Who Moved My Church?

It is the last Sunday we will be able to hold services in the sanctuary before the renovations begin. The committee has been planning for months, the money arranged for, the contractors contacted, the date set. On Monday, the piano and keyboard will be moved to the fellowship hall along with the choir chairs and altar furniture. Worship will look different next week. Strange.


We are encouraged to join in the exciting adventure, to bring our lawn chairs, the ones with the cup holders so we can comfortably set out coffee cups down, to encounter worship in a whole new way, to use the experience to examine why we "do church" the way we do, and what might we want to do differently when the renovations are complete. We are explorers in search of the truth, God's truth about worship and community for us as a congregation.

It might be uncomfortable for some who have worshiped in the sanctuary for decades, who are used to the way the choir processes down the aisle, the way the acolytes bring the light of Christ into the sanctuary, the way the pastor preaches from the steps and not behind the pulpit. It might not feel right, not feel as if we have gone to church properly if we are not sitting in the same pew that we always sit in next to people who's names we are not quite sure of.

For me it will be less strange than for others. I have worshiped in all sorts of denominational settings from Presbyterian to Baptist, Charismatic to Gospel, home fellowships to mega churches. Each experience offered new insights, activities that brought rich encounters with the Word, with the Lord. All of them had new elements I appreciated, familiar elements I was comfortable with, and other elements I didn't care for. In every case I grew and matured in good, healthy ways and am the better for it.


It will be interesting to learn how we function without the usual props and accouterments, how the renovations affect our sense of family, our mission. I am actually looking forward to next week, while at the same time savoring this week. Sort of like growing up and preparing to go off to college, knowing you will return home, but things will not be the same. Love what you have, but grow into something better. Stay tuned as we ride the rapids together.