Tag: worship devotions

Sabbath Psalms – Sacred Sanctuaries

Devotions, Lectionary devotions, Psalm devotions, Sunday devotions

Psalm 026sPsalm 26:8 Lord, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells. (NIV)

We all get attached to the sacred buildings where we worship. Within the bricks and walls, stones and stained-glass windows, we create a womb-like sanctuary where we feel the presence of God when we pray silently, or as we praise God with others around us. In the midst of a world which is always in a hurry and sometimes hostile, it’s therapeutic and refreshing to find a place of peace and acceptance, faith and love.

Over many years, I’ve worshiped and served in different churches with varied ministries and missions, programs and projects that displayed their congregational focus and how the people practiced their faith. No matter how different the churches were denominationally or spiritually, I always felt being in a place of peace where God’s presence was experienced, whether it was in a small country church or a grand Gothic cathedral. They were, and still are, special places to me, where Heaven and Earth seem to meet, where the Eternal One abides with mortal ones.

I think that the psalmist of old understood this, too, which is why he preferred God’s company and sacred house, rather than sitting around with dishonest and deceitful people. In the midst of a culture that was destroying itself with greed and corruption, the writer of Psalm 26 took solace in being with God, away from the maddening crowd. I think this is something important that we still need today – a place of quiet in a noisy world, a sanctuary of hope in chaotic times.

Perhaps you are undergoing a lot of pressure in your life right now. Maybe you are in a situation that burdens you, or in the midst of circumstances that threaten to overwhelm you. Perhaps you have been too strong or self-sufficient too long, and now feel stretched, exhausted, and vulnerable. Maybe you don’t know what to do or where to go. Can I suggest that you find a nearby church sanctuary where you can bring your heartfelt pleas and personal prayers to God? Like me, you probably need somewhere to lay down your burdens and just be embraced by the Living and Loving God. A local church building or even a large cathedral may be just what you’re looking for. Try it and see.

Point to ponder: Where can I go to find God’s peaceful presence in my life?

Prayer: Lord God, Whose presence abides on our planet and Whose blessing can be found in many holy places on Earth, we seek Your peace and love to help us endure and overcome our problems and troubles. Guide us to a sacred place where we can quietly pray; lead us to special sanctuary where we can experience Your loving presence and praise Your Holy Name. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Sunday Shorts – Sacred Vessels

church devotions, Devotions, Lectionary devotions, Sunday devotions

Ordy 20BsJohn 6:54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 

I remember the first time I actually saw a church communion set. It took place in an old Gothic-style church, just outside of Glasgow, Scotland. My High School class was on a long-sponsored walk one Saturday and the church was a resting place for all of the participants. As we entered the Fellowship Hall, the first thing that drew my attention were the pewter plates and ornate stacking trays with little glasses in them on a long table. I had never seen anything like them before, so my teacher explained that these were the Communion vessels which the church would be using during worship the next day.

I was intrigued and also impressed. The minister and a few elders were carefully cleaning the vessels which made me realize they were handling special things. It was only years later when I first formally took Communion as a church member that I understood similar vessels in my own congregation were regarded as sacred objects and treated with the utmost care.

When Jesus talked to His people about being the living bread and how His body and blood would nurture them, they didn’t fully understand what He meant. Some of them even regarded Jesus as being crazy and left His company of disciples. But for those who stayed with Him and experienced the Last Supper, they soon realized after His resurrection that Christ was referring to His sacred sacrifice on the Cross and that generations of Christians would experience that same holiness when they celebrated Communion in their own churches. It would become a sacred time of spiritually connecting people to Jesus and with one another.

No matter where or when I take Communion, it is still a sacred moment in my life. The minister and elders from that old church taught me something special that day long ago and I will always be grateful for how they showed the deepest respect for Christ as they carefully cleaned those beautiful vessels.

Point to ponder: How do I experience the sacredness of Communion in my church?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for sacrificing Yourself for all our sins, as well as for reconnecting humanity to You through Communion. Help us to respect such a beautiful celebration as special and sacred in our lives. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

 

John Stuart is a retired Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.