Wow! Has it been a month of this already? I'm counting the days of our isolation by counting the Sundays before and after Easter Sunday. I know that we're in the Second week of Easter and all I want to think about is the Resurrection, the coming back to life.
For those of you who have internet access you've got to see a lot of prayer and worship on Facebook and YouTube. I even gave some virtual hugs and handshakes at the end of the Easter Sunday service for those who stuck around. But there's nothing like real hugs and smiles when we gather on Sundays and worship God as the assembled Body of Christ. (Don't forget that if you would like a DVD of our worship services to call and we'll make some extra copies for you.)
I hope you also took a look at our walk through of the remediation work downstairs. Our contractor will begin putting the downstairs back together next week. The workers have begone removing the ceiling in the nave this week and as soon as that interior cleaning is finished, the build back will commence upstairs as well. The Vestry has done a very good job of sorting out the financing for the work.
The two phases of the job have been cleaning and build back. We have a clearer picture of the costs of project (please see the financial report). With the additional removal of ceiling and the need to install fans to move air the costs have gone up but are still manageable for us.
I know we will all be glad to be back worshiping in our church building. But the thing I want to point out above all is this: Even without a building, We are the Church. We are the Body of Christ. The building, as sacred as it is, is not as Sacred as you and I. And what makes us Sacred is the love of Jesus. What makes us Sacred is the Message of the Good News.
Indeed, what makes our building sacred is the fact that We gather there in the Presence of our God. What makes it sacred is that We read Scripture from there. What makes it sacred is that We celebrate the Presence of God in the Body and Blood of Christ. And all of this flows from God first.
A beautiful building is a sacred tool to enhance these realities. But it is important to know and understand that You are the Temple of God in which the Holy Spirit resides. When we walk through those big red doors I hope you'll remember that they have been opened for heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven.
