Living On The Edge

This week, we held our last worship service in the building that our congregation bought and began restoring 3 ½ years ago. Christ the Redeemer, established in 1999, rejoiced over a long-awaited dream come true when we moved into our building. Now, with mixed emotions, we are leaving the building behind. Our small group of parishioners can no longer bear the financial burden of owning the building. It is bittersweet saying goodbye to what we have become attached to. Many have poured their time, energy, and hearts into turning a diamond in the rough into a beautiful place of worship. The building itself is a symbol of the great work and renovation God has done in our lives. There are countless memories connected to the quaint, little church.

My best memory is of the time our priest, Father Kurt, asked the entire congregation to participate in a 21 day fast. Father Kurt requested for members to visit the church each of the 21 days, to pray. Upon hearing the request, hands quickly popped up in the air. A deacon counted the hands, and there were 21 volunteers – precisely the right number! This was a sign to all of us that God had ordained this fast. Father Kurt encouraged us to come and pray at the church as many times as possible during the fast. My husband and I knew the Lord was calling us to make daily visits to our sacred building. One of us went there each day to meditate and pray.

The very first morning of the fast, I woke up with great anticipation of what the Lord was going to do. Shortly after waking up, I packed up my son’s home-schooling necessities, and we headed to the church. We sat on the floor in front of the altar, where we usually kneel for communion. I prayed and wrote in my journal. I felt tremendous peace, and I knew the Lord was with us. The time passed so quickly. Before I knew it, we had been there for three hours, breathing in the sweet Spirit of Jesus. I have 41 journal pages written about all God was showing me during those days of fasting.

There is one thing that seemed most significant about the fast. God was breaking things away. While praying, I had a vision of the members of our church holding hands, encircling the building – a symbol of the spirit of unity that was filling our hearts. Throughout those 21 days, prayers were offered up, visions were seen, and dreams were dreamt, sitting there at the altar of my church. It was surreal. There are really no words to explain what happened in those hours of prayer. The memories will be in my heart forever.

So as I face a time of transition, and leave behind a place of worship, my heart is touched and a little sad. It is never easy making a change. We have grown as a congregation in this building – not in numbers, in fact, many have left. But for those of us who have stayed, our hearts have been circumcised, stretched, renewed and tested. It has been kind of like a special edition of “The Survivor Show,” watching who would survive the pruning. Some have questioned what God is doing with our little church. I believe He has been preparing us for the vision He has for us. He has been building our church on a strong foundation, getting us ready for what is to come. This feels like an ending. But it is really a “New Beginning.” Here we are in 2008, a year of new beginnings. The Lord has been sloughing away the dead places in our hearts, gearing us up for a new season. The best is yet to come!

I will miss our building, and I will certainly shed some tears. But is the church really about the building? No, it is not. I see clearly that it is about the group of people God has chosen for me to worship with, grow with, bear my burdens with, journey with, and celebrate life with – this is my family, my home, my church.

Thank you, my beloved church!

 ~Amy
 

Romans 15: 5 – 6

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  NIV

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