This week marks the last “email” from Paul to the Colossians in this worship series, the last reminder about who the Christians of Colossae are and how their story forms their identity as a community. And, of course, how the Christians of Colossae might also inform who we are as the Christians of Little Rock, Buffalo, Athens, Wichita, Alamosa…I think you get the picture. The church in Colossae is part of our story, and we are part of theirs, even as we are all diverse Christian communities planted in places uniquely different yet somehow similar to Christian communities that sprouted and grew almost 2000 years ago.

Perhaps that’s because some aspects of humanity are so fundamental that no amount of time, technological advancement, linguistic evolution, or political upheaval can change them. Consider the importance of what we pay attention to. When I was a child, I saw a poster where someone took the popular aphorism “You are what you eat” and turned it into “You are what you read.” I think Paul would agree. What you read, what you listen to, what you set your mind to—all of it matters. It matters because what we give our attention to can either direct us toward Christ and living as Christ teaches…or not.

So, in worship this week, how do we lead the congregation to set their minds on things above? Begin by acknowledging everything that clamors for our attention. My meditation app reminds me that it’s okay if stray thoughts come into my mind; I need to acknowledge and then release anything that distracts me. There’s some wisdom there for worship planners and leaders, I think. It’s important that we acknowledge and even welcome what we are all bringing into the worship space when we gather. Focusing on the things of God does not mean ignoring and neglecting the things that make us weary, stressed, and anxious. We need to acknowledge what we carry and then turn to God, who holds our burdens with us and whose love is higher and greater than anything that tells us otherwise. Think of it like putting on a pair of glasses. Where the world presents us with all kinds of life and death, big deal kinds of stressors to prioritize, grace puts on glasses that help us keep everything else in perspective to God who loves us, cares for us, and guides us toward salvation and abundant life. This is what we worship planners are called to teach and practice and support in the midst of gathered worship.

During this series, we have offered a prompt each week to help your community write down and tell the story of your church, a place where they learn and practice how to set their minds on the things of God. Consider posting the prompt on your social media page(s) earlier in the week or presenting it after the sermon, giving everyone paper and a pen and holding space with quiet music while people write their responses. Invite congregants to keep the paper to themselves or to place it in the offering plate if they are willing to share it with the community. Gather any shared responses and find a way to share them with the church, either on social media, in a newsletter, or even incorporated into the sermon the following week.

For week 4, the writing prompt is: How does worshiping in this community help you set your mind on things above?