Organ Praise
by Dr. Dan Sharp, Minister of Worship
Each week in the traditional worship service there is a portion of the worship service entitled "Organ Praise."
As you've noticed, the opening portion of worship is very vertical in its focus. Worship begins with a "Call to Worship" addressed to the congregation, calling us together as a corporate body to offer our praise to God in the opening hymn or song.
The prayer that follows always extols the character of God for who He is and what He does. It is truly an ascription of praise with an upward direction.
The "Organ Praise" which follows is just that. The instrument is used as an exclamation point to the whole first portion of worship directed to God. It puts a corporate "Amen" to our previous songs and prayers.
Through Josiah's hands and feet we all vicariously offer our praise to God; as such, applause is out of place, because the music is not for our benefit, but for God's. We are not the audience. The Organ Praise, or any instrumental expression, is not in the performance mode, but simply an expression of worship to God on behalf of all of us
