Today we begin a new focus in our worship and that focus is worship itself. In the history of the church God's people designated this day as the beginning of Advent, a time of repentance and preparation prior to Christmas during which worship was subdued and the tone of worship was very reflective. We today have eliminated all music from worship. It is a kind of worship fast. Fasting is not designed to denigrate food, but to help us focus on the deeper issues of spiritual nourishment. So today we are asking God's Holy Spirit to help us focus on the deeper issues of our relationship with Him in worship. We will worship God in the simplest of ways, not trying to be dramatic, but seeking to let God's Word speak. We will then respond in the most basic of ways as we open our hearts to God's presence and power. Moving closer to Christmas in the weeks following, we will add back in many of the musical enhancements we have come to treasure as a part of our worship. May God guide us to a deeper appreciation of His great love for us in our time together.