That is church...
A word synonymous with faith is church. For me, church is rooted in tradition. Church is a wooden cross, stained glass windows, cushioned pews and red Bibles. Church is dresses, scripture, old hymns and robes. Church is handbells, communion, the lighting of candles and baptisms. I have always viewed church as the physical space we gather for 8:15 service and then spend the evenings in youth group or music rehearsals. The church my family attends today is the same church we attended when I was 10 years old…that is 28 years of fellowship! The building itself has grown and expanded and my role has evolved, but the space is still safe, it still holds up the pillars of my faith, and it is still a place to explore and question.
As a young adult I never felt that my belief in God wavered, but I did feel guilty because I didn’t find myself attending church regularly. Once I had children I wanted them to find their way through Christ and learn the stories and so I was compelled to integrate regular church service attendance into our Sunday routine. We have at times, our commitment has ebbed and flowed, and I have found through time and especially this global pandemic that it’s okay. Church doesn’t always have to take place under the steeple. The more I pay attention the more I realize how my relationship with God has grown and continues to be very present outside of those four walls.
One of my first experiences with worship outside of the building itself was summer church camps. I spent a few weeks of my summer attending Camp Otterbein and it’s quite amazing how the counselors can fill the day with activities, crafts, and adventures, but also integrate in the Word of God in a way that always brought me to my knees. Even as a youth, I remember the overwhelming feeling of being saved and being called while surrounded by my peers at an evening campfire. Most times it was the music that got me - Our God is an awesome God, He reigns from Heaven above… Being swallowed up by the enormous gratitude we have for God in our lives, that is church.
I unfortunately have not been able to be a part of a Bible study during my adult life, but I’m hopeful that as my kids grow, there will be more time for me and this definitely is a “me time” activity that I want to pursue. My mother leads two Bible studies and my dear friend is currently a part of one. Gathering as friends, even strangers, to share the Word of God and reflect on your life as a Christian - that’s church! Within the walls of your home, at Panera, via Zoom, when we gather together to grow in our beliefs and be in communion with one another that is growing in our faith, that is church.
During the spring of 2020, when the world shut down, church closed its doors as well. Thankfully our ministry quickly adapted to the best mode of reaching their congregation and so my mother and I found ourselves on Sunday mornings “doing church” from the couch, at the lake, while viewing YouTube. The children’s director at our church is truly an angel. My five littles would gather in their pajamas, they would pray, listen to scripture readings, watch the stories drawn out with video clips, and dance. Lots of singing and dancing took place! She replicated Sunday School for them and they felt connected, connected to their church and connected to God. Being joyous and shouting His name, that is church.
Every night it was ingrained in me that we prayed before we ate. God bless this wonderful food, Amen. As a mother, I attempted to continue this ritual, but it never really stuck. During the shut down due to the global pandemic my crew and I lived with my mom. at our lake house for four plus months and they quickly became accustomed to praying before we ate. Ryland, my youngest, will often say, “I want to pray,” we think he will be a preacher some day. During this school year, my husband and I have instituted a conversation that surrounds the pit and peak of our day. It is never fluid, but at times we see things in our children that we didn’t realize. These conversations while eating, teach us. The highs and lows of our day often defines us. When we pause to be thankful for God’s blessings and are willing to be vulnerable about our journey, that is church.
Raising five littles makes life full, but also exhausting. Navigating my teaching career during a global pandemic has been draining. Every minute alone I crave calm, but also a source of energy and inspiration. My drive to school is fifteen minutes and I have found a way to make that time meaningful. I am a country music fan, so I would typically enjoy The Highway on XM Radio, but for some reason I was compelled to put on The Message a month or so ago and it has remained. It’s like my soul needed a little church to and from work each day. The Message’s tagline is “pop and rock with a higher purpose,” and I’m grateful for what this music does to put my heart at ease, to lift me up, and to provide me a path forward. When you are willing to let His message wash over you, that is church.
The team of teachers I work with are special, we all have different stories, different paths, but we share the same level of passion for our students and an internal drive to grow and learn. You never know what might come from the thirty minutes we spend at lunch together each day. Sometimes we vent because this profession can be defeating and our students can be challenging, sometimes we come up with scripts for our future TV series and laugh until we can’t breath, sometimes we ponder the big questions in life and are left feeling mystified and in awe. When you put a bunch of teachers into a room what really happens is that you put a bunch of curious learners together and with that comes discussion, questioning, and stretching of one’s views. When you shine a light into the corner of the world that seems bleak and are willing to explore it with trusted friends, that is church.
Almost daily my sister will post a Bible verse on her Instagram Stories. It is always paired with beautiful artwork and it always seems to be just what I need to hear in that moment. The female teachers on my team are all religious in our own way, but one common medium that speaks to all of us is song. A few weeks ago school was really difficult, our students were pushing the limits with their behaviors, but also there was this resounding negative tone that flooded each conversation and interaction. School was heavy and for some of us, life was heavy too. Becca came across this song, Hallelujah Even Here by Lydia Laird, and shared it, she was meant to stumble upon it and have it wash over our hearts. When we are compelled to share the Word of God to help be a guiding force in someone else’s life, that is church.
Gathering in communion doesn’t always have to be structured, it doesn’t always have to be guided by scripture or a message. Sometimes you just stumble upon Christ-filled conversations that leave you emotional, hopeful and more seen. This happened not too long ago for me, two dear friends treated me for my birthday to facials and drinks at a local spot. While sipping on Mai Tai’s from Huli Huli, we laughed, but we also opened up our hearts, told our stories and our journey with God. We lifted one another up and allowed the space to share while feeling safe. Being vulnerable and willing to reflect on our relationship with God, that is church.
I remember vividly when Weston came home from preschool with a drawing of Rudy and it not only warmed my heart, but it showed me how powerful faith is and how closely he was listening. Rudy was our American Eskimo dog that my husband and I had had since college, he had recently passed away and Weston’s picture not only stenciled himself and Rudy, but also God. Weston reassured all of us that Rudy is with God in the sky. When a child recognizes and verbalizes that God scoops us up and that we will be forever healed and that we get to live in His glory, that is church.
As I’ve gotten older I have discovered how much I crave being in nature. Being outside surrounded by God’s creation and being truly in awe of the vastness of it all and yet glued to the details, that is a spiritual experience if you let it. When on a trail, my breathing slows, my senses are heightened, and there is a feeling of freedom, room to move, time to pause and see how beautifully detailed our world is. That is how I recharge, even with a gaggle of kids most likely muddy and carrying sticks, camera around my neck and just drinking it in. Finding what brings your soul peace and cleanses you so you can tackle what lies ahead, that is church.
Just because I see the work of “church” in other areas of my life doesn’t take away from the traditions and the space called church. The building itself and the gathering is still an integral part of my faith journey. If anything though this discovery has enriched my view of faith and has allowed me to see God working in more places of my life. The Children’s Director at our church, that I previously mentioned, will ask the children if they had any “God sightings” this week…these are my God sightings, He is working within me all of the time.
Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors and see all the people, here is the parson going upstairs, and here he is now he’s saying his prayers…
