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The Vertical Habits Story
Betty Grit
Reformed Worship
June 2007

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When children are young, they learn words that build relationships. Some come easily: “Help!” “Why?” Parents and grandparents persistently teach them to say to others: “Thank you.” “I’m sorry.” We celebrate as these words become habits. When a child without prompting tells her brother, “I’m sorry,” we know that these words are beginning to shape her life and her relationships.

These same words shape our relationship with God. The psalms are filled with beautiful words that tell God “thank you” and “I’m sorry” or ask “why?” Looking at the order of worship in most churches, we discover a connection between these words and the actions in worship. (See sidebar.)

Bruce Gritter and Karen Wilk (of The River Community in Edmonton, Alberta) asked, “If we teach new believers about these words of relationship with God, will it help them better understand what we do on Sunday? Will it help them grow in their relationship with God during the week? Will it shape their relationships with others?” To answer these questions, they focused on a specific word each Sunday for eight weeks. They called this series “Vertical Habits”; and they discovered that it made a difference.

At the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship we wondered, Would Vertical Habits help lifelong worshipers engage more deeply in worship? Would it provide a framework to connect young people to God and to the congregation? Might it help all of us to confess more honestly, listen attentively, and lament the brokenness around us? Might it lead us to more joyful lives of service?

Twenty-three congregations and schools accepted our invitation to teach Vertical Habits, share their resources with us, and give honest feedback. They set aside time to study Scripture and explore how they could teach each of these words to help people of all ages grow in their relationship with God. Some churches chose to do this during Lent. Others discovered that they wanted to spend a month on each word. They crafted sermons, created visual art (see RW 82, p. 31), composed music, prepared daily devotions, developed children’s materials, engaged young people, and discovered that as they prepared to teach others, they themselves grew in their relationship with God.

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