Right now, there are people literally considering leaving their homes to gather with others for worship, wondering: -If I go, can I stand or sit in that area of the sanctuary where we sat together for 18 years before his passing without sobbing so loud I'll distract...
When love is the way, poverty will become history.When love is the way, the Earth will be a sanctuary.When love is the way, we will lay down our swords and shields, down by the riverside, to study war no more. from "Sermon from the Royal Wedding"
Your identity is not equivalent to your biography. There is a place in you where you have never been wounded...where there's a seamlessness in you, and where there is a confidence and tranquility in you. The intention of prayer and spirituality and love is now and...
The church is not an institution for perfect people. It is a sanctuary for sinners saved by grace, a nursery for God's sweet children to be nurtured and grow strong. It is the fold for Christ's sheep, the home for Christ's family. The church is the dearest place on...
Imagine if every church became a place where everyone is safe, but no one is comfortable. Imagine if every church became a place where we told one another the truth. We might just create sanctuary. from Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church
Worship is a soundtrack for the rest of life, the words and music and actions of worship inside the sanctuary playing the background as we live our lives outside, in the world… The words of worship are like stones thrown into the pond; they ripple outward in countless...
The idea of “sacred space” is important [for worship]. The word “sanctuary” implies safety, shelter, and protection. A worship space communicates an otherness, but also a haven where individuals can come into acceptance, reflection, and space. A congregation is in...
Frequently when they attacked me for being involved in politics, I used to say, I wish I knew which Bible they were reading! Because the Bible I read was quite clear: God revealed God to the children of Israel, not in a sanctuary, but by carrying out a political...
Each year, as winter takes hold and covers our days with its silent wonder, we are called to reflection. As the shadows grow longer and the nights deepen, we gather in our chapels of faith seeking [comfort and assurance from God]. We light our candles…we sing our...