Every person needs a place where he or she can be quiet. Time to reflect, time to pray, time to enjoy solitude and silence. An open church is, for many, an ideal place to take a little bit of time out.
Some come because they are in trouble, others to give thanks, a few are curious and all find a sense of God in a place that for over one hundred years has been a centre of prayer and worship. Those of us who enjoy the time of duty sometimes hear the stories and always enjoy being in "our church".
There is a gallery at the west end but is now used for storage as depopulation has reduced the number of parishioners in this part of Belfast. No doubt also a factor is the change in church going habits and how the demands of sport, family and shopping take precedence over worship. It does raise questions as to how we can do church in the twenty first century that meets the needs of all parishioners. Maybe there are other questions about what place corporate worship has in the lives of believers - a fragmented and individualistic society has perhaps encouraged the development of isolated Christians.
That idea always reminds me of the illustration where a piece of coal falls out of the fire and quickly begins to cool. Only when all the bits of coal are burning together does each fulfil its proper function. Christians who absent themselves from the fellowship of the body of Christ suffer in their own spiritual lives and weaken the body as well. Each person is needed if the Church is to grow and work properly.
It seems that vows taken at baptism, and renewed at confirmation, are spoken rather lightly. Parents and Godparents promise to bring up their children in the Christian faith; Parishioners and guests promise to pray for the newly baptised. The words are said, promises made but what is the reality? It makes you wonder.
The songwriter Robin Mark puts it thus:
Jesus, all for Jesus, all I am or have and ever hope to be.
Jesus, all for Jesus, all I am or have and ever hope to be.
All my ambitions, hopes and plans, I surrender these into your hands.
All my ambitions, hopes and plans, I surrender these into your hands.
For it's only in your will that I am free. For it's only in your will that I am free.
Jesus, all for Jesus, all I am or have and ever hope to be.
Jesus, all for Jesus, all I am or have and ever hope to be.
Heavenly Father,
by water and the Holy Spirit
you give your faithful people new life:
Guide and strengthen us by that same Spirit
that we who are born again
may serve you in faith and love,
and grow into the full stature of your Son Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Book of Common Prayer.
Collect from Confirmation Service.
3 comments:
beautiful flowers :-)
I like the photos inside the church & thoses rose photos - beautiful!
the roses were the flowers on the stand for this week. They are particularly beautiful, I agree.
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