Worship
This piece was written during the pandemic while daily life and school was happening on Zoom. As many people felt isolated, Rachael wanted to create a piece that was as a bit unsettling, with moments of peace. The idea of worship is in part inspired by the piece Christian Zeal and Activity by John Adams, and partly from Rachael’s own life experiences. The recording is from a sermon preached by Jason Abbott, a pastor who has been an important mentor in Rachael’s life for many years. Part’s of the sermon are more intricately woven into the piece, so Rachael encourages the use of the words in program notes if possible.
Find more information about Nicole Riner on her website: https://www.nicoleriner.com/
Selections from the sermon as they appear in the piece:
And I said woe is me
For I am lost
For I am a man of unclean lips
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips
This idea of worship
What worship is truly about
To me worship of one of the most powerful things
That we have in our relationship with Jesus Christ
There’s this unbelievable experience
If we define our worship based on the music
We have missed the point of worship entirely
For I am lost
For I am a man of unclean lips
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips
For my eyes have seen the Lord of hosts
So once you have seen the King of the Lord of hosts
You can’t help but see the sin in your life
For I am lost
Lost
I think we all get it
I think all of us understand
We step foot into the throne room of God
And begin the worship process
We can’t help but be faced with the sin in our life
God I pray that you would bring about
A revelation in our hearts, God
An understanding
Of what we are called to do as Christians
That you would give us a passion
To worship You with our whole hearts
Lord we thank You
And we ask these things in Jesus’ Name
Amen
We have to take a good long hard look at who we are
Our faults, our shortcomings, our trespasses
Repentance requires honesty
With yourself
Holy Holy Holy is the Lord of hosts,
The whole earth is filled with His Glory
There’s this unbelievable experience
This idea of worship
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying
Whom shall I send
And who will go for us?
And I said here I am
Send me
