they helped me set the Lord’s table. One of them wanted to break the wafer near the end of the service. And the other two got to hold up the goblet and paten (wafer plate) when I invited everyone to the Lord’s supper. It was an awesome and authentic expression of being present to God by little ones who desire so much to know God. And it was messy. It was not perfect. But that is okay, because God was worshipped.

That is all that is asked of us little ones, older seekers of Christ, and even priests. We are not called to be perfect. We are called to be present in authentic ways through the messiness and disorder of life. And for that, I am grateful for.

Blessings,

Celal+