what can I bring

As we prepare for our weekly trek to church each Sunday (or what ever day of the week your church holds service) Or through out the week as you plan for your worship time at church, what thoughts go through your mind??
At our church  right now people ask "whose turn is it to speak this week?", as we are without a pastor right now and several of our deacon/elders rotate a speaking schedule.
Maybe "what are they going to talk about this week?"
Do you wonder what songs will be played and sung?
Do we ever go so far as to wonder who else is going to be there?
All legitimate questions...all asked, at least in my head at one time or another....and that is ok....unless it is taking your thoughts to places they maybe shouldn't go!
Because they affect how we enter our worship.
It is not about who is speaking or what translation is being used as long as it is the Holy Bible inspired by the living God

God breathed

It doesn't matter the song list; old hymns, gospel or contemporary, live, CD, a cappella or no music at all.

Because it isn't about what is there waiting for you....it is  about what YOU BRING with you!
Whether it is your style of music or not, most of the music was written as the author's worship, it may not be our particular genre, but we can honor the writers wish to worship our Savior.

It may not be the translation you prefer BUT it is the Word of God.
You get my point.
those things can distract you from actual worship and your part in it.
WE have our part in the service;

First of all

we have to BE THERE!
we can't "bring to the service" if we don't show up at all!  We can't bring to the rest of the Body if our presence is missing.
📖 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:23-25

📖 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,  then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,  do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Romans 12:4-8

Once you are there BE ENGAGED: mind, body, and soul.

Eyes, ears, mouth and heart!

Look and take notice of those around you, who may need a smile, a hug.  A small job that may need to be done, (garbage emptied, trash on the floor, trash in a pew)

Listen to the words, to the music, the scripture that is read, the message that is shared

Open your mouth, to sing, to pray, to praise and to share as the spirit leads.
Your heart needs to be humbled and open to the movement and prompts of the Holy Spirit

We all respond differently to the Holy Spirit, but we ALL have the ability/opportunity to be moved by it.
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
 and extol him with music and song. Psalm 95:1-2

Come, let us bow down in worship,

let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;

for he is our God
 and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.  Psalm 95:6-7

I will praise you as long as I live,

    and in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalm 63:4

So the questions running through your mind while preparing to come to service aren't "I wonder who is speaking today?"  "I wonder what the music will be" "Who is or isn't going to be there?" 

but instead;

"What am I bringing to the service today?"  "What am I bringing to the others today?"

📖 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:9:18

📖 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:13-16

So what are YOU bringing to church this week?!