SPIRIT Blog
Dear Reader:
I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of home. By this I mean a spiritual home – a place and community in which we know we are free to grow- a place that will ground us when we are scattered and allow us to share beyond ourselves with generosity and care to bring home to others.
A church is not a building, but a building can hold a church. As I look at the beautiful ceiling in the sanctuary, I am struck by the way the beams seem to embrace everything and everyone who is gathered within. This church was built to resemble the inside of a ship, a reminder that we are sojourners sailing on an adventure of Love together. Where the Spirit breathes, there our sails will long to move us if we will go with Her. And the embracing beams remind us to be courageous together for the sake of sharing God’s all-embracing love wherever it is needed – we need not be afraid to change direction for the right reasons, we are held in steady arms.
The saying goes, “Home is where the heart is.” As people share stories in OUR TIME interim sessions, I can feel the heart in this place beating more and more strongly – stories of painting and renovations; an altar wall made sacred with prayers written behind the stones and a beloved member’s ashes in the mortar holding it together; the joy in setting up a reception area for clients of our food pantry to wait with dignity and welcome; the beauty and warmth of this place as it is decorated and brought to life for people to dance in the New Year with others on the journey of recovery.
All of this and much more make this building into a home. As you know if you have been looking at our income statistics for the past few months, this home is in need of deeply committed individuals who are willing to sustain it. I would like to invite you to consider with joy the prospect of giving regularly from your provisions as a spiritual practice of love, thanksgiving and active compassion. We are One Body of diverse communities sharing a home and that is a powerful good to embrace.
Glad you’re there,
Rev. Pressley
Dear Reader:
I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of home. By this I mean a spiritual home – a place and community in which we know we are free to grow- a place that will ground us when we are scattered and allow us to share beyond ourselves with generosity and care to bring home to others.
A church is not a building, but a building can hold a church. As I look at the beautiful ceiling in the sanctuary, I am struck by the way the beams seem to embrace everything and everyone who is gathered within. This church was built to resemble the inside of a ship, a reminder that we are sojourners sailing on an adventure of Love together. Where the Spirit breathes, there our sails will long to move us if we will go with Her. And the embracing beams remind us to be courageous together for the sake of sharing God’s all-embracing love wherever it is needed – we need not be afraid to change direction for the right reasons, we are held in steady arms.
The saying goes, “Home is where the heart is.” As people share stories in OUR TIME interim sessions, I can feel the heart in this place beating more and more strongly – stories of painting and renovations; an altar wall made sacred with prayers written behind the stones and a beloved member’s ashes in the mortar holding it together; the joy in setting up a reception area for clients of our food pantry to wait with dignity and welcome; the beauty and warmth of this place as it is decorated and brought to life for people to dance in the New Year with others on the journey of recovery.
All of this and much more make this building into a home. As you know if you have been looking at our income statistics for the past few months, this home is in need of deeply committed individuals who are willing to sustain it. I would like to invite you to consider with joy the prospect of giving regularly from your provisions as a spiritual practice of love, thanksgiving and active compassion. We are One Body of diverse communities sharing a home and that is a powerful good to embrace.
Glad you’re there,
Rev. Pressley