church usher gatekeeper and doorkeeper poems

The liturgy is quoted or paraphrased from God’s Word. Only the proceedings of the house of the Lord do that.

None of these activities, innocent as they may be in themselves, deliver the message of the Gospel, teach God’s Word, admonish, encourage, or comfort the heart. What do the worldings do in the time that God’s people are gathered in his house? Just about anything you can imagine: sleep in, get involved in hobbies and pastimes, play sports, watch kids play sports, watch sports on television, eat, plan a tailgater, gather friends, party and drink, revel in the bounty God has poured upon our land. I can understand what the Psalmist meant: “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” “Tents of wickedness” means replacing the experience of the house of the Lord with the habits and practices of the world. How exhilarating to see God’s people back in their seats, singing open-throated the liturgy and the hymns, listening with strained attention to the Scripture lessons and the sermon, receiving with quiet exuberance the body and blood of the Savior in His Supper. It has been a time of great sadness, but it has also been a time to appreciate what we have, or had. Three or four singers joined me to voice the hymns for the people singing along at home. I have preached to an empty building so to produce recordings for our people to watch at home. Since mid-March our church has been closed, cold, empty. What a joy it has been this last week to open the doors of our church and welcome the worshipers back inside. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my Godīlessed is the man who trusts in You! -Psalm 84:8-12

10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.

Church usher gatekeeper and doorkeeper poems