Last Updated on Thursday, 08 July 2010 10:09 Written by Rev. Dr. Hilary J. Barrett
Ancient Words
Holy words long preserved
When a new place of worship is built, it is customary to consecrate that space. To consecrate something means to set it aside for holy purposes. So part of the process of bringing our new Sanctuary into being will be the act of consecrating it, setting it aside for a holy purpose.
In many ways the consecration of the building has already begun. Every aspect of the design has been carefully and lovingly discerned. The Building Committee, comprised of members of the congregation, has worked tirelessly on our behalf. Their labor of love has been to bring into reality a vision cast by this congregation, working together with the architect and the builder.
The construction crew comes to us from Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Included among them have been several Amish men who worked together with elegant efficiency to raise the massive beams that support the new Sanctuary roof. Those of you who saw it go up know that it was like a holy barn-raising.
Not long ago, one of the members of the congregation told me that he regularly stops by at night to stand in the still-under-construction Sanctuary and pray. We have every reason to hope that our new Sanctuary is, even now, a hallowed space.
Words of Life, words of Hope
Give us strength, help us cope
In this world, where e'er we roam
Ancient words will guide us Home.
Over the course of the past few weeks we have added another layer of blessing to our new worship space – a space which will, in time, be hallowed by gathered prayer and baptism, Word and Sacrament, confirmations, weddings, funerals and the hymns of the Church sung by the faithful.
Every Sunday since the Church Picnic, members and friends have been invited to write prayers of blessing or favorite passages of Scripture on the cement floor of the new Sanctuary so that, when the space is completed and the carpet laid down, we will know that beneath the things which can be seen are countless prayers raised up to God that this house of worship might come into being.
If you haven’t had a chance to walk through the new Sanctuary and read some of these prayers, I encourage you to do so. It’s awe-inspiring. There are prayers from some of our youngest members and some of our oldest members. The names of the Saints in memory are written there, and the ancient words of scripture shimmer in the summer sun.
Ancient words ever true
The ancient words of scripture really can change us. They really can guide us. They really can give us strength. They really can help us cope. The ancient words of scripture have done all of these things as we have journeyed this far. The evidence of their power is rising in our midst: a new sanctuary where lives will be changed by the tender mercies of our God.
It’s a hallowed space already. I just look forward to all the other wonderful ways that we will continue to consecrate it together, by God’s grace.
Holy words of our Faith
Handed down to this age
Came to us through sacrifice
O heed the faithful words of Christ.
If you haven’t had a chance to add your prayer of blessing or your favourite passage of scripture to the Sanctuary floor, come join us for worship and we will be glad to help you make it happen.
Blessings, Pastor Hilary