Last Sunday after worship one of our 5th graders approached me and asked a question about our sanctuary. He had noticed the everlasting candle hanging up off the right side of the chancel and wondered what it was. The candle hangs about ten feet up and is surrounded by a red glass sleeve. As it captured his attention during worship he began to wonder how one would light and care for that candle.
As with all questions that come from children and teens, the time the answer their important questions is now - when they are open to and even invite conversation. In the hubbub following the Confirmation service, we took time to pause. I explained that the candle is always lit. I asked him,
"Remember in Sunday School when we light a candle and say, 'This lit candle
reminds us that Jesus is always with us.'?"
"Yes."
"That is what this candle also does: reminds us that Jesus is always here with us. You can come in here anytime during the week, day or night, and that candle will be lit."
He turned and looked again at the candle, this time with new eyes. We sat quietly together for a moment just taking is the power of his observation. Quietly, he said, "That is cool."
Then our moment was done. He hurried off to his family to celebrate his brother's Confirmation.
That moment has also given me new eyes to the beauty of our worship space at Faith. I have spent many years here and know the reasons of the rituals and sacred objects. I tend to appreciate the beauty of the sanctuary in its entirety. That moment on Sunday afternoon helped me see again the detailed way
in which we adorn our worship spaces and find even the smallest ways to profess our faith and worship God.
~ Pam
As with all questions that come from children and teens, the time the answer their important questions is now - when they are open to and even invite conversation. In the hubbub following the Confirmation service, we took time to pause. I explained that the candle is always lit. I asked him,
"Remember in Sunday School when we light a candle and say, 'This lit candle
reminds us that Jesus is always with us.'?"
"Yes."
"That is what this candle also does: reminds us that Jesus is always here with us. You can come in here anytime during the week, day or night, and that candle will be lit."
He turned and looked again at the candle, this time with new eyes. We sat quietly together for a moment just taking is the power of his observation. Quietly, he said, "That is cool."
Then our moment was done. He hurried off to his family to celebrate his brother's Confirmation.
That moment has also given me new eyes to the beauty of our worship space at Faith. I have spent many years here and know the reasons of the rituals and sacred objects. I tend to appreciate the beauty of the sanctuary in its entirety. That moment on Sunday afternoon helped me see again the detailed way
in which we adorn our worship spaces and find even the smallest ways to profess our faith and worship God.
~ Pam
