Northern Lights MCC
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Mission Values
    • History
    • Who's Who
    • 5 Year Plan
  • What We Believe
    • Bedrock Beliefs
    • LGBT People and the Bible
    • Our Denomination
  • What We Do
    • Sunday Worship
    • Families and Children >
      • Family Service Portal
    • Personal and Spiritual Development
    • Pastoral Care >
      • Suicide Prevention
    • Social Action
    • Social Events
  • What's On?
    • Calendar
    • Coronovirus and NLMCC
    • Home Group Resources
    • Trans Day of Remembrance
  • Catch Up
    • Our Podcast
    • Catch Up Archive
    • Church Blog
    • Video Recordings of services
  • Support Us
  • Social Media Policy

sacred Spaces

28/9/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
During my recent holiday in France, I took a walk along the river Seine taking in the sights, among which was the Louvre art gallery. The Louvre is a majestic building, ornate and imposing. I walked through a huge archway into a grand square, surrounded on all four sides by the buildings of the gallery. Coming into the space away from the noise of the traffic and crowds was like coming into a cathedral. I felt dwarfed by the dimensions of the place. Although there were plenty of people about, it was quiet and calm. After sitting for a while, enjoying the space, I walked through another huge archway out into the main square of the Louvre. Here, the atmosphere couldn’t be more different. Lots of noise and laughter. Fountains played and people were standing on small stone pillars, striking particular poses. In the middle of this square are the glass pyramids, which were so controversially commissioned by President Mitterrand in 1989. They rise up out of the square in startling contrast to the buildings around them.  People were standing on the little pillars so they could have their photo taken as though they were touching the top of the biggest pyramid, or as though wearing it as a hat.

I was fascinated by the contrast of these two spaces, one quiet and reverential in atmosphere, the other playful and interactive. The environment around us influences our behaviour more than we know. Buildings need to be more than just functional; they need to have purpose and ‘soul’, for want of a better word. We can also create a space around us that becomes uplifting and nourishing, regardless of the surroundings. I used to attend denominational business meetings called General Council. There were about 20 of us on the Council, the meetings were long and intense, around long tables under fluorescent lights. One day, our current Moderator, Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson stood in as Chair, as Rev. Troy Perry was away. She brought a candle with her and lit it, to remind us that God is always with us. As a young leader at the time, this really struck me and turned a soulless meeting room into a sacred space. As many of you know, I still light a candle for meetings, even if it is just me and God in attendance. Nancy also talked one time about creating a sacred space at home or in the office where she would pray. I adopted this idea too and have a ‘prayer chair’ at home, a space set aside where I intentionally sit to spend time each day with God. In the office, there is a black and white photo of a street sign from the city ‘Amen Corner’. It is in the seating area where I chat with folk and light a candle. I don’t know how many people even see it, but for me it is important and significant to have an Amen Corner in the church office. This week, I invite you to see where the sacred spaces are in your life, or to create one for yourself. 

God bless,
Cecilia
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Hope & Light Blog

    Follow the church on Twitter

    Archives

    December 2019
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Contact us

Submit

About us

Who We Are
What We Believe
What We Do
Whats On?


Follow, tweet and talk to us!

Worship with us Sunday 6.30pm
ONLINE VIA FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE


Email: contact@northernlightsmcc.org.uk
Phone: 07770543407



Social Media Contribution Guidance


Registered Charity Number 1093009
Website designed by Carly Steven 
Logo and branding designed by Naomi Neilson