Every Sunday I worship in a great big
beautiful stone church with breathtaking stained glass windows and an
immaculately kept yard. One of the challenges of worshiping in a
place like this is that you can't tell from the outside that there
are actually people inside. The city has strict rules about hanging
banners and so the church is left with small signs on the doors to
let people know there are things happening there. It is a challenge
to let people know it is a vibrant, welcoming congregation inside
that intimidating building.
I thought about this on my recent
pilgrimage to England. We toured many great big beautiful stone
churches with breathtaking stained glass windows. Inside these
cathedrals was a constant stream of tourists with cameras out as they
half listened to tour guides. I wondered how these churches make the
connection for people between the beautiful architecture and the
lived mission and worship of Jesus Christ. As I kept watch for these
connections and signs of life in the cold dark buildings I noticed
some really beautiful things happening.
Like when my husband and I entered St.
Peter Mancroft in Norwich and found ourselves in the midst of a teddy
bear picnic. Two very friendly older women welcomed us, asked us
where we were from and how our trip was going. They then told us
stories from the church's past and present. One of the ladies let
tears fall as she told us of their last priest's sudden departure.
The whole time they were talking they were taping together little
green paper teddy bears to hide around the worship space. They
invited us to have a seat on the carpet and join the many running
toddlers and chatting parents for juice boxes and games but as this
was a rare time away from our little ones we declined. We left
feeling welcomed and inspired by the Spirit's movement in that big
stone building.
The choir I was traveling with (but not
singing with) sang evensong in Norwich Cathedral four evenings that
week. Each time I was in awe as I stepped into those ancient pews
occupied by monks and bishops of the past and looked up to the boss
coated ceiling that seemed to stretch for a mile. As I settled in
and followed the words of worship I noticed the tourists that
stopped, listened and sat down. I noticed the regular worshipers who
prayed passionately as they knelt. I got to know the kind and
welcoming clergy with fascinating stories of their own. And that
cathedral became so much more than the Instagram pictures I posted.
On a free day in London my husband and
I stopped at a market to buy an overpriced bobby teddy bear for our
youngest and then wandered into the open church door behind it. We
were in St. James Piccadilly and it was a welcome break for our feet
after a day of roaming the city. We sat in a pew and as I looked at
the light coming through stained glass I heard something. It took me
a minute to identify the sound. It was soothing and quiet. I turned
to my left and saw about twenty rows of pews with feet sticking out.
The church welcomed homeless people to sleep in the pews and the
sounds of snores and deep sleep breathing enriched my prayers and
soothed my soul.
Our final worship experience was at the
majestic St. Paul's Cathedral in London. The crowd was large and I
found myself sandwiched between several different languages as my
eyes worked to take in so much beauty. When the organ played and the
visiting choir sang it filled the massive space perfectly. The gold
colored leaves seemed to become animated by the music. The echo off
the high ceiling forced the preacher to speak slowly but when we
prayed in unison it sounded like thousands more. It was the feast
day of Mary Magdalene and as the sermon and scriptures told of the
apostle to the apostles it felt fitting with the crowd of people from
all over the world prepared to carry the message back to the places
they were from. Passing the peace was a little awkward from some as
you could tell it was not something they were used to but I loved
getting to offer them and all these new people around me “peace.”
Peace is what I felt as it was passed
to me and it is what I felt when I walked into those great big stone
buildings. Peace from the beautiful carvings and art around me and
peace from the active presence of the Holy Spirit in each place and
person we met.
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