The practice of worship is taken up by Bishop Mariann Budde in chapter four of her book, “Receiving Jesus: The Way of Love.” Gathering as God’s people is one of the most important elements of what it means to be disciples of Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word of God. I believe this to be true for many reasons, but perhaps primarily because as Christians, we are followers of the one we call Immanuel, “God with us,” the “Incarnate Word of God.” The foundational understanding of Christians is that God so loved us, he sent his only Son to be with us, to dwell with us in our fragile, troubled, often-broken world. The act of Worship brings us together “in community”…to be present together, for each other, and to be present to the transforming presence and love of God. Budde writes in the opening paragraphs of this chapter, “The Way of Love unapologetically affirms the spiritual importance of gathering weekly with other Christians around Jesus’ table. The spiritual practice of worship is, by definition, communal…the gift of worshiping with others in the flesh and the opportunities for spiritual growth it affords are pearls of great price, well worth the effort and sacrifice required to fully experience them.” Budde explores some of the important aspects of worship that commend the practice to Christians.