Gracious God, help us to always be at home in your
love. Amen.
Indeed,
it is incumbent upon us to be caring and faithful stewards of this sacred
space. This building isn’t just a functional place for us to gather, it is a manifestation
of our faith. To be sure, God is equally praised in outdoor chapels, in
makeshift churches in homes and commercial buildings, and in church buildings
that are far smaller and simpler. It’s not that God needs a building this
beautiful, nor are we any better off for worshipping here instead of the
tinned-roofed cinderblock three-walled church I remember worshipping in when I
studied aboard in seminary in the Dominican Republic.
However,
this building is a symbol of what we believe. In particular, Anglicans insist
that praying shapes believing. We know the power of space and story to shape
our faith. One of the things that I was so struck by when I was on sabbatical
in England in 2023 was how beautifully ornate all of the churches were. Sitting
in quires, you notice how parts of the building that most people would never
see – the underside of chairs or the backsides of pulpits, for example – were
all intricately carved by hand. It’s the same sort of faith that I remember the
head of our Altar Guild for many years, Judy Newman had. One Sunday I noticed a
small stain on the Altar linen. It had already been a long day and I told Judy
that it was fine – no one could see the stain, so it would be okay to leave
until another time. Judy responded, “God can see, so I’ll wash it.”
In
a sense, that’s what all of this is for – it’s why we have veritable museum-quality
works of art in terms of windows, icons, vestments, woodwork, and chalices.
Again, God would be praised if we used a Rubbermaid pitcher instead of sterling
silver to hold the Communion wine, and if that was the best we could do, it
would be absolutely fine. But there is something sacred, something meet and
right, about praising God with our very best. When it comes to furnishing and
caring for a church building there is no such thing as “too much.” By
prioritizing beauty over economics we are testifying to our faith, to the God
we have come to worship.
I know it’s not quite
stewardship season, when we ask you to consider your annual giving to the
parish, but keep this in mind for when that time comes in October. Making sure
this building is cared for is a priority because it keeps us focused on
praising God not with the minimum or what is merely acceptable, but with what
is excellent and summons forth the best we have.
Now,
some people will, like Judas, say “This money is being lavishly wasted – it
should be given to the poor instead.” And we ought to appreciate that
sentiment. Serving those in need and providing for teaching, fellowship, staff
development, and websites are all essential. But worshipping God is never in
competition with the work of ministry. God has blessed us with a planet with
plenty of resources. After all, Jesus praises the widow who gave her last two
coins to the Temple and the holy family did not reject gifts of gold,
frankincense, and myrrh even though gifts of food and clothing would have been
more useful. Because God has given us an abundance, when we give our best to
this earthly temple, it opens us to the practice of generosity and giving of
our best intentions and assumptions to others, it also prepares us to give of
our time and talents, readies us to give with the fullness of our lives.
I
bring all of this up because the importance of earthly temples is the focus of
both Psalm 84 and the reading from First Kings. In that passage, we heard King
Solomon’s speech to the people at the dedication of the first Temple in
Jerusalem. Solomon said “O Lord,
God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath,
keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with
all their heart,… But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the
highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built, the
place of which you said, ‘My name shall be there’… Hear the plea of your
servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place.”
Solomon’s
prayer names that the Temple is a place of God’s presence, a symbol of God’s
faithfulness, a gift of God’s gracious provision. Those are the same things
that St. Luke’s is intended to be – a beacon to our community of God’s love, a
reminder of God’s presence, a hub for ministry, and a place of comfort for all.
In
Psalm 84, we recited that the Temple is a place of comfort which our souls long
for. Here, we find satisfaction for longings as find our rest in God’s
enoughness, peace, and love. Like birds that find a nest, the Church is a place
to be at home in God’s love, a place to raise children in faith. Most parents,
godparents, and grandparents want what’s best for their children, which is
another reason why we give our best to the Church – as this is the place where
they will learn that they are loved and accepted, where they will practice
saying “I’m sorry” and be assured of forgiveness, where they will meet people
who can support and encourage them, where they will come to trust no matter how
difficult the circumstances of life are, we trust that all things are being
made well.
Though we might not
realize it, the reason why this building can do all of this – why it can give
us comfort, inspire our imagination, unite us across differences, or empower us
for ministry is that this building is a teacher. And because we are blessed with
a church building that generations have given their best to, we have a very
good teacher before us.
Vitruvius was a Roman
architect who lived about 2,000 years ago and his work is the foundation for
pretty much all architectural theory since then. He wrote that all buildings
should have three attributes: firmness, utility, and beauty. The building of St.
Luke’s possesses all three of these and through each, has something to teach us
about the faith.
The first is firmness or
strength. The bedrock of our faith and this building is the grace of God – the
trust that we are loved because God has chosen to love us, not because we have
done anything to earn it. God’s love is a gift given to each of us, a gift that
is never unearned or taken away because of our doubts or bad behavior. As we
often say, “All things come of thee, O Lord.” Indeed, all things come from God
without any regard to our deservingness. Faith is not about “if-then.”
Christianity is not a religion of quid pro quo. We aren’t forgiven
because we accept Jesus into our hearts, whatever that means. We are forgiven
because God so loved the world as to come among us in Jesus and give himself up
as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Thanks be to God, we
don’t get what we deserve and instead, we receive God’s unconditional and
eternal love.
This
backbone of our faith is what we see at St. Luke’s. The first thing that you
see when you enter the Church is the Baptismal font and when we have formal
processions, that’s why the acolytes, choir, and clergy enter through the
Baptistry. The strength of our faith is not grounded in our good works, but
rather God’s graciousness. Whether we are baptized at 6 months old, six years
old, or sixty years old – Baptism is a gift to us all, and through it, we both
literally and symbolically enter the Church on the strong foundation of God’s
grace.
Next
is utility. Baptism is not a status, it is a vocation. Baptism isn’t a passport
that proves that we are a citizen of the Kingdom or a part of the Body of
Christ, it’s more like a badge that makes us sworn servants of the Kingdom.
Baptism and the gifting of the Holy Spirit are something to be used as God’s
missionaries and ambassadors to the world. Again, our building reflects and
supports this.
You
might have noticed that this pulpit is located on the floor. Though I enter it
from behind the quire rail, it actually rests on the floor of the nave – the
place where the congregation sits. If you can’t see this detail where you are,
come and have a look after the service. Teaching a similar point, the Gospel is
read amid the congregation, not from “on high.” Scripture doesn’t belong to the
clergy, it belongs to the whole people of God. Sermons are not meant to be the
bully pulpit for the preacher to pontificate, they are intended to edify the
people of God and prepare us all for ministry.
Furthermore,
the most significant piece of furniture in this building is the Altar Table – a
clear sign that we gather for a festive banquet in which Jesus is present with
us to feed us from the riches of God’s grace. We are fed with Word and
Sacrament to be nourished, comforted, and strengthened. Our church building
reminds us that we are instruments of God’s peace in this world, and it
prepares us for ministry in God’s name.
Lastly,
this building is beautiful. Psalm 84 speaks of the dearness of God’s dwelling
place and Solomon spoke of God’s faithfulness. Our sacred space is meant to
evoke a sense of awe, wonder, and delight in God’s persistent and abiding
grace. Yes, there is beauty in the woodwork and embroidery, but what makes most
people say “wow” when they enter this church for the first time are the windows
and icons – both of which are vibrant depictions of God’s faithfulness as it
has been expressed through the people of God throughout history.
Hilda,
Aidan, and Wulfstan are our companions in faith from previous generations.
Icons of Henry Delaney and Elizabeth Duncan Koontz remind us that saints are
not people who lived only in ages past, but there are hundreds of thousands
still. They remind us that the world is full of joyous saints who love to do
Jesus’ will. They remind us that through the gift of Baptism, we are a part of
the eternal Body of Christ and have a mission in the communion of saints.
Because
these brothers and sisters in faith are portrayed in such beautiful ways, they
remind us of the truth of Psalm 84: “Happy are they who dwell in the Lord’s house; happy are the people whose
strength is in the Lord!” And so
spending time surrounded by these beautiful saints is a good thing to do. You
might consider getting to church a bit early and sitting in the beauty of
holiness. The church is open Monday through Thursday during the day, so as
you’re out and about, stop in for a few
minutes to enter, rest, and pray. Use this building as it is intended – a
sacred space to comfort, inspire, and strengthen.
Ultimately, this church is the anti-Tower of Babel. In that story early on in Genesis, the people tried to build a tower to make their name great. St. Luke’s exists for the opposite reason – to glorify God’s name. That’s why we give our best to build and maintain churches: to praise God from whom all blessings flow. And it’s why this building is best used not for a few hours on a Sunday morning, but anytime that you feel like that swallow that needs to find a home by the side of the Altar. This beautiful church is here to draw us more deeply into the love of God – use it.
