Worship...
The Church is called to offer worship to the glory and praise of God. From the earliest days of the Church, Christian people have gathered together for this purpose as a ‘holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ’ and to ‘proclaim the mighty acts’ of God (1 Peter 2.5,9).
All true worship is God-centred. As we acknowledge the mystery and glory of the eternal God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we are moved to offer our praise and to confess our sins, confident of God’s mercy and forgiveness. God’s acts of grace and love in creation and salvation are recounted and celebrated, and we respond with thanksgiving, intercession and the offering of our lives.
Worship is a gracious encounter between God and the Church. God speaks to us, especially through scripture read and proclaimed and through symbols and sacraments. We respond, chiefly through hymns, songs, prayer and acts of dedication. Worship is the work of the whole people of God: a congregation is not an audience or a group of spectators. Those who lead worship are called to encourage and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to enable the whole Body of Christ to participate fully. Such participation may include personal testimony and the use of the creative arts.
Adapted from
The Methodist Worship Book (1999) Preface