INSPIRASUNS

This is the final week in our little church before the construction gets underway. Yesterday, during the service, our clergy referenced several times, “Next Sunday we’ll hold our final services in this building”. I have to admit, hearing those words made it all real.

Over the past months, I’ve shared about our project to take down and rebuild/replicate our little church. It will look like it does today, only it will be 4ft higher, above FEMA flood levels. I’ve shared what my operations mind has thought through. The working with the team to utilize our space, put things into storage, think about where to hold special services, and what it takes physically to make them happen. Yes, my ops brain has been busy, but that’s ok; I like the challenge of figuring out how to make things work.

Yesterday, though, my ops brain ran into emotion, and well…the emotion won. I thought back to when we first came to this little church years ago, long before we moved here. We would come to this place that felt like home every time we were here on vacation. When we got ready to move here full-time, I recall transferring our membership, and even through the unknowns of a move across the country, one thing felt certain: our church home. Over the past six years, we’ve been to weddings, watched baptisms, and sadly have attended many funerals in this sacred space. We’ve celebrated Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter with the most beautiful and moving services. And…we’ve recovered and restored after two hurricanes that took their toll on not only our building but the people who love it so much.

So, yes, when my ops brain met up with the emotions that I guess I’ve been pushing aside these past months, well, my eyes filled with tears.

This Sunday, following our 10:00 a.m. service, there will be a solemn procession. Parishioners and clergy will carry something from this sacred space. The flags, processional cross, altar candles, altar linen, prayer books, Bibles, hymnals, and the altar itself will be carried across the street to our parish hall. There, we will set up the worship space that will be used for the next 14 – 15 months.

There will be emotions on Sunday; I have no doubt. There will be emotions over the coming months and year, probably when we won’t expect them. In a way, it’s a grieving process.

The good news is, we won’t be alone. We’ll all be together, and over the coming months ahead, we’ll watch our church rise again. And…over those many months, Jesus will be with us. He told us clearly, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Our parish hall and the other special space on our campus will be filled with His presence just as our sacred sanctuary is.

So, throughout this week, my ops brain will continue to be hard at work, putting the final touches on what needs to be done. When it bumps into the emotional side, I’ll stop and ask Father to guide me through, knowing that I’m not alone.

Thank you, friends, for letting me share this morning. I guess it’s part of processing. I’m truly blessed to have you all 🙂 . Have a good day, friends.

Matthew 18:20
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.