Attend/asistir

Today I will spend some time with several Spanish-speaking friends. Unfortunately, my Spanish is not very good, but happily they are much better in English! It is fascinating to me, though, to hear and try to understand a few words and phrases in Spanish. It's a beautiful language. I've heard it referred to as the 'language of the angels.'

There are, of course, many similarities between Spanish and English, and a number of Spanish words look and sound much like English words. But usually the meaning isn't quite the same. For instance, the English word "assist" means to help or give aid. The Spanish verb asistir means to attend, e.g., a church service. Not quite the same. On the other hand, it has occurred to me that to attend a worship service is, in fact, to assist in it. Ask any leader of worship what it means when there are few people present as compared with many. The experience is much different. Yes, a smaller attended worship service can offer a greater sense of spiritual intimacy, and personal prayer is deepened. When there are more people sharing in the experience, though, the music seems sounds more thrilling, the congregational participation is fuller, even the pastor's message can seem more inspirational. To attend worship is to assist in the service, and it does actually assist everyone to worship.

Our witness in public worship is not inconsequential for the secular communities where we live. People beyond the church notice when the parking lot is sparsley filled on Sunday mornings. During the summer months, people are in and out because of vacations and other activities. It's really important, then, for disciples to "assist" in worship at every possible occasion. It's a witness.