What is Worship?

What is Worship?

Adapted from the Article: A Tool to Plan Out Your Youth Ministry Year by Archpriest Joseph Purpura

Worship is defined as:
For Orthodox Christians, corporate worship is the sacramental expression of and participation in Holy Tradition, and is the indispensable foundation of ministry at all levels. Upon this foundation, we must cultivate a daily personal prayer life and reading of Holy Scripture.
We read in the Orthodox Study Bible (p. 810) that worship means, "to bow down.’ In the Christian sense worship is the adoration of God through participation in the services of the Church, the highest act of a Christian (see John:4:19-24)."

Further, Liturgy is, "The work or public service of the people of God, which is the worship of the one true God. The Divine Liturgy is the Eucharistic service of the Orthodox Church." Worship stands at the very core of ministry; in fact, all ministries begin with prayer and worship.